The BACK Community

Watch the full interview from 4/22/2021 with Jillian Sherman at www.thebackcommunity.info

Assistant Principal Sherman discusses her path to becoming an educator and all of the ways she gives back to the community.

Growing up in Albany she explains how her favorite hangout spots was the library and the New Courts. We see how her passion for track and fashion continue to influence her life today as she educates and mentors this next generation of students.

Listen as we discuss the importance of exposure and consistency but how education can open up doors that you couldn’t even begin to imagine.
 
Prepare to be Inspired!

Watch the full interview from 4/21/2021 with Alonzo “Zo Zigga” Verbal at www.thebackcommunity.info

Zo discusses everything from fitness, to therapy to how education transformed his entire way of thinking.

We discuss his passion for the arts and how his transformational plays help to educate and heal the community.

Listen as we both discuss how a childhood tragedy affected us and the importance of encouraging vulnerability among men.
 
 

Prepare to be Inspired!

Watch the full interview from 4/20/2021 with Patrick Williams at www.thebackcommunity.info

Listen in as we discuss everything from bullying, systematic racism to overcoming failure.

Pat talks about his earlier struggles with education and how he managed to not give up and later obtain his GED, graduate from Le Monye College and obtain a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.

We discuss how the George Floyd verdict rendered on 4/20 has given the day most known for celebrating marijuana a new meaning and historical significance.
 
 

Prepare to be Inspired!

Watch the full interview from 4/6/2021 with Patrick “Flay” Robinson at www.thebackcommunity.info

This episode with Flay is easily one of my favorites already.

Flay talks about how his passion for community activism and how he was inspired by watching the pillars in the Albany community that laid the foundation before him.

We talk about fashion and the cultural shifts, we talk about “Cooking with Flay” and of course we talk sports. 
 
 

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Watch the full interview from 3/30/2021 with Joe Bell at www.thebackcommunity.info Joe talks about his work as a party promoter both in Albany and Atlanta and what he does to curate the ultimate club goer experience. As a realtor Joe focuses in on the abandoned houses in the Albany community and why it is so difficult for investors to purchase homes in the City of Albany.

Listen as he explains his favorite places to visit in the City of Albany and what the city needs to do to attract and maintain the young professionals eager to have a social life.

We explore how growing up in Albany best prepared him to be an adult.

Prepare to be Inspired!

Watch the full interview from 3/22/2021 with Lonnie “Love” Griffin by going to www.thebackcommunity.info Lonnie explains how his work as a Corrections Officer strategically positions him to help encourage and motivate those in need of guidance.

He wears several hats in the community and trust me they don’t call him “love” for no reason. Listen, as he explains his love for the Albany Community and how he lives vicariously through his children’s educational pursuits.
 

He explains the benefits the watcher and how being the tortoise is better than being the hare.
 

Prepare to be Inspired!

Watch the full interview from 3/2/2021 with Ron “Cook” Barrett at www.thebackcommunity.info Cook’s work with the youth in the Albany community spans over three decades.

Through his work as a gang prevention specialist and perhaps most notably “Teen Night” he has been able to positively shape and steer the minds of many Albany inner-city youth.

Listen in as he touches on the urgency of youth issues and the importance of more diversion programs.

Prepare to be Inspired!

Watch the full interview from 2/23/21 with the Hon. Jahmel Robinson councilman in Albany, NY at www.thebackcommunity.info Councilman Robinson tells us how he juggles between duties as husband, father, councilman and Pastor .

Listen in as he discusses the power of politics, parliamentary procedures and the importance of mentorship in the city of Albany.

Prepare to be Inspired!

Watch the full interview from 2/16/21 with Kashiff Thompson www.thebackcommunity.info Kashiff tells us about his enthusiasm for learning and how education increased his self awareness.

Listen in as he breakdowns the importance of mentoring and how his mediation skills have been used to resolve conflicts throughout the Capital District area. Kashiff discusses his early struggles with school and how he later went on to graduate from Harvard. Currently he’s pursuing his PhD at George Mason.

Hear his plans to stay engaged and involved in the Albany community.

Prepare to be Inspired!

Watch the full interview from 2/9/21 with Tiera Gailliard-McAfee at www.thebackcommunity.info Tiera is a Social Worker by profession but I think being a "sports mom" is what she is most passionate about. She explains how important authenticity is to her own brand but also as a counselor.

We talk about the importance of mental health and her hope and desires of reaching back to the Albany youth.

Listen in as we explore education, traveling and how the community centers of old have disappeared.

Prepare to be Inspired!