LAKELAND, FL — A Polk State College graduate and local business owner will be featured in an upcoming documentary highlighting her efforts to teach incarcerated women at the Polk County Jail valuable skills in hair braiding, entrepreneurship, and personal development.
According to a press release issued Friday by Polk State College, Alisha Hinton, an Avon Park native, has dedicated much of her career to helping women and families develop practical skills and build confidence.
The documentary, produced by Emmy Award-winning actress, director, producer, and journalist Karina Michel, will feature Hinton teaching incarcerated women how to braid hair, providing them with skills that could lead to employment opportunities following their release.
According to Polk State, Hinton has more than 25 years of experience styling hair and has operated her Mulberry-based business, Lisha Lou, since 2020.
She is also the founder of Knot Your Average Academy, a nonprofit organization that assists families, including foster and adoptive parents, with learning how to properly care for children’s hair.
Hinton graduated from Polk State College in 2008 with an Associate in Arts degree before earning her bachelor’s degree in 2012. She later returned to Polk State, completing its Educator Preparation Institute program in 2020.
According to the college, Hinton previously taught at Mulberry Middle School and Lawton Chiles Middle School in Lakeland. Her experience in education eventually inspired her to begin working with incarcerated women.
Beyond her work at the jail, Hinton has collaborated with several community organizations, including the Lakeland Dream Center, Girls, Inc., Top Buttons, and Dress for Success Tampa Bay.
Polk State President Anastasia Kamoutsas praised Hinton for using her education and experience to create opportunities and empower others throughout the community.
According to Polk State, Hinton continues encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to start small, build connections, and pursue opportunities to make a difference.
SOURCE: POLK STATE COLLEGE
