Meet Albert Alford Jr.

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Albert Alford Jr.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Albert, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose through 4 things being a Black man, a Dad, a Marine, and a Poet. As a black man I carry history in my skin. Every step forward was a step against resistance while being resilient. I know what it means to be seen and unseen, to be feared and overlooked, to be doubted and yet undeniable. My purpose lives in survival—but also in thriving, in joy, in expression, in being fully me in a world that often says you shouldn’t.

Being a dad is knowing it’s not just about you. It’s about every choice you make that ripples outward. I’m the protector but now with bedtime stories, boundaries, and showing up. I see the world differently through their eyes, and through the lens of legacy. My purpose through them has soften my heart but I want the best for them.

As a Marine I learned discipline, duty, and sacrifice. It also showed me I that I was part of something larger than myself.. Purpose came from protecting others, from service to brotherhood. But it also raised questions: What do I fight for when the war is over? Who am I outside the uniform?

As a poet I began to turn inward. Working on a language that became my sanctuary and salve.
I started telling the truth—the raw, unfiltered kind that doesn’t make it into after-action reports.
Poetry let me translate my pain, pride, trauma, and love into something that breathes.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I work for the Department of Housing and Urban Development as Program Analyst. As a Program Analyst I help HUD make smarter, more equitable decisions. My work directly affects housing affordability, community resilience, and economic opportunity—especially for vulnerable populations like veterans, homelessness, and youth. With Policy and Process Improvement I recommend changes to program policies, guidelines, and procedures to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

I work with other state and local entities like the Department of Veteran Affairs and Public housing authorities to develop implementation plans for new or revised programs. I analyze the performance of HUD programs like public housing, homelessness assistance, community development grants. My day to day I use data, reports, and metrics to assess program impact and identify areas for improvement. This will reflect in how I conduct cost-benefit or policy impact analyses.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Be determined for your goals there is always ups and downs this is where you reflect and use your mistakes to overcome your obstacles. There’s not just one way of doing things making your mark is what makes you the person that stands here today. 2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, we all get caught up in being self-made but there are people that can help you and give you information. Try to find a mentor or someone who you look up to, this person or persons can provide valuable insight to what you maybe going through. 3. Find your peace, in busy world take time for yourself in the elements that serve you best. I love writing by bodies of water and I love going to the mountains to breathe in the landscape. In finding your peace it keeps you centered.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

My book Matters On My Mind played a key role in my development as a writer. It was the first time I gave myself permission to tell the truth out loud. As a Marine, I’d been trained to compartmentalize, to lead with discipline and suppress the rest. As a Black man, I’d learned early how to navigate a world that often didn’t want to hear my full story. But Matters On My Mind cracked that silence.

Writing it forced me to confront the weight I was carrying—grief, identity, fatherhood, trauma, pride, resilience. Every page became a mirror, and every poem a release. The process taught me that writing isn’t just about crafting lines; it’s about digging deep enough to find something real, then shaping it so it can speak to others too.

That book made me a writer—not because it was published, but because it demanded honesty. It taught me how to sit with discomfort, how to name pain without shame, how to love the complexity of my own mind. It connected my past to my purpose, and turned personal reflection into public healing.

Matters On My Mind was the first time I realized my voice had weight. And that weight could move something in someone else.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Resistingword45 @librappetite
• Linkedin: Albert Alford Jr.
• Other: Tiktok: Resistingword

Image Credits

Albert Alford Jr.