A staunch advocate of educating future generation of leaders by equipping them with the resources and skills they need to be productive members of society, Elvin has worked to elevate the lives of the “least of these” with unassailable results. In 2014 and, again, in 2015, Elvin was successful in securing two separate grants for one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) each to conduct mentoring activities for 2,200 at-risk youths in 30 cities as a part of President Barack Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.” Having served on the board of trustees for New York City’s fastest growing charter school network, Success Academy Charter Schools, Elvin continues to demonstrate his commitment to disadvantaged youths, through leadership by example. Moreover, as the Interim Chief Executive Officer for Take Stock In Children – Palm Beach County, Florida’s largest and only mentoring program that guarantees a full college scholarship to every participating high school student, Elvin has helped countless young people achieve their dreams of obtaining a college degree. Just as importantly, as an acclaimed public speaker, mentor, author, and America’s leading advocate for achieving greatness by embracing change, Elvin’s book, License to Live, has been featured on national and international media outlets, including CNN and National Public Radio, has been lauded as “an eye-opening and heart-stirring message that sheds light on the truth that your past does not dictate your future.” Elvin Dowling has been recognized on the local, state and national levels for his commitment to advocacy and action, including: the “Distinguished Alumni Award” (Education Foundation of Palm Beach County), Ebony Magazine’s “Thirty Leaders of the Future” Award, and the Pathfinders Award” for Community Service, presented by the Palm Beach Post Newspaper. In January 2020, Elvin released his second book, "Still Invisible? Examining America's Black Male Crisis", a gripping nonfiction narrative on the challenges facing Black men today. Since its release, Still Invisible has become an Amazon Bestseller and was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Additionally, the book has been nominated for the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction and U.S. History, the American Book Award, the National Book Award, the Carter G. Woodson Book Award, the Best Indie Book Award, the PEN Open Book Award and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association Book Award for General Nonfiction (among others).