Today we’d like to introduce you to Terry Allen.
Hi Terry, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey started with two things I inherited early — curiosity and community. I grew up understanding that if you had a story worth telling, it could change lives, open doors, and shift how people saw themselves. That truth led me first into journalism and then into public relations and cause-related marketing — fields where storytelling meets impact.
I cut my teeth as a reporter and editor at the Dallas Examiner and later became the Public Information Officer for the City of Dallas’ Office of Cultural Affairs and the South Dallas Cultural Center. That experience taught me how policy, art, and people connect — and how to make complex messages resonate with real communities.
From there, I built a career that blended corporate excellence and cultural purpose. At FedEx, I learned how to deliver results under pressure, rising from Sales Executive to a multi-year President’s Club inductee and Five Star Award honoree — the highest recognition in the company. But even while hitting those corporate milestones, I never lost sight of my purpose: using communications to create access.
That’s what led me to launch 1016 Media and later serve as Vice President of FocusPR, where I focus on cultural engagement and cause-related campaigns for nonprofits, small businesses, and community-based organizations. Over the years, I’ve worked with brands from Dr. Phil and Essence to OWN and Black Enterprise, but my heart still beats for grassroots transformation — helping local leaders build capacity, visibility, and legacy.
I’ve founded programs like SISTER CEO, the largest small-business boot camp for women CEOs, and City Men Cook, a culinary celebration that uplifts men and fathers while raising funds for community charities. We’ve raised over $160,000 and, more importantly, redefined what Black fatherhood and male leadership look like in the public eye.
Through it all, I’ve learned that my mission isn’t just to promote brands — it’s to build them, protect them, and position them to thrive. Whether I’m mentoring brothers through re-entry programs, teaching “Monetizing Social Media,” or serving through NABJ and NBPRS, I see my work as ministry with a marketing plan.
In short, I didn’t just “get here.” I built this lane — one story, one strategy, and one purpose-driven project at a time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Not even close — but it’s been purposeful.
The truth is, my career has been more like a jazz solo than a straight-line melody — some improv, some hard notes, but always in rhythm with faith and grit. I’ve faced layoffs, health battles, discrimination, and moments where I was building a dream with little more than vision and a phone that wouldn’t stop ringing.
In corporate spaces, I’ve had to fight to be seen as both competent and culturally conscious — proving that excellence and empathy aren’t opposites. As a Black man in PR and marketing, I’ve often been “the only one in the room,” tasked with bridging worlds that don’t always speak the same language. That kind of responsibility can be heavy, but it also sharpened my resilience and my voice.
There were seasons where my community work outpaced my resources — starting initiatives like City Men Cook or SISTER CEO with no blueprint and no guarantee of success, just belief that they mattered. There were times I was writing grants during the day, mentoring young men at night, and catching flights for FedEx in between.
And then life hit harder — from my own cancer journey to walking through my mother’s hospice care while still leading teams and teaching others how to keep faith and focus. Those experiences didn’t break me; they refined me.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth — but I don’t need smooth. I need meaningful. Every setback taught me something: how to pivot with purpose, how to lead with compassion, and how to build bridges strong enough for others to cross behind me.
The road’s been rough, but I’ve learned that every detour still gets you to destiny — if you keep driving.
We’ve been impressed with A Taste of the South, Inc./1016 Media, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At FocusPR and 1016 Media, we don’t just do PR — we create purpose visibility. We are a cultural engagement and cause-related marketing firm that helps small businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations move from being seen to being significant.
What sets us apart is simple: we merge corporate discipline, community heart, and creative innovation in one space. We don’t chase trends — we set tone. My background as a journalist and FedEx executive gave me both the storytelling skill and business precision to make sure our clients’ messages don’t just sound good — they work.
We specialize in:
Strategic Communications and Reputation Management – helping leaders and organizations tell the truth about who they are and protect it when it’s challenged.
Cause-Related Marketing and Sponsorship Development – connecting brands to community in ways that are authentic, measurable, and lasting.
Brand & Event Management – from City Men Cook and SISTER CEO to national campaigns with Dr. Phil, OWN, Essence, and Black Enterprise, we’ve mastered the art of aligning culture with commerce.
Grant Writing and Nonprofit Capacity Building – through workshops and consulting, we’ve helped create hundreds of small business owners and social entrepreneurs generating millions in impact.
We are known for turning ideas into income and missions into movements. Whether we’re rebranding a church, developing a sponsorship deck for a national conference, or teaching a “Monetizing Social Media” class, our approach is the same — clarity, creativity, and community first.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of City Men Cook. It’s not just an event; it’s a statement. It changed how Black men are portrayed — from headlines to home kitchens — and became one of Dallas’ most iconic Father’s Day traditions, raising over $160,000 for local charities.
At the end of the day, what I want readers to know is this: I build brands that build people. We use storytelling as strategy and public relations as ministry. FocusPR isn’t just about making noise — it’s about making impact that lasts long after the campaign ends.
What are your plans for the future?
The next chapter for me is all about legacy, leverage, and leadership. I’ve spent years helping others tell their stories — now I’m expanding how those stories get told and who benefits from them.
Right now, I’m focused on scaling three major things:
City Men Cook 2.0 – evolving from a single Father’s Day event into a national movement that celebrates Black fatherhood, mentorship, and male leadership year-round. We’re launching new partnerships, a mentorship program called CityMenTor, and expanding into media and culinary education spaces. https://youtu.be/LtE0JG2bDZY?si=bvAJ-RAM14eCozZ6
The Seasoned Pros Task Force – building a communications ecosystem that protects, promotes, and prepares experienced PR and communications professionals to lead in the next era of storytelling, crisis management, and brand strategy. We’re creating training modules, awards, and mentorship opportunities that strengthen the bridge between media, business, and community.
Faith and Wellness Initiatives – I’m expanding my “Brothers in Transition” and “Big Mama Said” platforms to address men’s mental health, reentry, and spiritual renewal. After surviving my own cancer journey and life storms, I’m using my story to help others heal, rebuild, and walk in purpose.
I’m also working to integrate AI and digital strategy into how communities of color do business — teaching entrepreneurs how to use tech as a tool, not a threat.
In short, I’m not chasing trends; I’m building transformation. My goal is to leave systems, stories, and spaces stronger than I found them. The next big move isn’t about me — it’s about creating platforms where others can rise, shine, and sustain.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.citymencook.com/ and www.1016Media.com
- Instagram: @CityMenCook | @TerryAllenOnline
- Facebook: facebook.com/CityMenCook
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/terryallenonline
- Twitter: @TerryAllenPR
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/LtE0JG2bDZY
- Other: https://1016media-staging.b12sites.com/index
Image Credits
Terry Allen
City Men Cook Media Team
1016 Media
FocusPR
