Albany Technical College is proud to announce the upcoming TEAAMS Monthly Empowerment Session on February 9, from 11:00 am-12:00 pm at the Kirkland Conference Center. Reverend Chairman Lorenzo L. Heard will be speaking at the event. This session is part of the college's initiative, Teaching, Empowering, African Americans to Succeed (TEAAMS), designed to provide African American Males with fundamental skills to help them succeed and persist through internal and external challenges.
"In October 2021, Albany Technical College received a 2.9-million-dollar grant for Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI). The TEAAMS project is designed to improve African American males' educational outcomes through completion. Since the inception of the TEAAMS project, we have served over 300 students. The need is there and will continue to support the students," said Quanta Bell, TEAAMS Project Director.

"The TEAAMS Project is honored to have Reverend Lorenzo L. Heard, the 1st African American Chairman of the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners, empower the African American Male students during this event," said Quanta Bell, TEAAMS Project Director. "Each month, the TEAAMS project hosts a Monthly Empowerment Session; ATC Faculty and Community Leaders are invited to speak to the students."

Reverend Lorenzo L. Heard is a native of Leesburg, Lee County, Georgia. Pastor Heard began preaching at seventeen years of age and, after three years, began his first pastorate at the Macedonia Baptist Church in Patterson, Georgia. In 1987, he became the Pastor of the Saint Galilee Baptist Church in Sparta, Georgia.
In 1993, he became Pastor of the Greater 2nd Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, where he is presently serving.

He is a 1981 Graduate of Lee County High School. He attended the formerly known FVSC, now Fort Valley State University, and transferred to Morehouse College in Atlanta after two years. He received a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Albany State University and an MDiv from Mercer University in Theology in 2020.

With his outstanding ability to lead and relate to people and his commitment to community and citizen building, Rev. Heard, along with others, has built an outreach program for the East Albany community that is definitely making a difference in the city. Since his arrival at Greater Second Mt. Olive Baptist Church, his commitment to "Building a Model Community that in Turn Builds a Model Church" can be seen in building structures and community programs, but most of all, in the changed lives of people that have been helped by the church and the Community Outreach Program.

He is leading his congregation and citizens of the community to be active in their communities, civic organizations and in setting the political agendas of the city.

He challenges them to be conscious of world and community issues and to be proactive instead of reactive about how they will affect their lives. He also challenges everyone to be involved in the political system and agendas of the city and the nation by registering to vote and attending community meetings to be aware of the issues.

For the past 28 years, through Mt. Olive Community Outreach Center, Inc., Pastor Heard has paved the way for many youths to receive free tutoring and academic assistance through the After School Programs held each week. He also ensures that the Center provides a safe haven for youth during the summer months through the Summer Enrichment Camps.

Understanding that empowering our community is essential to the success or failure of our people, Pastor Heard has also developed affordable rental and home ownership programs for low-moderate income families.

In May 2022, he was elected as the first African-American Chairman of the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners and will begin his political path in January 2023.
He has done so much for so many with such sincerity and humility that he is often referred to as a "Quiet Giant." He is a kind man with a true Pastor's heart and love for mankind.
He has authored two books: Stuck in a Storm and Missing Your Calm-Discovering God's Purpose for Your life and Lessons in Money Management. The father of three is married to Mrs. Leslie Parrish-Heard and is the son of Mr. McArthur Heard and Rev. & Mrs. Roosevelt and Laverne Carter.

If you would like more information about the TEAAMS project, you can contact Quanta Bell, Project Director for TEAAMS.
Email – [email protected]
Phone -229.430.1708
Web page – albanytech.edu