Growing up as a child in Natchez, Mississippi, Albert (AJ) Bacon was encouraged by church and family to reach out to others. Throughout his childhood, he also enjoyed the reward of teamwork as he played sports. When his brother joined the Marine Corps, and later the Army Reserves, AJ decided to take these interests of serving and collaboration to a higher purpose. To this end, AJ was particularly drawn to the U.S. Air Force as he was inspired by their motto, "Aim High" as well their mission and career opportunities.

Twenty years later, AJ retired from the Air Force and later joined After First Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield, Florida, where he was further led to actively engage in "good works", as he served others. Social work appeared a natural fit. "Social work seems to have a firm goal of assisting others," he noted. Social work was an even more natural fit to pursue a degree at Florida State University, home to his favorite football team and a university he had dreamed of attending.

Once at Florida State, AJ found his experiences with his fellow College of Social Work instructors and students to be invaluable, with the classroom environment a place rooted in genuine care, compassion and learning. For AJ, this included an unforgettable opportunity to study abroad to experience international social work.

Traveling to Durban, South Africa, AJ participated in what he called a “golden opportunity” to experience the world while getting to “participate in a hands-on, real-world training opportunity with diverse populations” He witnessed the refugee crisis in South Africa, along with the accompanying struggle in shanty towns and poverty. But above all, he recognized what a notable role social workers play in the world to help people overcome these kinds of challenges. He spent twenty-one days studying international disaster relief and recovery. He credits the experience as one critical to his training as a social worker and his interest in Christian missionary work.

AJ also spent a year, and more than 330 hours, serving with the AmeriCorps Goodwill Good Works program as an employment resource connector at the Goodwill Career Training Center in Springfield, Florida. He worked with persons with disabilities and other clients in acquiring life skills training, training on successfully navigating the employment process, and overcoming employment barriers.

In 2012, he completed his undergraduate field placement in child welfare at Big Bend Children’s Home Society and graduated in the spring. He progressed straight through MSW Program, completing a field placement at Emerald Coast Behavioral Health in the inpatient Military Resiliency Unit and graduating in 2014. 

AJ would jump right into social work after graduation, starting as  a child welfare dependency case manager and community organizer with the Panama City Faith and Community Based Prevention Coalition. AJ worked directly with children and families in local communities with urgent needs as a case manager. His role as a community organizer also challenged him to organize a community network of local church organizations and community agencies to support a youth alcohol and drug prevention initiative.

 Throughout his experiences as a social worker, AJ remained active in his faith. He recollects feeling called to serve on a higher level as a minister, a role that harmoniously blended the values of his faith and as a social worker. “My social work education, training and experiences greatly benefit my roles as a preacher and teacher,” he explained. “The continued use of my counseling, motivational skills and knowing additional resources in the community are priceless, as well as is my ability to continue to reach out to the needy, disenfranchised and incarcerated.”

AJ also continues to serve with the charity, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), a nonprofit providing lifetime support to veterans. As a chapter service officer, AJ assists veterans and military families with processing claims for Veterans Administration benefits and services, along with processing individual financial assistance requests on behalf of his local DAV chapter.

AJ’s journey of diverse experiences reflects the breadth of opportunities available with an education and career in social work. “It is a career that affords the highest gratification in knowing that you can make a difference in your community and in the world,” AJ said. “Look for the opportunities to grow.”

This year, AJ, along with two other FSU Panama City graduates, Kevin Elliott and Janice Lucas, were recognized for demonstrating excellence as students and their outstanding contributions to their communities and careers. The recipients are among the 80 Notable ‘Noles in the Panama City area since its inception in 1996.

Read about the 2020 FSU Panama City Notable ‘Noles at https://pc.fsu.edu/2020-notable-noles.