Earl Allen, Jr. was present at the 1992 inaugural parade held in honor of then President William J. Clinton.  He was the one walking proudly carrying a rolled-up white poster accompanied by two of his peers and an interpreter.   It was Earl Allen, Jr. who would later moderate a discussion session between former First Lady Barbara Bush and his class during their field trip to the White House and Children Museum.  These opportunities have demonstrated his innate gift of leadership that was noticed and nurtured, leading to many doors opening and leadership opportunities beyond imaginable.  Remaining resolute and carrying himself with maturity beyond his young age, Earl set an example for his peers by stepping up at every event.  Because Earl was deaf, not many people believed that he could offer change or become successful to this magnitude.
                                                                                                                                                           
Earl was born hearing and raised in the southeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C.  Although that quadrant was well known for being the most incidental of the city, his neighborhood was relatively safe.  At the age of three, Earl was inflicted with Spinal Meningitis and complications of this disease resulted in deafness.  Being deaf did not stop Earl from being a leader, and because of this, Earl received the Kendall Home School Organization (KHSO) award upon graduating from Kendall Demonstration Elementary School in 1995 and went on to start high school at Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD).
 
At MSSD, Earl continued to strive for excellence and was an active student.  On top of academics, Earl participated in extra-curricular activities that included being the Health and Safety advisor of the Student Body in 1998 and Treasurer of his class in 1999.  Earl also participated in the Peer Advisor program.  Earl expressed enthusiasm when discussing his participation in sports.  He played football, basketball and baseball every season at MSSD which has earned him the 3-sports/4-years award that was presented during the 1999 athletic banquet.  Few weeks after the award ceremony, Earl accomplished so much academically that he graduated among the top ten of his class. Earl’s leadership qualities and his continuous strive for excellence was recognized again at graduation when he was honored to receive the Peter B. Hobbs “Spirit of MSSD” citizenship award and scholarship.  Earl also received a hand-delivered acceptance letter to Gallaudet University within a few days after applying and was determined to continue his academics endeavors at Gallaudet.
 
At Gallaudet during the midst of all the paranoia involving Y2K, Earl continued to make his academic studies a number one priority.  Although, Earl had to juggle and adapt to an independent life at Gallaudet, he remained very active in his academics and extra-curricular activities.  Earl was part of the Gallaudet baseball team and worked for Gallaudet University Office of Judicial Affairs.  One of his memorable experiences was making a lifetime decision to pledge with the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity in 2002.   Despite the challenges he encountered trying to maintain a balance between his social life and academics, Earl graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology: With Concentration in Criminology.
 
In the last five years, Earl has held several different jobs, including an office job with the Virginia State Police and was an officer of the Gallaudet University’s Department of Public Safety during the protest in 2006 of the Board of Trustees’ selection of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as the 9th President of the University.  He has also given sensitivity presentations to newly recruits and lateral transfers of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, where he focused on how police officers can safely interact with members of the deaf/hard-of-hearing communities in effort to minimize miscommunication and misconception.  Earl eventually went back to Gallaudet and took a few courses in the School Counseling and Guidance Master of Arts program.  Currently he is employed with the United States Government.
 
Earl’s first contact with the National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) was as a participant of the Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) program in the summer of 1998 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  During this week-long summit, he was elected President of that group, and successfully empowered everyone to make the most of their experience.  Earl accomplished this by naturally motivating each participant to take advantage of all the resources the YES program had to offer.  Respecting and deeply appreciating efforts to promote better lives for deaf/hard-of-hearing members of the African-American communities, Earl’s future goals include greater participating in and contributions to the NBDA mission. 
 
Earl’s mother, Patricia Allen, has been the number one supporter, encourager and champion throughout all of his life.  His mother instilled her values and expended her effort to make sure Earl get an education and that he continues to get the most out of life.  Ms. Allen has tirelessly and unceasingly worked closely with Earl at home, planting, tending and finally enjoying the harvest of his successful achievements. 

“Mom, I give you my deepest heartfelt love and thanks that can never be enough for being mine.  And Mom, this is just the beginning.” - Earl Allen, Jr.