Meet Jason B. Allen | Educator & Non Profit Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason B. Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason B., what do you attribute your success to?
I’m inspired by my parent’s story. My father, Darryl G. Allen was raised by his grandmother, Lillie Mae Allen Young. My mother, Cassandra H. Allen, was raised by her grandparents Frank and Lillie Brooks Hurst. Both of my parents grandmothers were named Lillie and played an intricate role in their upbringing, faith and lives. In 2012, after the passing of my grandma Lillie Young at almost 105 years old, my dad had the vision for Lillie’s Foundation. We began our work in 2015 after the passing of our last Lillie, Lillie hurst. Additionally, I’m a Hampton baby, my parents met at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. While in their last years of college, I was born and lived with my great grandparents for the intricate parts of my early development. Their unconditional Love is what inspired me to take the lead of developing Lillie’s Foundation, serving grandparents who are raising school aged children.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I come from a family of educators and entrepreneurs. I am a fifth generation educator. I am currently going into my 18th year of being an educator. I am where I am today because of the wisdom, strength and encouragement of my ancestors and elders. I’m thankful to not only be able to teach lesson learned from them in my classroom but also through our Lillie’s Foundation programs. I’ve learned from them that you can’t simply live for the moment, you must ensure you’re living in your purpose for that moment. The alignment of purpose and destiny is what I’ve learned is most important in making the greatest impact. Leading Lillie’s Foundation as a teacher makes my life even more fulfilling. Empowering families through Love is the purpose of Lillie’s Foundation and it’s my motto as a teacher. My task as the leader of our family’s foundation is to ensure that I’m carrying on the lessons of Love from our Lillie’s.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my favorite spots in Atlanta is Spice House on Cascade. It’s a locally owned business right in the community I live, work and play. Although they have other locations within the city, I always believe in helping bring clientele to locally operated businesses with residential communities. If visiting Atlanta, Botanical Gardens is amazing to eat great food, observe nature and of course enjoy the lilies.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to Allen’s Printing Company in Atlanta. This is a locally owned, small business that just happens to impact to the culture, arts and business community. 29 years ago, Darryl Allen, my father and founder of Allen’s Printing Co., became a small business owner in Atlanta, by printing funeral programs. His staple was taking the design of funeral programs out of the box introducing new presentations of programs and upgrading the quality of paper. Seeing my dad do funeral programs for families in the housing projects, many who didn’t have support for nice memorial program, changed how I viewed Atlanta. Allen’s Printing Company and my dad’s engagement with Atlanta residents sparked my love for family and community engagement. The support of Allen’s Printing Company has helped with the development of Lillie’s Foundation in which we support grandparents raising school aged children in Atlanta.

Website: educationalentities.com

Instagram: lilliesf4c

Linkedin: Jason B. Allen

Twitter: @LilliesCARES

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilliesFoundation

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaz3WoA3Hh_86-EqTnqHXEg