Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Bruce.
Hi Donna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up between Flaghouse and the Loch Raven area, which gave me a well-rounded view of life. I started doing hair as a way to escape the trauma I experienced—my weekends were split between my mom’s chaos and my dad’s strict structure. For a while, I was lost between those two worlds, making choices that led me down tough paths. But over time, I developed emotional intelligence and began to see my story differently.
Instead of hiding my past, I used it to fuel my purpose. I now pour into the youth through hands-on cosmetology training and support grieving mothers with empowerment fashion shows. What I’ve built through GOD’s Guidance and Grace is DBU INC that is more than a nonprofit—it’s a movement rooted in healing, beauty, and resilience.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not—it hasn’t been a smooth road. After committing to cosmetology school, I was forced to confront the wreckage of my past. Because of my criminal record, I was initially denied the opportunity to complete my training. That experience introduced me to advocacy. I filed an appeal—and it was granted. That moment changed everything.
From there, I became a Senior Cosmetologist and Master Educator. I taught at nearly every local cosmetology school in the area and eventually became the director of one. Ironically, I was let go for speaking out against unethical enrollment practices—specifically enrolling students with felony records without informing them of the licensing barriers they might face. That same injustice I had overcome was still being repeated.
But that setback became the setup. I went on to open Anointed Handz Salon and DB Hair Studio, and even rented a cosmetology chair at Hair Strategies. Each space was built on a foundation of empathy, truth, and resilience. Through DBU INC, I now continue to merge my professional skills with advocacy—creating safe, healing-centered spaces for others to rise, just as I did.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What I’m most proud of is launching the Destiny’s Dream Scholarship, which awards $1,000 to students at Marco Beauty School to help cover essential supplies. I’ve also advocated for major policy changes, including the True Freedom Act, which became law and allows trafficking survivors like myself to have our criminal records shielded—giving us the chance at true freedom and a fresh start.
At the heart of it all, my mission is to turn survival into service—proving that healing is possible, freedom is real, and beauty can be a powerful tool for justice.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the Baltimore City fairs with my mom—eating junk food, laughing, and soaking in the energy of it all. Another special one is riding rollercoasters at Kings Dominion with my dad, screaming at the top of my lungs, completely free in those moments. Those experiences were simple, but they meant everything. They were moments of joy in the middle of a complicated childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dbuinc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbu_inc?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/12KwPETgqCv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dbu-x4o?feature=shared
