Robin Carey-Boyd, president of the East St. Louis Branch of the NAACP, says she comes from “a family of servants.”
“My family and I are all natives of East St. Louis. I’m the proud daughter of Robert Allen Sr., and the late great Dr. Edna Rowery Allen.”
Carey-Boyd said her parents instilled the importance of education and community service into her and three siblings. She said they were all “service driven” from their childhood.
Her parents led by example and with enthusiasm.
“My mother was a real dynamo,” said Carey-Boyd.
“She was a director for the Gifted Program for East St. Louis School District and served the district 34 years before retiring.
Her commitments to service and volunteerism included serving as president of the Democratic Women Organization in the 1970’s and social action chair/co-chair for the East St. Louis Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for numerous years.
She was elected to the ESTL Library Board, the State Community College Board, and appointed to the East St. Louis Board of Elections. She also ran for the East St. Louis Treasurer’s Office.
“She was very passionate about the political process,” Carey-Boyd said of her mother.
Robert Allen Sr. is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and dedicated postal worker who returned to college to earn a business degree from SIU-Edwardsville.
“My father also worked and retired from the former State Community College as director of the Vocational School. He went on to become the administrator of the Virgil Calvert Nursing Home,” said Carey Boyd.
“He worked as a substitute teacher in various school districts in the Metro-East area for several years until he retired and became the world’s favorite great-grandfather. “
Carey-Boyd and her husband Michael Boyd have two adult children and “I’m the ‘Nana’ to five beautiful and intelligent granddaughters.”
Her daughter is on the ESL NAACP executive committee and a granddaughter serves as the Youth Council president.
Carey-Boyd is a graduate of Assumption Catholic High School in East St. Louis. She earned a Lincoln University-MO with a B.S. degree in communication disorders at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., and then a M.S. in speech pathology and a M.S in educational administration from SIU-Edwardsville.
Carey-Boyd later served as Lincoln University Alumni Association of Missorui president
She and her siblings all attended school in East St. Louis and went on to graduate from college.
Carey-Boyd has been ESL NAACP president for three years after serving as first and second vice-president. She has been active with this branch for approximately 14 years.
In her role, she has guided numerous food drives, led protest marches, set up Presidential Watch parties and volunteered with “get out the vote” campaigns.
“[Our NAACP branch] is increasing efforts to get people registered to vote,” she said.
“We are organizing fundraisers to increase funding for organizational programming within our various organizations.”
Carey-Boyd has also served as president and advisor to Jack & Jill of America, Inc. East St. Louis Chapter and president of the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She, like her mother, is also a dynamo, organizing Back to School Drives and collecting items for the Women’s Shelter for Battered Women.
“I am very proud of the work we do in East St. Louis. My family’s motto is, “Success is 99% hard work.”
Her chapter is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, and her service is historic in that she is the first woman president of the ESL branch since 1966.
“After 100 years of changes and growth, we are stronger than ever,” she said.
“The struggle continues for Black people as we face systematic roadblocks preventing us from having our rightful place in many areas of the workforce, educational opportunities and living spaces.”
Derrick Johnson, national NAACP president and CEO, will serve as guest speaker during the 70th The NAACP East St. Louis Branch Freedom Fund Banquet, 4:30 p.m. Sunday, October 13, 2024, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand 800 Washington Avenue in St. Louis.
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