*A historic moment was marked, as the Pollee and Rose Allen School of Logistics and Trade concluded its inaugural semester in celebration of National Logistics Day, symbolizing not just the close of a transformative term but the beginning of a lasting legacy, inspired by Africatown, Alabama.
Established by the nonprofit Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future, INC., with support from DHL Global Forwarding and its corporate sustainability initiative GoTeach, the school is continuing to change lives and build pathways into the global trade and logistics industry.
Founded by award-winning journalist, global supply chain expert, and co-author of Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future, Lori Ann LaRocco, the school honors the rich heritage of Africatown, which is the setting of her award winning book. Lori Ann dreamed of building futures through industry education and opportunity and after the end of this first semester, she accomplished her goal.
Graduates celebrated not only academic achievement but a newfound confidence to pursue careers in logistics. With a second semester confirmed, the momentum for transformative impact, inspired by the stories of Africatown, continues to grow.
This milestone not only celebrates academic achievement, but also reflects on how the Mobile, AL region is a rising hub for economic empowerment through education and global trade, and the same can be said from many cities around the country, thus affirming the need for this very specific trade school.
The program was officially launched on February 7, 2025, offering free, seminar-based education, skills training, and mentorship to students aged 16 and up.
“Creating this school, because Africatown was so impactful to me when I was writing in my book, and depicting how it was a community built by survivors of the Clotilda, the school can now demonstrate how we can honor that rich history and empower new generations around the country, by pointing them to the endless possibilities that exist in logistics and trade,” said LaRocco.
“With DHL as a committed partner, we’ve brought visibility, access, and tangible opportunity to students who now see themselves as part of the logistics and trade world.”
Named in honor of Pollee and Rose Allen, two of Africatown’s founding leaders, the school provides accelerated learning with monthly 90-minute seminars led by logistics professionals, including DHL employees and executives.
Throughout the semester, students gained foundational knowledge in international trade, supply chain operations, and the many specialized roles within the logistics sector.
The experience wasn’t limited to technical learning—students also received guidance on resume building, interview skills, business presentation, and mentorship selection.
Many participated in professional internship interviews and explored future career tracks, making the program a holistic bridge between education and employability.
“I was happy to participate in the launch day of the school and to give the students their first charge to do great things in the logistics industry. And now these five months later, I am excited to reconnect with the students, to hear what they have learned, and to give them a final charge as they take a break for the summer and consider where their greatest logistics industry interests are, before they tackle semester two in September,” said Robert Reiter, CEO United States for DHL Global Forwarding.
GoTeach, DHL’s global initiative that supports youth in underserved communities through access to education and professional development, was instrumental in shaping the program.
DHL employees volunteered their time to teach classes and mentor students, providing a unique blend of global experience and local impact.
As the first semester wraps, the program is already preparing for growth.
A second semester launches in September 2025, and in order to expand access, all classes will move online via Zoom. The goal is to reach students not only in Mobile but across the country, including those from other historically underserved or marginalized communities.
Previous participants will also have the opportunity to return as mentors, reinforcing the school’s peer-led, community-first approach. A virtual graduation ceremony will be held on July 8, 2025, at 6 PM ET, honoring the accomplishments of the first cohort.
Students will receive official certificates of completion and will be encouraged to continue building their logistics knowledge and networks through the school’s alumni and career placement programs.
“The work has only just begun,” LaRocco noted. “Our mission is to equip students not only with technical knowledge, but with the confidence and vision to become future leaders. Africatown’s history is one of survival and resilience—and now, it has inspired the launch of a school, of industry, innovation, and empowerment.”
As DHL Global and the Pollee and Rose Allen School look to the future, the shared goal remains clear: to build an inclusive, skilled workforce that reflects the strength, diversity, and untapped potential of communities like Africatown.
For more information about the program or to get involved, contact: DHL Global Forwarding Media Relations – Constanza Gantes | [email protected]
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: DHL Opens Tuition-Free Trade School in Mobile, AL to Empower the Next Generation in Logistics
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