The BACK Community

Watch the full interview from 2/2/21 with Mojavi Emi at www.thebackcommunity.info Mojavi is the curator of many creative initiatives that have been entertaining the Albany Community for decades but perhaps he is most recognizable from his works with Urban Guerrilla Theater and Epiphany Radio Universe.

Listen in as he talks about how the arts can play a crucial part in revitalizing the creative minds within our communities and how the youth need various outlets to cultivate a healthy environment.

We talk about the importance of mental health and how the impact of COVID-19 is disproportionally impacting communities of color. Don't put your health on the shelf.

Prepare to be Inspired!

Watch the full interview from 1/26/2021 with Shawn "Floss" Cooks at www.thebackcommunity.info Mr OMG (on my grind) tells us about how he migrated to Albany many years ago and his fondest memories of the city.

He explains the difficulties of juggling work and parenting during this global pandemic and how his community work with the SNUG Outreach program is what he is most passionate about.

Listen in as he explains how changing his mindset helped him to transition to bigger and better things.

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Watch the full interview from 1/19/21 with Diona Howard-Nicolas, Esq. at www.thebackcommunity.info Diona explains how her intrigue for law was sparked by an early encounter she and a group of friends experienced with racism.

Listen in as she breaks down "Believe, Try, Achieve" and how her and her husband are teaching their sons the importance of ownership and entrepreneurial skills at a young age. Their story of sacrifice and commitment to obtain goals for the family is extremely motivational.

Diona tells us about her passion projects and her favorite things to do and places to visit in the city of Albany.

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Watch the full interview from 1/12/21 with Manetertep El Dey the founder of the Albany House of Peace at www.thebackcommunity.info

Listen in as Tep explains how he evolved over the years internally and externally through his civic engagement. We talk about the cost of leadership and how people perceive you differently while your on the journey of self development as opposed to when you reach your final destination. Tep has a rich knowledge and is definitely a history buff so prepare for an education lesson.

Manetertep believes it his duty to bring the information to the people so stay engage as he handles the people's business on this one.

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Watch the full interview from 12/1/20 with Krystle Word at www.thebackcommunity.info The founder of the “KrystleCarterWord.com” she uses the POWER of words as a teacher, creator and storyteller.

Krystle explains how her parents taught her about her rich heritage as an African American and communicated the importance of her knowing her own worth. She explains how racism showed up in her schooling in Albany and how that affected her approach on teaching when she became an educator. Krystle unapologetically explains her ambitious hopes for the city of Albany and how sometimes not knowing the right response can be the catalyst to find the right answers.

Krystle is also the architect behind these thoughtful questions asked during our B.A.C.K. interviews.

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Watch the full interview from 11/24/20 with Nigel Jennings www.thebackcommunity.info Nigel takes us on a journey through his past and shows us how he embarked on a career in hotel hospitality. As a former participant of MODEL, Inc. Nigel and Tyrell illustrate how that mentor/mentee relationship has morphed into a brotherhood over the years.

Being born in Jamaica and coming to the USA early Nigel understands cultural richness. His traveling adventures are a few of the things Nigel loves along with Vlogging and free styling but he lets it be known that the Nigel we see today wasn’t always on this path or headed in the right direction. With a little support and love he continues to beat all the odds and believes the city of Albany can produce more young men that look just like him.

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Watch the full interview from 11/18/20 with Tatiana Cunningham www.thebackcommunity.info Tatiana is the creator and founder of CNYS Black Expo. She tells us about the many lessons she has learned as an entrepreneur and how some earlier business ventures have better equipped her for success.

Listen in as she explains her favorite places to visit in Albany and where she loves to eat. She is proudly from “uptown” as she likes to point out.

Tatiana talks about her hopes for the City of Albany and what she believes needs to change in order to close the equity gap.

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Watch the full interview from 10/27/20 with Angelo Justice Maddox at www.thebackcommunity.info Justice tells us about how he migrated to Albany many years ago and describes his early memories.

Listen in as he breaks down S.W.A.G. and explains how he built the Fresh and Fly Clothing brand. Find out how he got the Hustle man nickname during his undergraduate studies and why the name stuck.

Justice discusses with us the importance of his family and taking advantage of any and all opportunities.

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Watch the full interview from 10/21/20 with Candyce Marie www.thebackcommunity.info Candyce describes her early memories of Albany and the sense of community she felt. She also explains how being a teen mom impacted her but most importantly how it did not stop her from pursing her own goals.

Candyce proudly serves in the US Navy and has been able to travel the world. Equipping her children with the tools to be successful and understand financial literacy is what she is most proud of.

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Watch the full interview from 10/13/20 with Lawan Cancer Sr at www.thebackcommunity.info Lawan remembers the beauty of Albany’s diverse past and lays out a blueprint for us to bring it back.

As an officer within the Albany Police Department he explains how being inside the APD offers him a unique opportunity to police his community as a vested member and hold the level of accountability high.

Lawan’s most proud of his children, his growth over the years and his ability to learn from others.

Prepare to be Inspired!