*DHL, the global logistics company, officially opened the Pollee & Rose Allen School of Logistics and Trade in Mobile, AL, on Thursday, February 6.
The tuition-free school will provide education, mentorship, and up-skilling in supply chain, logistics, and trade careers through in-depth seminar classes for students aged 16 to 24.
DHL will support the school with resources, materials, and volunteer teachers who are DHL professionals and logistics professionals from various companies across the country will give their time for mentoring the students during classes.
The initiative aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and succeed in the logistics industry.
The school was founded by national trade reporter and author Lori Ann LaRocco and is named in honor of Pollee and Rose Allen, pivotal couples who were among the founders of Africatown, Alabama. Their legacy is also honored in Lori Ann’s book, Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future.
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Robert Reiter, the CEO of DHL Global Forwarding in the United States, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of DHL’s operations within the U.S. market.
His leadership includes developing and executing strategies to drive growth, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction, while maintaining high standards for safety and compliance. DHL felt that opening the school in Mobile would immediately unlock lucrative global career opportunities in the Shipping & Logistics industries for young people in Mobile and Africatown, historically underserved communities for these types of opportunities.
The school will also welcome students from across the U.S. via Zoom who are interested in entering the logistics industry. The timing of the opening during Black History Month further reinforces the significance of this initiative.
Robert Reiter shared, “DHL believes that opening this school in Mobile represents an incredible opportunity to provide young people with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the logistics industry. We are proud to support this initiative and to contribute to the development of a workforce that is ready for the future of global trade.”
In an interview with Robert Reiter, Lori Ann LaRocco, and Veda Robbins, they discussed the profound impact of this initiative. Robert highlighted how DHL’s commitment to education is reflected in this project, and Lori Ann emphasized how honoring Africatown’s founders through the school brings their legacy full circle.
Veda Robbins added, “This initiative is more than just education—it’s about empowerment and creating opportunities that have historically been out of reach for many in our community. We are honored to keep their names alive through this program.”
The school is named in honor of Pollee and Rose Allen, two of the founders of Africatown, established by 32 survivors of the Clotilda, the last documented slave ship to illegally bring enslaved Africans to America in 1860.
Pollee and Rose Allen played pivotal roles in the founding and development of Africatown, and the school seeks to continue their legacy by empowering young individuals through education and opportunities in the logistics and trade industries.
DHL will support the school with resources, materials, and volunteers from its GoTeach corporate citizenship program.
With access to a rich library of information and virtual teaching supported by DHL volunteers, students will be equipped to navigate the complexities of logistics, sell products cross-border, and explore entrepreneurial ventures in this field.
The GoTeach program from DHL aims to empower young people from disadvantaged communities with the tools to thrive professionally through general job preparation and career readiness.
Students will engage in lessons covering essential topics like job interviews, developing soft skills, and creating strong résumés and CVs.
They’ll also learn about the importance of a strong work ethic, crucial for long-term career success. At the end of the program, students could be matched with mentors who guide them as they take their first steps into their careers.
Veda Robbins, great-great-great-granddaughter of Pollee and Rose Allen and School Administrator, said, “Pollee and Rose Allen were pivotal in the founding of Africatown. Pollee was a leader in the community, and Rose was the backbone of the family.
Robbins added: “This school is a part of how we’re continuing their legacy, helping young Black men and women build a foundation for their professional lives and level the playing field.”
Lori Ann LaRocco is an on-air shipping and logistics expert reporter and the author of the award-winning book she wrote with her teen daughter, Abby Wallace, Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future, a book about the Descendants of the Clotilda, the last slave ship with enslaved people to arrive in Africatown, Alabama.
It was her vision to honor the pioneers of Africatown by opening a school as their legacy continues in the town.
In addition to founding the school, Lori Ann LaRocco gives 100% of the profits of the book that inspired the school to the “Each One, Teach One” book stipend, which provides Descendants of enslaved Africans funds to help pay for college books. You can find the formal press release for download as well as further information on group.dhl.com/pressreleases.
The school was established by Lori Ann’s nonprofit Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future, INC. with support from GoTeach, a DHL global sustainability program.
The in-person classes will be held locally at Nazaree Full Gospel Church for five months. Nazaree’s pastor Wesley Davis, Jr., was delighted to provide their church for the classes to be held. Registration is still open until February 13th. For more information, visit the school registration link and website at: https://embracingyourpast.net/school-of-logistics
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