Breanna Allen on rebuilding Tolson Center

In this empowering episode of "Breanna Allen on rebuilding Tolson Center," we delve into the transformative journey of the Tolson Center for Community Excellence. We witness the transformation of this community center since its humble beginnings in the 1920s, touching on its cultural, inclusive, and empowering roots. The visionary leadership of the Tolson family laid a foundational path for unity, family, and empowerment that would guide this bastion of community development for years to come.

We shed light on Dr. Breanna Allen's transformational leadership and unwavering commitment to community lifting up others. Despite significant challenges, she ensures that Tolson is a steadfast pillar of resilience, support, and growth for the community. This episode also covers the profound influence of Dr. Allen's single mother, whose strength, discipline, and dedication shaped Dr. Allen's leadership philosophy.

00:40: Introduction and Welcome

00:43: The history of the Tolson Center

02:03: Challenges of starting as CEO and Director

02:32: Early Days and Inspirations

03:36: Influential People in early career

04:54: Personal Background and Work Ethic

05:25: Side jobs and responsibilities

10:02: Key programs at Tulsa

13:15: Partnership with Oak Lawn

13:32: Outreach in the community

14:55: About summer camp initiative

16:39: Outdoor campus project

18:29: Incorporating diversity

18:46: Connecting with the larger community

21:52: Leadership Tips

22:16: Reflections on Career and Advice for younger self

23:23: Biggest surprise at Tolson Experience

24:10: Emotional ties to Tolson Center

24:55: Advice to Younger Community Leaders

00:25:40: Path towards leadership influences

00:26:28: Motivating self and Dr. Allen's experiences

00:27:34: Future vision for Tolson Center

00:28:42: What gives hope

This show is a production of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. It is powered by equipment from Sweetwater and recorded in the Viaggio Studio at weIMPACT in Elkhart's River District. Editing is done by the award-winning communication students at Goshen College, home of one of the best college radio stations in the nation. Listen to Globe Radio at 91.1 FM. Learn more about the Community Foundation of Elkhart County at inspiringgood.org You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Music is provided by Sensational Sounds. Thanks for listening. We hope you are inspired and inspire good and your community.

Transcript

Marshall V. King: 0:00

Welcome to the inspiring good podcast. This podcast is brought to you by the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, which serves a vibrant community in northern Indiana known for its generosity, and a strong network of nonprofit organizations. I'm Marshall King, your co host with Kevin deary, a veteran nonprofit CEO, who now coaches others as part of his role at the Community Foundation. Our guest today is Breanna Allen, who is executive director at Tolson Center for Community excellence. Breanna is a visionary strategist, servant leader and educator of young people. She worked at Ivy Tech Community College before becoming the first employee of the new Tolson. Breanna. Welcome to the podcast.

Breanna Allen: 0:40

Thank you. It's such a pleasure to be here.

Kevin Deary: 0:43

Dr. Breanna Allen, welcome to inspiring good podcast.

Breanna Allen: 0:48

The Tolson Center history is very rich and very deep. It started back in the 1920s. In the Bynum neighborhood, it was called the Benham West neighborhood now it has transitioned to the Bynum neighborhood, where African American leaders built a community, a village. It transitioned over time, and the Tolsons entered into Elkhart in the late 30s, early 40s. And their legacy, the work that they did in terms of building the village, uplifting the community, providing resources and really giving this the spirit of family in Unity was established in was everlasting, which has led us to today continuing on their legacy in continuing their vision of empowering people through the Tolson Center for Community Excellence.

Kevin Deary: 1:50

You know, when you go down Benham Ave, you cannot miss that building, it is such a jewel in that neighborhood. But more importantly, the programs that are going on inside us. So really important. When you first accepted this position, and you are really coming in as the CEO, Executive Director, you had to start with Scratch, and you had to start all over again, you had to build a board, because it was part of the city. I believe that's correct. And now it has to stand alone 501 C three board, you had to hire every employee. Yes. Train every employee. Yes. They also had to oversee the construction project. Yes. And that was new to you definitely learned a lot, I'm sure. But that building is absolutely stunning. In those early days, what was some of the lessons that you learned along the way? Wow,

Breanna Allen: 2:40

the experience has been extremely amazing. walking that path, I never envisioned that I would be a part of something so great in leading something so huge. And so those early days, it was just taking it all in. And reminding myself that Breanna, you got this, you can do this. I didn't know much. The nonprofit world was still fairly new to me. I served in nonprofit for about three years, but at a very mid level position. And entering into such a huge leadership role was a lot of weight on the shoulders. But I come from humble background and strong women. And so I knew I could do it.

