While Albany County’s COVID-19 vaccination numbers continue to exceed the state’s average, residents in more diverse communities continue to be more skeptical.

AVillage, a nonprofit located in Albany’s South End, hopes to ease local concerns.

The group has been reaching out to the community, including through videos.

David Easton, who works with AVillage and runs Easton Unlimited, has recorded videos with Albany politicians, leaders and residents who have been vaccinated. They then get posted to AVillage’s Facebook page.

“I’ve been working and creating just really authentic, striped down, basic social media posts," says Easton. "Not highly edited, not highly produced, that just let people share their thoughts, their experiences or ideas in a really authentic way."

Ejaniia Clayton, 24, recently got her vaccine and is participating in the video campaign.

“I’ve noticed that some people don’t get the gravity of how intense this is," says Clayton. "Like, millions of people died. Millions."

Derek Johnson, who represents the 2nd Ward on the Albany Common Council, also recorded a video. He says he wanted to share his story because it’s already inspired people close to him to get vaccinated.

“I was dead set against taking the vaccine, and what I would love to see is our life get back to the normal life that we lived," says Johnson. "I’m tired of having the cloth over my mouth. I’m tired of having to be six feet apart."

Those at AVillage say they know it’s going to be an uphill battle convincing everyone to get the vaccine, but they’re committed to helping in any way possible.

“For a message and a campaign about public health to be really, truly trusted, it needs to have context, that people are here for the long haul and that this is important, not just in a time of emergency, but all the time,” says Easton.