by Anna Manzo

click here to view Kelvin De'Marcus Allen's Filmography

Allen is a dynamic speaker and is a great role model for many aspiring artist, entrepreneurs and entertainers. An award-winning writer, producer, director and publisher. His work ethic and promotion of talent, organizations and events has been praised by a host of national personalities and media related organizations.

Like many black males in the inner-city his story begins there. Born to a single parent family in Durham North Carolina. At an early age he witnessed close family members become victims of substance abuse.

If it were not for the social programs of the 60's, Kelvin's life may have turned out much differently. Today he is a public relations consultant and freelancewriter, his feature articles and columns have been published in variety of mainstream and non-traditional publications and he continues to serve as a consultant to numerous individuals and organizations. Allen's writing talents and varied professional experiences allows him "to return to others the motivation and support that he received along the way."

In the 1970's the YMCA, and the Parks and Recreation counselors played a large role in Allen's life, often driving him across town to the YMCA center, where he would spend several hours a day playing basketball, football, swimming, table tennis, karate, chess and other activities. The city's Parks and Recreation Department played a significant role in his life as well, Allen would often take advantage of the community bookmobiles, or trips to the movies, and museums, block parties, and local talent shows.

"Young people are very energetic. They must have outlets" Allen says, reflecting on his youth. "my coaches and counselors filled my idle time, always pushing me to keep going after I was done studying."

As the youngest of seven children chances were slim that he'd go to college. There was little money, his mother was a domestic, no father figure was present, and he saw older male family members resorting to drugs. But the social programs helped Kelvin believe he could succeed. Not only did he want to go to college, but he also wanted to become actor.

While watching a college play, Allen was so inspired by the actor's concentration and transformation of his acquaintances-- that he changed his major to theater. Friends told him that he was crazy, that he would have more job security if he stayed in computer science.

But the naysayers did not stop him; he paid his way through college with grants, part-time jobs and later professional acting wages. He started out acting in the drama lab and worked behind the scenes of every play he could, doing every chore possible -- construction, stage management, lighting -- until he felt he was ready for the stage, he had to contend with friends who had become the "wrong crowd" and were doing drugs. The opportunity to sell drugs had presented itself many times before.

Says Allen, "We're often given the impression that success comes overnight. What most people don't realize is that it takes a lot of hard work -- sometimes with no pay and sometimes quite a number of years. But with perseverance, and a belief in God, anyone's goal's can be achieved." Allen is a graduate of North Carolina Central University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater and a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Duquesne University.

Allen's first book, Against The Odds: Looking Back To Move Forward, is due to be released next year.