Honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

Date: Thursday, January 20, 2022
Place: May and John Gray Library 8^th Floor-Plummer Room
Time: 4:00 PM
Theme: It Starts With Me
Guest speaker: Beaumont City Councilman Albert “A.J.” Turner
Refreshments will be served

Albert "AJ" Turner

Albert “AJ” Turner is a lifelong native of Beaumont, Texas. Married to Ashley Turner, devoted father of four beautiful daughters, Albert is extremely passionate about the Beaumont community.

He graduated with Honors from Central High School in 2005 and earned a full athletic scholarship to attend Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. During his time as a student at Wiley College, Albert was awarded the highest GPA of the Red River Athletic Conference, Defensive Player of the Year, and Criminal Justice Student of the Year. Albert was an active leader on campus, and the student body elected him to serve as President of the Student Government Association, President of The Sociology Club, and President of the prestigious Alpha Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice, Albert was hired as a District Parole Officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Beaumont, Texas. After seven years in the public sector, he elected to pursue entrepreneurship, enabling him to deliver a proactive presence in the community. Albert Turner is now the Founder and CEO of AJ Turner Enterprises, encompassing several marketing and mentorship programs.  Albert has coordinated and facilitated multiple events. These events include huge concerts such as Franky Beverly and Maze, Kirk Franklin, Charlie Wilson, 2Chainz, and many more. Albert has put together multiple festivals and business expos. Albert is responsible for Annual Events such as The Black Heritage Festival, Business Expos, Juneteenth Celebration, and Summer Camps for the Youth. Albert understands the importance of relationships with investors as well as entrepreneurs, he feels it is imperative to have those relationships to see Economic Growth in communities. Albert also holds Marketing contracts with multiple businesses throughout Southeast, Texas. Albert is the Marketing Director for KLV Ventures and Logistics, the company thrives and has contracts with Amazon and FedEx.

AJ received the 40 under 40 Award from the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce in 2016 and was honored with the Award of Prestige for Outstanding Leadership in the Southeast Texas community by ExxonMobil in 2017. In 2019 for the month of August Albert was named Southeast Texas Businessman of the month. Also, in 2019, Albert served on The Sheriff’s Review Board, NAACP Executive Board, Aeronautics Sustainability Institute Executive Board, and Tan Healthcare Board. In 2020 Albert received the Martin Luther King Man of the Year Award. In 2021 Albert was named the NAUW Martin Luther King Humanitarian Recipient. In 2021 Albert was named one of SOC’s Difference Makers of the Year. Albert was also named one of the Rising Stars to watch by the distinguished 100 Black Women Coalition.

Keeping his childhood love of basketball close by, Albert has been coaching local children participating in Athletic Amateur Union Basketball for over a decade. His involvement in coordinating and implementing youth basketball camps annually has provided opportunities for our youth in Beaumont. Albert also does Academic and Entrepreneur camps showing our youth that you can use your athletic talent as well as your brain and be just as successful. Albert has played a major role in teaching young men, and Albert awards scholarships for them to attend a College or University.

Albert Turner has a heart for philanthropy and founded Hoops for Toys, an annual Christmas event, which collects toys for our underserved local population. He understands that our community is stronger together and established a partnership including local law enforcement agencies, and small business owners to facilitate this festive event. Albert is committed to embracing unity and collective compassion for all residents of Beaumont, Texas. In 2018 Albert competed in Dancing With The Stars, a local fundraiser hosted by the Junior League of Beaumont, to generate funding for local non-profit programs. Albert has also created a podcast The Perspective and they engage the community with information from elected officials and reliable sources to keep the community abreast on previous and current issues. Albert often speaks at Public Events, and he loves speaking to the Youth. Albert does Truancy work with the Beaumont Independent School District and feels it’s imperative to touch every kid and assist them and navigate through life.

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