Roberto Allen's Biography

Adversity, challenge and obstacles are chapters in many of our stories. Hardships often produce great men of character. In this case, hardship produced a great man, role model and author.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Heart of a Champion-Breaking the Chains author Roberto Allen is no stranger to adversity. Growing up in a dysfunctional household, he always aspired to become more than his situation.

Ever since his childhood, Roberto had a personal goal to go to college. In 1996, he graduated from Robert A. Taft High School and set out on a journey toward reaching that goal. Attending Cincinnati State Technical and Community College after graduation, he earned an Associate of Arts degree. Overcoming dysfunction and lack of support from his family, he continued his educational quest and enrolled at Ohio Dominican University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Multi-Disciplinary Studies. While in school, Roberto found another outlet in basketball, where he was captain of the Ohio Dominican Panthers basketball team. Graduating from college was nothing short of a triumphant victory for Roberto; he was the first person in his family to earn a college degree. He also viewed this as a victory for black men everywhere, as he accomplished something that society deemed impossible.

Heart Of a Champion-Breaking The Chains is a non-fiction inspirational piece that depicts the life of a young black male that had to overcome tremendous adversities and challenges on his journey to success. The book originated from Roberto jotting down his thoughts from his past to help therapy himself.

Roberto has gained much recognition for his writing so far, appearing on TV, radio and online publications and debuting as a keynote speaker. Some of those appearances include Cincinnati Issues with Lincoln Ware, Straight Talk Live, hosted by Nathan Ivey, Living to Write & Writing to Live Blog and the Black Male Role Model Luncheon as the keynote speaker. Heart Of a Champion-Breaking The Chains was selected as the Book of the Month by Morethanaspace.com and the Studio Book Club.

Currently Roberto works for Cincinnati Public Schools, where he provides youth who are going through similar life experiences that he once experienced the opportunity to increase their awareness about society and what is expected of them. He is the head coach of both the Rothenberg Preparatory Academy Middle School Boys’ Basketball Team and the Dayton Pilots 6th Grade Boys’ Basketball Team.

Roberto is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and gives back regularly through the LeBlond Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati. He wants Heart Of a Champion-Breaking The Chains to positively impact youth who are facing serious challenges in their personal lives and to help them understand that they control their destiny and they can truly be whatever their mind and heart desires.