About Us
Meet The Allens
Centric Place is a love letter, an homage and the physical manifestation of Racheal and Gerrard Allen's wildest dreams. As second generation entrepreneurs, the Allens desired to create a space to support Black arts, culture and entrepreneurship, while curating a nostalgic experience unlike any other. Inspired in part by an inherited Ebony magazine collection dating back to the 1960's, Centric Place represents Black excellence, community and connectivity.
About Gerrard
A poet, educator, serial entrepreneur and cycling enthusiast known as 'G', Gerrard is passionate about throwing dope events while elevating the Black experience. Gerrard is a founding member of the Poetry Society at Eastern Michigan University and created The Color of Drums, a production currently in its twentieth year.
Gerrard is also the co-founder of Curators of Black Excellence, a nonprofit organization that annually produces Juneteenth Family Reunion, an intergenerational celebration that attracts over 2,000 participants. He is also currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Urban Education from Eastern Michigan University. At Centric Place, Gerrard works with emerging Black artists to curate art experiences, poetry, spoken word and bespoke events.
About Racheal
Racheal is an accomplished executive leader, serial entrepreneur and speaker with a passion for helping Black women leverage entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty. As a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certified strategist, Racheal has nearly 20 years of experience launching and managing complex operations.
Racheal is the CEO and Principal Strategist for Operations School | OPSIDIA, an integrated agency that helps startups and nonprofits build operational capacity through a diverse collective of operations practitioners. Recent recognition includes being named Small Business Hero of the Year by Connect313, a Young American Leader by Harvard Business School, and to Crain's Detroit Business' 40 Under Forty. At Centric Place, she leads entrepreneurial training, workshops and membership experiences.