Kevin Deary: 3:36

Well, I want to talk a little bit about your early days and some of the people who influenced you and help you become the leader you are today. Yes,

Breanna Allen: 3:43

I attribute really my whole being to my mother. She was a single mother is a single mother, I have a younger sister, and I've seen her work, show up for work every day, show up for me and my sister every single day showed up for family everyday took care of my great grandparents. And so watching that and seeing someone do it, which was in my eyes effortlessly. I have no idea what she was going through on the other end, but it looked effortlessly to me and seeing that over and over again. showed me that I could do it too. And that that was how you were supposed to be. And so I attribute really myself to my mother. But

Marshall V. King: 4:33

Breanna, like my experience of watching you is that it seems like you're doing it effortlessly to I mean, you have four children. I do you know a couple side hustles and then this big role like so. I mean it whatever your mother was demonstrating to you clearly took,

Breanna Allen: 4:53

yes, yes. And, you know, she was she was strong. And she was also Also very disciplined for herself, but she also taught discipline to me and my sister as well. So, you know, when times were hard when we came across challenges, when we wanted to cry, she told us to suck it up. And we did. And so, I have just carried that throughout my life.

Kevin Deary: 5:21

And just to define side hustle, you actually are an adjunct professor, I am, you have a small business that you do on the side? I do. So you're very busy, very busy. On top of raising four girls. That's correct. And just seemed the work you do? Who other influences other than Mom, mom and family? Maybe you somebody at school? Or who was some of the people that help like the path for you? Yes,

Breanna Allen: 5:47

um, you know, I also attribute my learnings in that happened in my college years. College and education did not come naturally to me, I have a doctoral degree, because I have grind really hard to achieve that that was a goal. But education was not necessarily an easy pathway for me. And so, stumbled a little bit in college, I got involved with this program called mentoring assistance for prospective scholars. Miss Valerie Craig served as the program director of the Indiana State University, and she gave me a chance. So when I was challenged and not doing well, she connected me with a mentor or helped me connect with with a mentor, who could really help guide me to complete my educational journey. And so that's probably the second catalyst that gave me that spark. And that energy in that just reminder that I could achieve the things that I wanted to achieve. She was super influential.

Kevin Deary: 6:54

I also found you and I find you not only as a friend and a colleague, but you're one of the most grounded people I know. I mean, you are well grounded will will give absolute credit to that to your mom. Yes. to helping you stay grounded. But as you've developed your leadership philosophy, how would you state you've taken your leadership philosophy, and put it across Tolson. How has it helped you? With the development of Tolson? Yes,

Breanna Allen: 7:22

my leadership philosophy is very much rooted in advocating for others, empowering others and inspiring others. And so being able to step into this role as the executive director of the Tolson center, first of all, the mission is rooted in that. So there's just clear alignment there for me and my leadership philosophy and the work that is expected and really thought out to do through the Tolson center, empowering lives through inclusive learning, recreation and cultural exchange, opening doors to right futures. So, my philosophy, because it's so well aligned with the Tolson Center's mission, it comes natural to be able to do that work and to think strategic, strategically about the types of programs that come inside the center. And the types of partners that we want to have. Our members are amazing, right? Our building is beautiful, but our biggest asset are the people that come inside that building. They are wonderful people come from all different backgrounds, have all different types of experiences. And so they're coming for something right and in my hope and desire is that they're coming to be advocated for that they're coming to be empowered, and that they're coming to be inspired. And so hopefully that is happening. It is

Kevin Deary: 8:47

very clear to spend anything more than 10 minutes there. Just see the joy of the children, and how warmly they're met. And how education is a priority. But so is recreation. So is character development, and learning right from wrong. And them themselves learning how to be grounded when maybe things at home are so grounded for them. But at Tolson that's your second home, isn't it? Absolutely,

Breanna Allen: 9:14

absolutely. You know, we, we call ourselves the aunties. So, you know, when the aunties come out, you know, we got to get some things in order. And are, you know, that are they're learning and it's all out of love, right? So that they can learn that ground that grounding. So structure can be established somewhere so that they can feel safe and know that they can also have fun and and really just be themselves.

