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Joy Allen, InHER Piece Founder

Meet Our Founder

Dr. Joy Allen

Dr. Joy Allen is a wife, mother, pastor, entrepreneur, clinical research executive, and lifelong student! She fell in love with shooting sports after taking her "first shots" in November 2015 and quickly began sharing her newfound knowledge, zeal, and expertise with the community.

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In May 2017, Joy launched E3 Personal Defense & Safety, a professional firearms training business that has served hundreds of organizations and students since its inception. Through this venture, Joy went on to become the first "triple-threat" certified African-American, female Certified Instructor in North Carolina (NRA, USCCA, NAAGA), and has been breaking barriers ever since! Joy is also credentialed as a Certified Training Counselor with both the USCCA and the NRA, an accomplishment still quite rare, especially for women of color. Most recently, she added the Rangemaster Certified Instructor credential to her credit. Her passion for empowering others has been evident, as she continues to certify, mentor, and deploy other instructors, particularly those in under-represented demographics. As she always says, "Being the first is hard. But if you do it right, you won't be the last!"

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To directly change the narrative and bring immediate diversity to the firearms community, Joy founded and launched InHER Piece in May 2020. Since that time, several hundred ladies, representing many cultures, nationalities, and ways of life have connected to InHER Piece, creating a supportive, inclusive, and enthusiastic environment where women can build confidence through the expression of the Second Amendment. 

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Peace of mind, one round at a time!

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For more information, or to schedule training with Joy, visit www.e3personaldefense.com.

Credentials

Impacting a culture and changing a narrative takes heart, passion, and determination. It also requires performance and skill. Joy is an avid proponent of training and education. Her track record continues to set her apart as a catalyst for change in the 2A community and an inspiration to all who join the InHER Piece family!

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  • Founder, President & CEO, InHER PIECE Ladies' Shooting Clubs

  • Owner & Operator, E3 Personal Defense & Safety, LLC

  • NRA Certified Training Counselor

  • USCCA Certified Training Counselor

  • IFSA Certified Firearm Specialist

  • GLOCK Certified Armorer

  • Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response (ALERRT) Certified Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) Instructor

  • Pistol Practice Affiliate Instructor

  • Non-Lethal Defense and Security Consultant

  • USCCA Certified Instructor

    • Concealed Carry and Home Defense​

    • Women's Handgun and Self-Defense

    • Emergency First-Aid Fundamentals

    • Countering the Mass Shooter

  • USCCA Certified Range Safety Officer

  • NAAGA Certified Firearms Instructor

  • NC DOJ Certified Concealed Carry Handgun Course Instructor

  • NRA Certified Instructor

    • Pistol​ and Marksmanship Fundamentals

    • Rifle Shooting Fundamentals

    • Defensive Pistol I (Personal Protection Inside the Home) Certified Instructor

    • Defensive Pistol II (Personal Protection Outside the Home) Certified Instructor

    • Refuse to Be a Victim® Instructor

  • NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer

  • NRA Women on Target® Clinic Staff Volunteer

  • Distinguished Expert in Pistol and Defensive Pistol (I & II), Winchester (NRA) Marksmanship Program

  • Executive Team Advisory Board, National African-American Gun Association (NAAGA), 2021-2023

  • NAAGA Queens of Defense (QOD) Founding Director & Program Coordinator, 2022-2023

  • Member/Level 1 Competitive Shooter, International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA)

  • Fuquay-Varina Chapter Co-Leader, Armed Women of America (AWA)/The Well Armed Woman (TWAW)

  • eChapter Member, A Girl with a Gun Shooting League

  • Adult and Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED Certified, American Red Cross

  • Stop the Bleed® Certified, American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma

  • 2022 NAAGA Woman of the Year

  • 2021 NAAGA Female Leadership Award

  • USIDHR Certified Human Rights Consultant

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Joy has also been featured in several periodicals and blogs, including the IDPA Tactical Journal, USCCA Concealed Carry Magazine, NAAGA Sharpshooter, The Charlotte Post, VoyageRaleigh, ICON Weekly, and many more.

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