Bobby Rush Revue returns
to Wilebski Blues Saloon
May 10 - May 16, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 19 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
Guiding public engagement
Acolleague, an elder, a friend, a leader
in the community, an educator who
has a wonderful and fascinating story
and a huge responsibility for our
community, Dr. Robert Jones
exemplifies dedication to higher
Creating
a village
By Nettie Smith
Upper Willard Homewood
Eunita Jackson spoke passionately
to over 60 of her neighbors about
children and young people in the
neighborhood: “They need to
know that we know each other, and
that we care about them and
believe in them. That we’re in
charge and they can count on us.”
The room was quiet as she
spoke, then loud with enthusiastic
applause when she finished. This
vibrant, lively crowd met on April
11 at True Vine Missionary Baptist
Church at 26th and Thomas
Avenue North.
Some say creating a village in
a diverse North Minneapolis
neighborhood can’t be done.
Some say it can’t be done in any
neighborhood because people
don’t know their neighbors these
days.
Well, we are doing it! We are
creating a village! We are
neighbors getting to know one
another on many levels. There is
no formal leadership, just folks
NEIGHBORS TURN TO 6 names because this is an
PAGE 5
Scientist and administrator, Dr. Robert Jones, Ph.D
education, to research and to scientific
inquiry, to the University of
Minnesota and to the people of
Minnesota.
In 1978 he earned his PhD in crop
physiology from the University of
Missouri. He joined the University of
Minnesota faculty as a professor of
agronomy and plant genetics and he’s
internationally recognized as an
authority on plant physiology. Jones
has published more than 100 scientific
papers, manuscripts and abstracts. His
research focused on stabilizing grain
Red Hats reign
at Sabathani
One day in 2004 Marionne
Robbins was brainstorming to
find something that would give
seniors something to do. In
March 2004 the Royal Red Hat
Sabathanettes were officially
chartered in the National Red Hat
Society. Robbins holds the title
of Queen Mother, because she is
the Sabathani Senior Center
chapter founder. After her
leadership all other leaders are
called Queen Bee. The current
Queen Bee is Letrice Jones.
The official colors of a Red
Hatter are Purple with a Red Hat.
During a birthday month, a red
outfit is worn with a purple hat.
All members are given fun royal
yields of maize against environmental
stresses.
He’s been a visiting professor and
a featured speaker throughout North
America and in Europe, Asia and
Africa, and during the resistance to
Apartheid he served as an academic
and scientific consultant for
Archbishop Tutu’s South African
Education Program. In addition to his
contributions to agriculture
worldwide, Jones has also held
administrative positions at the
University of Minnesota for the past
RRHS
organization strictly for fun and
enjoyment. There are no
meetings, but frequent gatherings
and events. Seniors on walkers,
canes, or just moving a little
slower, are not stopped from
participating in the Royal Red
Hat Sabathanettes.
Thanks to Sabathani Senior
Center, the organization has
access to transportation,
provided for a nominal fee, to
transport the group to our
events. But limited by size not
all are able to ride in the van.
(Would someone help us obtain
a larger van)
We participate with other Red
Hat Groups throughout the State
of Minnesota. Our membership
UROC:
research
driven
access
to power
Professor
By Al McFarlane
Editor-in-Chief Mahmoud
El-Kati
The University of Minnesota and will begin a 3 part
residents of North Minneapolis
celebrate the opening of a first-of-its series on Haiti, it’s
kind collaborative facility that serves glory and it’s tragedy
the needs of urban communities. The starting next week.
U’s Urban Research and
Outreach/Engagement Center Watch for it!
(UROC) and community partners
launch the initiative with a grand
opening celebration 1-6 pm
Wednesday, May 12.
UROC is located at 2001
Plymouth Ave. N., between Newton
and Oliver. The building once before
opened to great fanfare and with
great expectations. It was the newly
built home of neighborhood owned
entrepreneurial enterprises. Known
as the Penn Plymouth shopping
center, the building opened in the
mid 70’s and included King’s Super
Market, Coast-to-Coast Hardware
Store, The Phone Store, a
Northwestern Bell Telephone
File Photo Company retail outlet, the Carl Eller
Liquor Store, and J.C. Clark’s
Pharmacy. Mo’nique
It was a symbol of pride hailing
the emergence of a vibrant middle-
at the Orpheum
class North Minneapolis that could Theatre
20 years, including his current position
support and celebrate Black business
leadership and development.
PAGE 5
as the Senior Vice President
UROC is igniting those feelings
responsible for all academic
of pride, hope and possibility once
administration and outreach
again with its multi-million dollar
throughout the five-campus
investment to renovate and retool the
University system.
resource to deliver impact in today’s
His university leadership
social and cultural environment.
responsibilities include, but are not
As one of the very few land-
limited to, administrative oversight for
grant research universities located in
the University’s four coordinated
an urban setting in the United States,
campuses, public engagement and
the University of Minnesota has
outreach, diversity and multicultural
Q&A TURN TO 4 UROC TURN TO 8
Style on
a Dime:
It pays to seek
wisdom and ask
good questions
PAGE 8
Suluki Fardan
Mr. T’s Sports
Report
Suluki Fardan
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Top left: Georgia Omorean and Queen Mother Marionne Robbins.
Top right: Virginia Clark, Queen Bee Lee Jones, Mary Mitchem backs up his big talk
and Marjorie Tendle. Bottom right: Clara Tims, Ruth Wilson,
Vernice Carter, Flora McRae, Opal Byrd, Marcileen Martin and
Cassie Norris.
PAGE 11
enrollment is only open in The average age of a Red
March. We are the largest African Hatter is 75, however, their
American Chartered Red Hat participation in this group makes
Group in Minnesota. them feel so much younger.