Eastern High School graduate Anthony Allen keeps a full calendar.  A Promise Scholar studying business at Michigan State University and Lansing Community College, Allen also manages a Verizon store in town and devotes what time he has left to his true passion:  LNSNG.  Allen started the apparel company with two friends from high school and fellow Promise Scholars, Noah Maldonado and Mamduh Muridi.  The name of the company is a tribute to their home town.

Growing up, many of Allen’s peers talked about moving away from Lansing after high school.  “They would say there’s nothing to do here and they wanted to leave,” he says.  Instead of joining them, Allen saw an opportunity to stay home and help improve his community.

These days, he’s confident Lansing is once again on the rise.  “We’re starting to see people tap into that potential,” Allen says.  “I’m glad I’m around for it and I’m able to help build things and revitalize the city.”

LNSNG is a big part of Allen’s community-centric vision for his hometown.  The company has collaborated with local musicians and local artists, many of whom graduated from high school with Allen and his friends.  Allen says they have also produced designs to help raise money for local causes, including scholarships.

Even the day-to-day management of the company has a distinctly hometown ethos.  “We’re trying to keep the culture of the city alive by investing back into it,” says Allen.  “Buying from printing companies here and that kind of stuff, it works with what our mission is—what our goal is for Lansing.”

Juggling all these different responsibilities may seem like a challenge, but for Allen it comes naturally.  “I have my hand in a lot of things,” he says.  “I’m not tooting my own horn; it’s just what I like to do, really.  Making sure I’m involved in the community.”

Readers interested in learning more about the company can visit www.LNSNG.co, or check out LNSNG on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.