Alonzo Perrin’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

Alonzo Perrin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Alonzo, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think most people struggle with fear. God has put a calling on a lot of people but they are scared to do it. Im not talking just about ministry. I know a lot of gifted people who are not using their gifts. I’ve had this conversation with a few people. They are just sitting on their gifts and talents. My dad used to tell me, if you don’t use what God gave you, He will take it away. Step out on it. It’s worth it and it will bring God glory.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Alonzo Perrin. I’m an East St Louis Illinois native. I’m a Tennessee State University graduate.I currently reside in Houston Texas. Focus on the City was started in 2018 to honor parents Alonzo and Toni Perrin. My father passed away in 2016 and I was looking for a way to honor him and his legacy. We have beem blessed to have a partnership with the JJK Foundation in East St. Louis. Since our first event in 2018, We have given away over 2500 backpacks, 2500 books, 8000 pairs of socks, courtesy of Bombas Socks and 200 STEM Learning Kits. In 2021 we started a Boys Mentoring program called Battles Books and Business. We are striving to assist black male teenagers to become their best selves. Each boy received a brand new suit, books and savings accounts. We are in the process of planning Battles Books and Business for the spring of 2026.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents. They were very encouraging. My dad was the Chief of Police in our city and my mom was an educator for 30 years. They made sure to put me in rooms that geared towards learning. If I felt I was too young to be in a room, my dad would say, ” If you hear something now and you don’t undertstand, it will come back to you.” My parents were very intentional about planting seeds about life and education.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
I miss talking to my dad. My dad was very insightful and wise. He was a very busy man most of my life, but he always found the time to sit with me. He would just say these words to me,”Come here son.” Those words meant everything to me. There is nothing like getting wise counsel from the person that knows you best. I have a few friends who has lost a parent and it still something you never get over. I pray that those friends of mine can have peace when they think of their parents.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
My mother. I’ve seen her do some things that I am still working on. I have seen her love people who seem unlovable. That takes a lot. It shows me who she is inside. I try to model her love for people. Every event I have cohosted she has been there. One of the reasons that we have chosen young ladies for our scholarship award is because I hope and pray that my mom’s blessings and who she is can be transferred to the student. I want her matriarchal blessing to be bestowed upon the life of the scholarship awardee.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If immortality were real, what would you build?
I would build a school in East St Louis. I have some great friends who are educators that would be over the daily operations. It would focus on things that I didn’t have when I was in school. When I was a kid, we prayed before class started. I would bring prayer back. I would throw away the history books and have a true black history class. Most of the books I had in school started black people in slavery. True Black History did not start in slavery. I would also have classes that would get them ready for the real world. We would have stocks and trading classes, Chat GPT classes, coding classes, Learning AI classes, relationship with money classes and Entrepreneurial classes.

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Image Credits
Christopher Mikals Photography
Lawrence Brazil Photography

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