Calvin Leroy King III is a proud father, son, and child of God with a journey rooted in purpose. Born in Heidelberg, Germany, raised in Zion, Illinois, and now based on Chicago’s South Side, Calvin brings a global perspective and local impact to everything he does. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a background in business communications and an MBA in marketing, he has spent nearly two decades crafting go-to-market strategies for brands across industries including a few of his own.

Outside of his professional work, Calvin is the founder and Executive Director of Free Lunch Academy (FLA), a Chicago-based social impact organization focused on equipping youth with social-emotional tools through the creative and performing arts. His signature approach makes complex, real-world topics engaging and relatable for students of all ages. Through FLA’s “Be A Buddy Not A Bully” programs, Calvin helps foster safer, more inclusive learning environments one student, one classroom, and one school community at a time.

When he’s not serving clients or youth, Calvin enjoys writing, traveling, good food, and quality time with his amazing children, Calvin IV and Cali THE Only.