Kevin Deary: 9:43

You obviously take great pride in developing your staff, you do a lot of staff trainings over and over again, to make sure that they are dialed in. What are some of the key programs that you offer? At Tolson right now for not only the young people, but you're also working for cute With the community as well, absolutely,

Breanna Allen: 10:02

you know, health is a priority for us, and showcasing that to our community that that folks should take their health seriously. So partnering with the Minority Health Coalition to talk about, you know, chronic disease and health management. We have vaccination clinics happening at the center, job fairs, you know, employment, so career, yes for the young people. But there's also great opportunities for our adults and seniors through employment and the great opportunities here in the community. So holding job fairs, and at the root of all of it that I know that my desire continues to push through is leadership and empowering. And so we are bringing on a variety of symposiums and seminars that are encouraging folks to learn about their own leadership. What does it mean for you to be a leader, whether you are within your church, or you are volunteering inside the Wilson Center, or you are in your place of employment, and you might be looked at as a leader, and you have not quite recognized that. So all of those types of programs are coming online. And we just want to encourage our community to take advantage of that, because there's some great learnings in there. So

Kevin Deary: 11:23

you're really just getting going. You just opened up in November, you still really knew Oh, yes. So what what's missing? Let's do programmatic piece that's missing the partnership that's missing. Yeah, I

Breanna Allen: 11:34

think as we think about education, you know, recreation is always attractive. And young people and adults are going to find their way to that. But you know, the undertone is very much education. And so I'm really looking forward to an upcoming partnership with Elkhart community schools, that is coming into play with Dr. Larry Huff serving as the superintendent there. We are just getting started on the conversations of how we can be an addition to the education system that exists within Elkhart community school. So I don't know what that looks like yet. But I'm very, very excited to begin the conversation and to dream and vision of what it could look like

Kevin Deary: 12:25

any work with the courts? Are you doing any kind of emotional support any kind of, they bring therapy in or therapeutic type of programs,

Breanna Allen: 12:34

we have a really good partnership with Oak Lawn, and the Partnership for Children. And so we use that very much as a referral process. And actually, yes, we now have one of their staff coming on site. Once a week that just happened a couple of weeks ago. I saw, I saw she had me walk into the building the other day, and she's like, I'm here to do sessions with some of my clients. And I'm like, Whoa, that's awesome. And we have the space to do that. We have a community care room that is specifically designated for those one on one session. So those things are coming online, and I just expect for them to continue to grow.

Kevin Deary: 13:22

Being Tolson is the center or the anchor of that neighborhood. Do you and the kids or the staff do you get out and about in the community? Or do they all come in to you? What are the other parts of the community that you connect with that are past the children? Yeah.

Breanna Allen: 13:37

So right now as we are still kind of getting grounded in the work that we do and just being back in the neighborhood. The kids and members do come to us but we are preparing for summer camp Summer, summer quests is what it's called. And one of the main things that we wanted to ensure was that we took kids out into the community and so there are many many many field trips. That is happening this summer for the children of Tolson to see that their community has a lot to offer. The zoo, the wellfield ethos e three robotics South Bend cubs. So we're we're going to go on a little tour of Elkhart County and slide over into St. Joseph County for a little bit because it is important that we show our youth and and our adults as well that there is more than just the neighborhood that they reside in their neighborhood is their identity in their environment. But we want to expose them to way more and so again, we're just getting started so we'll be we'll be spreading out. Definitely.

Marshall V. King: 14:51

So Breanna this this will air the end of June. You've been in preparation mode as we're recording this, but the summer camp is amazing. Um, can you say just a little bit more about, like, what you've what you're putting together for a group of students this summer?

Breanna Allen: 15:08

Yes, we are going to host 60 Kids this summer 60 kids kindergarten through sixth grade. So, look out. We're bracing ourselves, but it's gonna be absolutely phenomenal. My program director, Volusia smiley, along with myself had a vision that, you know, we wanted to provide a high quality summer experience for kiddos, and that we could not do it by ourselves. It didn't make sense to do it by ourselves. Again, there are many, many programs and organizations and partners who provide an expertise. And so every week, we have partnered with an organization to either bring their content and experience to the center or we take our kiddos to them and they get to experience that so a lot of work has gone into developing the summer camp. We'll have t shirts each week will be themed will probably have teams. We're just gonna make it a really, really fun fun deal and the kiddos get fed breakfast and much

Marshall V. King: 16:19

offer whatever dollars. That's amazing. That's amazing. You

Kevin Deary: 16:24

know, the Community Foundation of Elkhart county is certainly a partner and main supporter of Tolson, and you have some exciting things are happening right outside your windows. Can you talk a little bit about that and what the lily gift is meant to you?

