Brian Barr of Guilderland was one of five people recently recognized as a Community Bridge Builder at the inaugural awards ceremony held by ALERT, the Albany Law Enforcement Resolution Team.
The not-for-profit was founded by Pastor David Traynham in 2015 after Michael Brown Jr., a Black man, was shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Traynham felt it was just a matter of time before a similar incident would happen in Albany and he wanted to bring law enforcement together with the community to have one city united.
Trynham and his wife, Brenda, founded the New Horizons Church in Albany.
“The key is relationship,” says Barr in the week’s podcast.
ALERT hosts an annual sports challenge, with a carnival-like atmosphere for kids, and a community and law enforcement summit as well as doing outreach.
For example, Barr, who is president of Senior Hope Counseling, will be visiting seniors in housing projects with others to talk about substance-abuse disorders, opioid issues, and life-saving measures, he said.
Through one personal connection at a time, Barr said, the goal is “turning down the violent atmosphere.” Anyone is welcome to join the ALERT task force or to contribute to the cause.
","author_name":"The Altamont Enterprise & Albany County Post"}