Who We Are

Created in 2020, Love First Community Engagement is a newly formed organization that is rooted in the decades of community organizing, building up local leaders, and activism guided by the leadership and ingenuity of Saint Paul’s Chauntyll Allen.

Love First led pivotal grassroots work during the crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and murder of George Floyd, clearly demonstrating that our communities don’t get the support or assistance they need from outside sources; we identified that what we need to thrive are intentional barriers and long-standing policies that block Black brilliance, capacity and agency to be torn down.

Love First is reclaiming the concept of “community engagement” to identify and respond to our needs from within our community. Our mission is empowering the community with a village response, engaging with a racial justice lens and a trauma responsive approach that puts love first!  

Learn more about:

    • Our story
    • Our current work
    • Our staff
    • Our board