Breanna Allen: 16:39

Yes, we are just blessed. The the Tolson center is absolutely blessed to have strong partnership with the Community Foundation, the city of Elkhart, Lilly Endowment, and many others. And so our building was the first phase and it is stunning. It is gorgeous, right. And so the next phase because we're not done is our outdoor campus. And through the support of the Community Foundation in their relationship with the Lilly Endowment, we have an opportunity for a one to one match up to a million dollars, which equals 2 million. And so what that will do is help us build out outdoor synthetic turf soccer field. It will have all the things lights, bleachers, scoreboard, it will be top quality, outdoor basketball courts that also have pickleball lines for pickleball lovers, and an ADA accessible playground a poor and place playground with equipment that meets a different all different types of needs and abilities. And so we're really looking forward to that. The plan is that that will that that project will begin later this fall and hopefully be complete early spring of next year.

Kevin Deary: 18:04

The Tolson area betta math is changing culturally, there's a lot more Hispanic families moving in the soccer fields are definitely going to be utilized as basketball courts. But have you and your team talked about how inclusive? How do you blend in the different cultures?

Breanna Allen: 18:24

Yeah, well, first, I believe it starts internally within the organization. And the Tolson board of directors is very much focused on ensuring that the members of the board are representative of the community so that when strategic decisions are being made, and ideas and things are happening, that we have those voices at the table, which then trickles down to me as a leader, ensuring that my staff is very much reflective of the community, and very being very intentional in that. And I think I've done a pretty good job if you walk inside the Tolson center, you will see a breadth of diversity as it relates to the to the staff of the Tolson center. So when we're in team meetings, thinking about what programs we want to bring in, what does our communication method look like? Then those voices are there. And so also from the beginning, we clearly established that the center was a place of equity and opportunity, and that it was very much an inclusive will be an inclusive community center. And so majority of our materials are in English and Spanish, you will see that reflected on our social media and on our website. And then again, the staff will will be able to reflect that. So as we take that internal look at ensuring that we are aware of who was in our community and who we're serving I believe that will help us be able to serve through the programs and resources and connections that we make.

Kevin Deary: 20:04

Breanna, you're an active participant in our CEO roundtables, which now has 82 CEOs part of it. Yeah. And we're just so glad to have your leadership and your wisdom. Can you talk a little bit about how to run a nonprofit? What are some of the lessons you've learned? If you come from academia, you obviously have a lot of wisdom, a lot of education. But running a nonprofit in today's landscape is a little different. It is, can you talk about some of the lessons learned and some of the best practices?

Breanna Allen: 20:34

Yes, you know, first, you really have to be able to lead fearlessly. It can get challenging being at the very top. And when you're up there, there is a lot happening, right, and there is big responsibility, and big decisions that have to be made. And so it doesn't, you don't have a whole bunch of time to be able to make a decision or figure out what is next you have to kind of take away some of that fear. Follow your gut and intuition and remember, your your training or why you're doing the work. And so being a part of the CEO roundtables, helps us as CEO leaders, to be reminded of that, to know that we're not alone, because it can feel it can feel kind of lonely up there. But we're not alone. We can bounce ideas off each other, we can learn from each other's mistakes. And so I would say the biggest thing that I'm learning and taking away is, you know, find find that partner find somebody that you can confide in and have a conversation with, put it all out on the table. This is where I'm at. This is what the challenge is. I think this is what I need. And through that dialogue, you know of like mine or a similar experiences, hopefully, the best decision will come out

Kevin Deary: 22:11

what would the soon to be retired, which you're not but when you go to retire, and you can look in advise young new Executive Director, Breanna, what advice will Breanna give to young Breanna?

Breanna Allen: 22:30

Wow, that's, that's a great question. And yes, I'm looking. I'm looking forward to retirement. I know I shouldn't say that too early. But I am, I'm what I would tell myself would be to just keep pushing, keep pushing in, do not give up and try to minimize that feeling of defeat. Because you if you show up every day, if you give it all the to God, if you lead with integrity, and honesty, then it will work out you might make a few mistakes, and it might not look as pretty, but those can be fixed. And so keep on pushing.

