2023 Sneaker Ball Award Recipients

DeForio T. Barlow, grew up in North Philadelphia. He graduated from Roman Catholic High School and received an academic scholarship to Rutgers University, where he graduated with BA in English and African American Studies. He has two Master’s degrees; a MEd in Education and a MS in Educational Administration, both from Cheyney University. He also has professional certifications in Coping Skills and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention from Columbia University.

DeForio began his professional career in 1987 at Community College of Philadelphia. He began as a GED/ABE instructor where he taught and tutored hundreds of students who were able to successfully pass their GED test and matriculate into CCP to take college level courses, gain employment, or enroll in a trade school or apprenticeship program. As a GED instructor, students who took his class had a 96% pass rate.

After two years, an administrative position became available. He was hired as the ABLE Grant Administrator where he worked closely with Community College partners, specifically CareerLink and other small businesses. In this position, he was able to successfully assist 150 students, per semester, with training and employment opportunities. Currently, DeForio is responsible for college-wide testing which includes the College placement test, Credit by Exam, Kaplan Nursing Exam, and CLEP testing. He also works as a part-time Adjunct faculty member teaching English. He serves as a mentor for young men in the College’s Center for Male Engagement. DeForio was a judge for five seasons on CCPTV’s Emmy Nominated “Drop The Mic” spoken word competition.

DeForio is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., He is the Chapter Advisor and mentor to the Omega Delta Delta Chapter located on the campus of Temple University. He has been the advisor for the past 20 years and has organized community service and social action events such as block clean ups, smoke detector installation, PPE giveaways during the COVID pandemic, MLK Day of Service, annual Manhood Monday program where they give away 100 plus free suits and haircuts to the male students and employees who are in need, annual Women’s Appreciation night where professional salon services are offered to the women on campus, feed the homeless in conjunction with Jai iz DOPE, Turkey giveaways for underserved families surrounding Temple University, promoting breast cancer awareness each October, mental health workshops, Gift of Life organ donation partnership, annual Valentine’s Day bake sale, back to school Back Pack Drive where they gave away 100 back backs filled with school supplies, voter registration events, study hall, and countless other community service activities and initiatives for families surrounding Temple University. DeForio won the Undergraduate Chapter Advisor of the Year award in 2019 and 2023 for his outstanding commitment to the undergraduate chapter and his administrative compliance with the university.

From 1996 to 2009, while working at CCP, DeForio worked at WDAS Radio as a producer for MID-DAY gospel show, as well as a Programming and Promotions Assistant. He has also worked as a Master’s Level Clinician providing therapy and clinical supervision to hundreds adjudicated youth, re-entry felons, children, and teens. He worked tirelessly to ensure that all clients received the appropriate services, medical care, and other resources they needed.

From 1996 to 1998, DeForio also worked at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, (PCOM), as the Coordinator for Minority Recruitment. There, he developed and implemented strategies for recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities, created a Primary Scholars Program and Medical Explorers Program, and served as faculty advisor and mentor to all underrepresented minority students. In 1997, he received the Mentor of the Year Award from the Student National Medical Association, (SNMA), for all of his efforts and concerns that focused on the needs of black medical students.

DeForio has been committed to mentorship and educating and serving our youth for over two decades and will continue to support initiatives that foster uplifting his community. He is a “LOW KEY” foodie, food critic, interior decorator, a Self-Proclaimed Broadway Aficionado, and an all–around nice guy.