Local officials, community partners, and residents got together for a day of healing event at Jennings Landing on Saturday. The goal was to reflect on the loss the community has experienced in the past year due to the pandemic and gun violence.

“My nephew has been gone about 22, 23 years now and my sister still lives it like it was yesterday,” Joyce Williams said.

What You Need To Know

  • There’s been nine homicides in Albany since 2021 began

  • The Minority Health and Equity Task force is reviewing inequities in services

  • Their findings will be released in the next 60 days and could lead to legislative changes

It was back in 1997 that Larry Omar Miller was killed in Washington Park.

“Back then, we were out with community leaders trying to stop the violence, and it seems like over the years it’s only gotten worse,” Williams said.

There hav been nine homicides in Albany in 2021, six in May alone. In addition to violence, the pandemic highlighted major inequities in Black communities when it comes to health care, housing and education.

“The main issue that we are dealing with is the systemic racism that we know has permeated how we operate in government and how it has effected programming,” Wanda Willingham, deputy chairwoman of the Albany County Legislature, said.

Willingham leads the legislature’s Minority Health and Equity Task Force. For the last six months, it's been taking a hard look at what’s working and what isn’t.

“We realize that we have to have a balanced delivery of services, and that’s not going on right now,” Willingham said.

The task force's review could lead to legislative changes and reallocating county dollars. It plans to release full findings in the next 60 days. The task force plans to have more events through the summer to make sure people are heard.

"It’s about showing up and being there and being accountable," Andrew Joyce, chairman of the Albany County Legislature, said. "It’s especially important now given the challenges we’re talking about, given the pandemic, given the violence. 'What are you doing about it,' that’s the question, and showing up is part of it."

Miller’s family says they’re not giving up until they see major change.

“Omar keeps me going,” Williams said. “I have 25 grandkids, they keep me going. Eight great-grandkids, they keep me going. I don’t want nobody else in my family or really anybody else’s family to be a victim.”