Marshall V. King: 23:16

Breanna, what what's been the biggest surprise about this Tolson experience over the last couple of years?

Breanna Allen: 23:23

The biggest surprise you know, I honestly really did not understand the magnitude of emotional ties and just memories of the sinner. I'm not originally from this community. I have been here in machina for 12 years now. Hopefully I'm almost close to being a native. So, really understanding the magnitude of the Tolson Center, the Tolsons the Bynum neighborhood, I didn't quite understand. And so I have just been thrilled and have loved every moment of learning about the history and trying to embody that. So as a leader, I'm carrying out what hopefully the Tolsons believe should have been kicked being carried out as they lead this vision. But also being able to carry out what the community feels and sees and remembers about the Wilson Center.

Kevin Deary: 24:31

Rihanna and staying in the realm of giving advice, you everyday give advice, I'm sure to staff to kids. But we have this growing group of community leaders coming up these this young generation, some that are sit there although known as high tech COVID wore stress in their entire life. And now they want to go into service and they want to give back and they have so much to give, and so much more energy than we have. But how would you advise them getting into bid management?

Breanna Allen: 25:10

Yes, I, for a young person looking to get into mid management, one, it is about the relationships that you build and the network that you surround yourself with. If you are surrounded by or intentionally surround yourself by individuals who have that passion to serve, have that spark to be a leader, who is a change maker or wants to be a change maker that's contagious. And then you take that, and you put that in your own work, and in your own footsteps of moving forward towards leadership and climbing up the ladder, then, then there's great opportunity there, you also have to speak up. You can't just stay in there and do all the work. Yes, and it will be seen. But it's also important to use your voice and remind folks and share, you know, what you bring to the table, how you can be of service, how you can be a servant leader. And I think those are great ways that can help young people be able to reach whatever leadership role they're looking to achieve.

Kevin Deary: 26:23

Dr. Allen? I love saying you've earned it. Thank you, Dr. Allen. How do you motivate yourself you get up every day? I'm sure that you have things to do list in your mind. People you have to call people you have to reach problems you have to solve. What did How do you stay motivated to continue to be the fuel for Tolson center.

Breanna Allen: 26:46

Believe it or not, people give me the fuel, the joy that I see the passion that I see through others. That just gives me what I need to be able to keep pushing forward. And I have my own little case studies by themselves, which are my young girls. And so they wake up every day excited about what is to come. And we talk about what their future looks like. They have all types of interest in want to explore so many things. And so that energy that people give off whether it's my my own children, or others that I'm around, just keeps me It keeps me going and a little bit of coffee

Marshall V. King: 27:34

break between now and retirement. If you look ahead at Tolson, 10 years from now, what is Towson look like a decade from now?

Breanna Allen: 27:46

Yeah, Tolson is that continued staple, not only in the neighborhood, but in the community and statewide. As we build programs around mentoring, education, career development, all those those things that uplift folks in and young people and give them tools to be successful. We're going to see a lot of young people coming out of the center being leaders, we're going to see a lot of athletes coming out of the center. And what would just be the icing on the cake is that those young people come back into the Tolson center and serve and give back and share their experiences that they have to continue to keep encouraging other young people to follow in their steps.

Marshall V. King: 28:42

Breanna, one last question. And you've you've kind of answered it with the answer to the last two questions, but what gives you hope?

Breanna Allen: 28:53

Young people give me hope. They really do. There is a lot of turmoil happening. There are some unfortunate situations, but I could tell you every day that I walk inside the Tolson center, and at two o'clock, actually about 145 kids don't get out of school till two but somehow they're at the center at 145. And they come darting in with smiles on their faces and excited to check in and saying hi and giving me a hug and doing all of that. That right there. It gives hope to me. Hopefully it gives hope to others because there's nothing like it.

Marshall V. King: 29:35

Well, Breanna, thank you for being with us today. We're delighted to have you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Kevin Deary: 29:42

Thank you, Breanna.

Marshall V. King: 29:44

The show is a production of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. It is powered by equipment from Sweetwater and recorded in the viaggio studio at we impact in El cartes River District. Music is provided by sensational sounds editing is done by the award winning communication students at Goshen College, home of one of the best college radio stations in the nation. Listen to globe radio at 91.1 FM or online. Learn more about the Community Foundation of Elkhart County at inspiring good.org You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. We hope you're inspired and inspire good in your community.