Thomas D. Allison
Born in Los Angeles, California, to a single mother, I learned the qualities of hard work and sacrifice at an early age. By excelling in my studies, while taking up odd-jobs to provide my household with supplemental income, I developed an outstanding work ethic before I was a teenager. Through high school and undergraduate studies, I continued to strive for success by taking on leadership roles in various clubs, organizations, and sports teams, receiving many awards for his service and leadership. I can sum up my professional and social experience in three words: ambassador, advocate, and leader.
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I did not come from ideal circumstances. In fact, it was hard coming up in my community. I had to work very hard to help make ends meet for my family. Life was tough. Having aspirations of success made life much harder. The odds seemed constantly stacked against me. No one encouraged me to get to where I am, except members of my community.
Now, I no longer live in the community I grew up in. There is nothing wrong with this. I still, however, feel the pain of my community. Experiencing various communities has taught me a single lesson, there is but one community: humanity. No matter what community I reside in, I will continue to be an ambassador for my community. The "least-likely," the economically poor, the minority. This is reflected in my nonprofit and community service work. |
From the start of my debate career, I have had a passion for advocacy. Many will tell you it began far before this time period, but this is my formal memory. As a debater, I won many debate rounds, made it to dozens of championship rounds, and won many debate tournaments. This continued through law school where I won the regional moot court championship and placed third nationally.
My passion for advocacy has continued in my professional life where I have argued hundreds of cases on behalf of clients in court and various public and administrative hearings. Moreover, I teach courses at the University of La Verne regarding advocacy, argumentation and debate, and trial advocacy. Additionally, as an adjunct faculty member, I was elected amongst my peers to represent them on the faculty assembly. |
Leadership has been a fundamental element in my life. I started out as an associated student body member in Elementary school. Where I would often speak on the students' behalf at district meetings. I later became licensed and ordained as a deacon in the church. Here, I regularly gave public addresses, led communion, and carried on various leadership trainings on behalf of the church. I began this stage in junior high and continued to participate in student leadership organizations until graduating as Vice-President of the associated student body of my high school.
I continued to lead in various organizations in college and law school, including serving on the e-board of the African American Students Association and serving as President of the Black Law Students Association. Since graduating, I have taken positions on the University of La Verne Masters of Public Administration Alumni Advisory Board and the University of La Verne College of Law Alumni Advisory Board. Additionally, I have presided over and continue to serve as member of the West Covina Rotary Club and the East Valley Community Health Center Board of Directors. I also teach a course at the University of La Verne titled Public Discourse and Civic Leadership. |