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Omaha Star
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Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 83 - No. 10 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, May 14, 2021
Family of the Week: Happy 99th Birthday Bennie Jones
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MCC Foundation announces its 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award winner The Metropolitan Community College Foundation has named Marco Kpeglo LeRoc the recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award, an annual recognition given to a graduate whose achievement, service and commitment to MCC and the community is exemplary. LeRoc is a 2007 graduate of MCC with an associate degree in Accounting and is an emerging leader through the Marco LeRoc & Co. organization, which inspires people to grow personally and financially. He is the author of three books, “Active Your Untapped Potential,” “Screw College Debt” and “Cash in With Your Money.” An international speaker, LeRoc has engaged audiences in the Americas, Europe and Africa on the subject of financial literacy education and self-leadership. LeRoc is also the creator and director of the Global Leadership Marco Kpeglo LeRoc Africa Summit, a gathering of young professional African leaders, entrepreneurs and others who cherish Africa and value diversity. He is also the founder and president of The League for African Advancement, Inc. and serves on the board of the Midlands African Chamber of Commerce, the Hidden Talent Foundation and volunteers for other organizations. He was also recognized as a 2019 Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree. For more information about the MCC Foundation, visit mccneb.edu/foundation.
Judge Tressa M. Alioth appointed
Left to right - Back: Braymond Adams Jr. (Omaha, NE), Linda Jones (Chicago, IL), Bennie Jones Jr. (Chicago, IL), Braymond Adams III (Ames, IA), Angela Alzheimer (Des Moines, IA), Elaine Adams (Omaha, NE) Front: Darlene Trotter (Omaha, NE), Perrin Stewart (Omaha, NE), Kennedy Simmons (Des Moines, IA) April is a significant month on many fronts. On Saturday, April 17, 2021, Bennie Jones Sr, celebrated 99 years of life. He’s was recognized with a Drive by and Honk Happy Birthday Parade. A month prior to the parade, he answered 99 “Happy Birthday’ telephone messages from family and friends. Mr. Jones was born and raised in the deep southern state of Alabama in the town of Pickensville JUST 57 YEARS after General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox in April, 1865, ending slavery in the United States. In addition, as we navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, his birth came just two years after the official end of the last pandemic, the Spanish Flu, April 1920. Mr. Jones considers himself blessed as the eldest of seven boys and four girls born to Burl and Mary Jones, to still be in good physical health and able to continue to engage with his family and community. Benny often shares that his father called him “the oldest rat in the barn.” A consummate role model in his working years, he led his family simply. That family included his late wife, Lottie, three daughters and a son born to that marriage and his eldest daughter from a previous relationship. He continues to lead in the only way according to him. “By precept and example.” In addition to his son-in laws and daughter in law, grandchildren and, great grandchildren along with a multitude of nieces, nephews, and others others in his circle of influence continue to reap the benefits of the wisdom gained from his life experiences. Those life experiences of the many hard working African American men and women of the ‘Grand Generation” during the “Great Migration” north. His own personal experiences include but are not limited to: picking cotton and farming in Alabama on his father and grandfather’s land, serving as a seaman in the U.S Navy in World War II and returning to the Pickensville to help his father pay for the land, moving to Omaha and working two full time jobs as a laborer while taking all the trade classes he could (refrigeration and air conditioning, construction, auto mechanics). He has come through overt Jim Crow south of the Mason Dixon Line and covert systemic racism in the north. Throughout his life, a strong work ethic and dedication to family exampled delayed gratification and set a high bar for the representation of a good man. He advised his children and grands to set personal goals and boundaries while displaying warmth and understanding of the challenges others face in navigating life. Happy Birthday Benny Jones Sr. You continue to share wisdom, discernment and good conversation advising those who follow, in the kindest manner, to “make yourself an asset, not a liability.” With humor, the ability to laugh with others and at your own humanity coupled with a positive, outlook you ground us. A National Treasure, established April 17, 1922.
Next Issue: May 28, 2021 Information due: May 21, 2021
Governor Pete Ricketts appointed Tressa M. Alioth of Bennington as District Court Judge in the Fourth Judicial District (Douglas County). Alioth, 47, has worked as deputy county attorney in the Douglas County Attorney’s Office since 1998. Her most recent responsibilities with the office have included serving as lead prosecutor in felony trials and supervising a team of six felony deputy county attorneys. She also has experience working as an attorney in the Domestic Violence Division and Civil Division of the Douglas County Attorney’s Office. Alioth holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Creighton University and a Juris Doctor from the Creighton Judge Tressa M. Alioth University School of Law. Since 2018, she has been an adjunct professor in the University of Nebraska Omaha’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. She is a board member of the Nebraska County Attorneys Association. She’s also a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, the National District Attorneys Association, and the Nebraska State Council Interstate Compact for Adult Supervision. Alioth is on the leadership team of Love Church and serves on the board of directors of Room for Roots, a nonprofit offering mentorship programs. She is being appointed to the Fourth Judicial District alongside Todd O. Engleman of Omaha. The two judges fill the vacancies created by the retirements of Judge Gary B. Randall and Judge James T. Gleason.
Publisher’s Pen By Terri D. Sanders
Shots/vaccinations, masks, social distance, and hand washing is all a result of COVID-19 and life goes on. There are many nationally recognized persons who were born in Omaha. Malcolm Little/Malcom X is one of those people. In the top right corner in the area backed by the Black Lives Matter matting is a sign that stands in the entry way of the Malcolm X Center. Mrs. Rowena Moore was the Founder of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation (1971) used her own monies to stage events commemorating his birth and death. Her dream was to construct an educational and cultural center at the site of his birth David Turnbo Photography home here in Omaha. Fifty years (2021) later at 3448 Pinkney Street stands the Malcolm X Center. Mrs. Moore was the first Black woman to run for the Omaha City Council. Her family owned five lots that included his birth home site and in 1983 the Foundation was incorporated. In 1987 a historical marker was placed on the site. That same year with the report of the Shabazz family and our community she purchased the surrounding ten acres. Inspired by Malcolm’s many speeches on the radio she became interested in starting an organization after Malcom’s return from his trip to Mecca. I wanted to supply history on how the Malcolm X Foundation was started. On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, would have been Malcolm’s 96th Birthday. In past years Omaha celebrated his birthday in a big way. I know one North Omaha titan that quit his job because his downtown employer would not give him the day off for this day of celebration. To commemorate his 96 years the Omaha Star will have 96 cupcakes available for the public in our offices at 2216 North 24th Street (9AM-3PM). Join us to celebrate Malcolm
Native Omaha Days July 26, 2021 August 2, 2021
Submit graduates’ information to: publisher@ omahastarinc.com