Today we’d like to introduce you to Allen Green.
Allen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a young boy, I was raised in a government housing project by my mother. Even without having a father in the home, things were okay until my 4th grade year in elementary school. My mother was introduced to crack cocaine. That introduction, introduced my siblings and I to a lot of hurt as well as trauma. Mild usage led to her using crack heavily. My mom started to disappear for days at a time; which led to total neglect to my siblings and myself. All of my siblings eventually were sent to different group homes or youth detention centers. Going into my 6th-grade year in middle school, my mother was incarcerated. I tried to attend school as a good little boy should, but I had no guidance or parental supervision. After a few months of trying to maintain, I ended up dropping out of school. The streets were calling and I started to answer.
A couple of months later, my school mate came and found me. He stated that the teachers wanted me to come back to school so they could talk to me. So, I went back and shared what I was dealing with at home. They all allowed me to rotate weeks at a time at their homes. I ended up staying with this one teacher as my permanent home. She began molesting me so I was eventually taken from her home and placed in states custody. I lived at emergency placements, group homes, and foster homes. My last placement was at a group home I hold so dearly to my heart. I ended up graduating high school and going on to college on a full ride. I played a little football and graduated from college with a chemistry degree/minor in bio. So, one year the group home I was in called me and asked if they could do a story on me. The story went really well and I was given the opportunity to share my story and testimony with the world. This moment had such an impact that I decided to start a non-profit(Pain Perseverance Character Hope), mentoring young boys who have or is dealing with traumatic experiences. I now work for a company as a manager serving people who have intellectual disabilities or physical disabilities, work for the city as a firefighter, and I run a non-profit.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wouldn’t call it a smooth ride! The road to get to this point was the hard part. Now, it’s just been a lot of work to get connected with people so I can share my story and testimony. One of the biggest issues I have had to work through is how I can be very effective in reaching the youth and creating change. Also, it has been hard to get people to support the cause in reference to providing resources.
Pain Perseverance Character Hope – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
PPCH mission is to take traumatic experiences and turn them into power. We travel to provide speeches to the youth so that they are empowered. We provide sound mentorship to our youth by relatable experiences. We specialize in building strong brains by countering adverse childhood experiences. I would say I am most proud of PPCH because it was founded by someone who has lived what the organization teaches and talk about. PPCH is set apart by the experiences of the people that serve. The ability to connect with the youth and build relationships is a powerful attribute. The story behind the founder is definitely unique.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I personally feel like success is being able to live life to your fullest potential while uplifting others along the way. For some people money or materials means success but if we don’t serve and give, then are we truly successful? To some people, none of that matters. I have been brought from a terrible place. That is a success for me and the fact that I can reach back and help those who follow behind me makes me feel even more successful. If I touch and assist one kid to be successful, then I have made a difference. If I can keep one kid in school, out of a gang, away from selling drugs, and acquiring the I am somebody attitude, then I have been successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: Algreen31.wixsite.com/ppch
- Phone: 4233134555
- Email: ppchinc@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perseverance535
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