People find out I'm an actor and either immediately think one of two things; "that's why public speaking is easy for you" or "so you must love being front and center" and I'm here to dispel both. The thing that folks don't realize, is that when I'm acting, it's not me onstage. I'm not putting ME out there to be raw and vulnerable and open to the public and all of their perceptions and opinions. Public speaking makes my heart rate rise, my hands shake and my stomach turn. Being in front of a crowd, being in front of the room, and having all eyes and attention on me makes me want to hide. I'm left thinking, every single time, of all the people who are more qualified, more articulate, and certainly more interesting, who could be occupying my space.
So, that's exactly how I felt when Brian Sano asked me to be a part of this amazing campaign of National Grid's, a Love Letter to Albany. And the truth is, that there are. There are so many more qualified, more articulate, and more interesting people in this beautiful place we call home. People who are inspiring and motivating sustainable change to build stronger communities where ALL can thrive. This is our goal, every single day, as a part of the United Way of the Greater Capital Region but this is a common goal that we share with National Grid and Project C. This is also the common goal of the 26 organizations working out of our for-impact coworking community, The Blake Annex. Whether the focus is youth development, immigration rights, healthcare advocacy, legal services, housing equity, and more, we can all agree on this; we want a more just Capital Region Community, one that is more equitable, more diverse, and more inclusive, for all.
So, for that reason, I will never stop saying yes when you all call me. Because while I may not be my own first choice (or second, or third), I do know that I have a responsibility to use this gift and use it not only to entertain but to mobilize, to organize and to advocate. It is a privilege to get to be here. It is a privilege to get to be heard. It is a privilege to take up this space and if I can use this privilege to keep telling YOUR stories then I can be sure that you all are heard. And really, that's what I'm in it for.
Thank you, Brian Sano and National Grid for letting me be a part of this campaign. I really love Albany and I really love all of you. We have so much work to do, but we CAN do it, if we choose to go at it, together.
“If we stay together, there’s nothing we couldn’t overcome.”
We can’t agree more! If you’ve never had the pleasure of hearing The Blake Annex’s Angelique Powell speak, this video offers a tiny sample. Always inspiring. Always thought-provoking. Always making sure there’s a seat for everyone at the table. 💛
Thank you to our partners at National Grid for featuring Angelique in its Love Letter to the Capital Region campaign. We’re grateful for their support and dedication to strengthening the Capital Region through its Project C initiative.
We encourage you to click the link below and watch the full video, which features a number of our local leaders, including UWGCR Board Members Brian Sano and Hudson Valley Community College President Roger Ramsammy Ph.D./MSc/.
https://lnkd.in/e69HDfVV 📺
NTMWD, Bonham WTP Supervisor
2moGreat job everyone! Let's continue to make our names known. @Centrifugal Force @Water Wizards