Beyonce Offers Brooklyn a Makeover

Beyonce Knowles and her mother opened the doors of the Beyonce Cosmetology Center at the Phoenix House today in Brooklyn, New York.
The center provides a residential substance abuse treatment program, allowing men and women to learn the skills necessary for a future in cosmetology.

In 2008, Beyonce gave her salary from the film Cadillac Records to the Phoenix House, which offers programs for residents in carpentry, computer technology, cooking and computers. She also spent time there preparing for her role in the film to help her get into her character, Etta James, a singer who struggled with drug addiction.

For her efforts, the Brooklyn president, Marty Markowitz, named Beyonce an official Brooklynite. Her husband, rapper Jay-Z, was born in Brooklyn.

It’s been an exciting week for Beyonce, who traveled to the White House earlier in the week with her mother, manager and Jay-Z. The group was able to meet with President Barack Obama.