Allstate celebrates Black History by recognizing the heroes making history today. Read the inspiring stories of Allstate's Give Back Day Heroes to see how their contributions are changing our communities for the better.
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Joyce CalvinChicago
A survivor of domestic violence, Joyce Calvin founded Women of Valor Ministry (WOVM), a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging, empowering and equipping women and girls to develop their full potential. Since its inception, WOVM has reached more than 10,000 women through skills development, domestic violence workshops, health and wellness conferences, one-on-one interaction, and retreats. Calvin also serves as a project coordinator for the All Faiths Against Domestic Violence Project at the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Networks. In 2011, she published her first book, Sister to Sister Support for the Abused Woman: Beauty for Ashes. Calvin currently serves as president of the Women in Ministry and Business Alliance (WIMBA) and executive director of WOVM.
Robert CradleBaltimore
In 2001, Robert Cradle was running a successful barbershop when he realized that he wanted his career to make more of an impact. He decided to put his skills to use and started Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation (R.B.C.F), which provides grooming services for the homeless and children in need throughout Baltimore. Over the past ten years, the projects sponsored by R.B.C.F. have provided over 16,000 services to 6,000 homeless and/or individuals in need. The foundation currently has shops operating at transitional shelters and drug treatment programs. Baltimore’s community members who otherwise could not afford these types of services are now able to attend job interviews or school with a neat and clean appearance, not to mention a heightened sense of self-confidence. In 2010, Cradle was granted the American Red Cross “Hometown Hero Award” for his extensive work in the Baltimore community.
John DarjeanDallas
John Darjean has served as a mentor and coach for the past ten years, teaching inner-city youth the fundamentals of baseball in an effort to keep them off the streets and out of trouble. Darjean grew up in a rough neighborhood and struggled in school but baseball was the one thing that helped keep him out of trouble. After four years playing minor league baseball for the New York Yankees, Darjean started Majors 2 Minors, a baseball league for inner-city kids. He also co-founded the Dallas Baseball Alliance, a program leveraging the fundamentals of baseball to teach kids discipline and life skills. A lifelong volunteer with the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, having endured sickle cell traits since birth, Darjean also volunteers with the Dallas Police Athletic League and the American Cancer Society.
Alexandria PhillipsAtlanta
Never-ending compassion for humankind was instilled in Alexandria Phillips at a very early age. Phillips was five years old when she moved with her mother from their hometown near Kansas City, Mo., to the Dominican Republic for a year-long stay in a poverty stricken village. In 2011, she served as Haiti Team intern at the Clinton Foundation and worked for the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. She was also recently named an Opportunity Nation Scholar. Phillips, 21, is currently a senior at Spelman College in Atlanta where she is majoring in International Studies and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, the Student United Way, Actively Changing Tomorrow through Service (ACTS) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. After graduation, Phillips hopes to work for a non-profit.
GIVE BACK DAY HEROES
In tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Allstate is honoring four individuals as Allstate Give Back Day Heroes due to their year-round commitment to volunteerism, making a positive impact in their communities, and encouraging others to follow their lead. To learn more about the Heroes, click on their profiles below.
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© 2012 Allstate Insurance Co., Northbrook, IL.
© 2012 Allstate Insurance Co., Northbrook, IL.