The California School-Age Consortium is proud to highlight Diane Allen from CalSAC's Leadership Development Institute for Emerging Leaders of Color. Diane is a leader who has demonstrated unrivaled commitment to the field and drive for advanced leadership in the out-of-school time and early learning field.
Diane Allen, Hands4Hope LA - Los Angeles
Diane Allen (nee Johnson) was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I. She is formally trained in Architecture, which she studied at the University of Technology, Jamaica and has practiced in the field successfully for quite a few years. In 2008, Diane moved to New York to pursue further education. In 2009, she became Miss Jamaica US and dedicated her yearlong tenure to the cause of youth. This led to a shift in her career goals to work in Youth Development. As many adults supported Diane as a young person and young adult, she felt the need to pay it forward. She is fueled by her passion to inspire and equip young people to follow their dreams, pursue their goals and to see the possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances. So for the next three years in New York, Diane became an Elementary School Teacher's Assistant, and then a Youth Mentor at a Harlem Middle School.
After relocating to Los Angeles with her husband Actor & Businessman Dior Allen, Diane signed on as a volunteer at Hands4Hope LA in October 2013, assisting in program administration. In May 2014, she accepted the role of Program Director where she embarked on efforts to create a more structured framework for program planning, delivery and evaluation, maintaining program quality, providing staff & volunteer training, and raising awareness of Hands4Hope LA and its services throughout the North Hollywood community.
She also became an endorsed CalSAC Trainer in July 2016, and enjoys bringing the CalSAC curriculum to multiple sites across Los Angeles.
This month she begins her new role as Director of Communications & Development, with a mission to further bring publicity and garner financial support for the organization, as well as position it for replication. Starting this fall she will also be pursuing her Masters in Human Development & Psychology at UCLA.
She remains balanced through her love of travel, reading, watching documentaries, listening to music, and performing arts - specifically singing and salsa dancing.
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined...”