Education is the road to a better life, but that road is often filled with obstacles. For nearly 30 years, Alabama Possible has transformed how people think and talk about economic opportunity and educational attainment in Alabama and beyond. Join us as we continue to have transformative conversations with various Alabamians about the barriers to prosperity and how we can break them down. Listen to any of the episodes below. If you like an episode, please leave a rating and review!
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Episode 7: Break It Down with Chandra Scott
Episode 6: Break It Down with Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy was recently named one of the 32 Powerful and Influential Alabamians to know. She is a government relations and policy consultant at The Jones Group LLC and the founder and owner of Kennedy Consulting LLC. In this episode, Kennedy explores advocacy and what it looks like in the state of Alabama.
Episode 5: Break It Down with Mae Whiting
Each year, Alabama Possible compiles the Barriers to Prosperity Data Sheet. This data sheet provides numerous variables that might serve as “Barriers to Prosperity” for Alabamians in all 67 counties. In this episode, Mae Whiting, the Alabama Possible Data and Research Manager, gives some context about the data sheet and best practices for viewing and using the data sheet.
Episode 4: Break It Down with Chris McCauley
For over a decade, Chris McCauley has been involved in civic engagement in Alabama. His most recent project includes spearheading the Break It Down Discussion Series. The virtual discussions were centered around the Barriers to Prosperity Data Sheet and encouraged citizens across Alabama to find common ground and share their lived experiences. Chris currently serves as the Director of Communications for the University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and Sciences.
Episode 3: Break It Down with Messiah Williams-Cole
Last year, Messiah Williams-Cole was selected to be an Alabama Possible Student Advocacy Fellow. Shortly after, he was elected the youngest mayor of Camp Hill, Alabama. In this episode, we discuss his classroom to community journey.
Episode 2: Break It Down with Valencia Belle
At the age of 12, as an entering high school freshman, Valencia Belle began her first fee-for-service tutorial business assisting fellow students with ACT Prep in Science and Math. Fast forward to 2015, she launched the S.C.H.O.O.L.S Program (Success Can Happen Out Of Low Scores), an Academic Enrichment and Supplemental Education Services Company, which offers ACT Prep, STEM tutoring and “wrap-around” educational coaching services to advance graduation rates and college entrance. As a result, multiple parents and students have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in college costs.
Episode 1: Break It Down with Wayne Flynt
This year, Alabama Possible celebrates its 28th anniversary. Listen to one of the founders, Wayne Flynt as he shares the evolution of the Alabama Poverty Project to Alabama Possible.