New Horizons PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
September 2023 | Vol. 48 | No. 9
Standing in the Gap: Sheritha Jones
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By Leo Adam Biga iversity, equity, inclusion are buzzwords for some, mandates for others. The late photojournalist Rudy Smith became the first full-time Black newsroom staffer at the state’s largest newspaper, the Omaha World-Herald, in the 1960s. Few other persons of color joined him over time. Even in this woke era, the newsroom has only two non-whites today, including chief librarian, columnist and editorial board member Sheritha Jones. Her op-eds give voice to diversity and other social justice concerns through her lens as an African American wife, mother and professional. The Omaha native has been with the paper since 1995. Her experience there mirrors its laissez faire history with diversity. She began in a front desk customer service role while a University of Nebraska at Omaha journalism major, before promoted to newsroom office manager. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she became photo librarian, then assistant librarian and finally chief librarian. The opportunity to pen columns only came in 2021, but the desire and ability was always there.
She got props for writing clear back in high school (Omaha Central). Her wordsmith reputation led friends to enlist her help with their papers. The same thing happened in college with classmates she barely knew. “I understood I was a good writer. I was also a really good editor, but I didn’t know that at the time. I had to learn to edit when helping these people because some were not good writers at all. I had to learn to help them but still keep their voice.” Her daughter Ajana Jones followed her on the higher education
COURTESY PHOTO path. A North High grad, Ajana attended Metropolitan Community College through Avenue Scholars and now works in culinary and hospitality roles and hopes to start her own catering business. Sheritha fully expects her twin sons, both North High honors students, to follow their sister onto college. Post-secondary education wasn’t a given for Sheritha, who became a first-generation college student in her family. Her mother Robin Smith was a teen mom and didn’t finish high school. She did, however, earn her GED. Robin’s fondest desire
was for Sheritha to surpass her and as Sheritha progressed through Omaha Public Schools teachers noted her facility for reading and writing. She haunted the W. Dale Clark Library and later the Aframerican Bookstore, dreaming of being a Black fiction author. At Central she took honors classes but didn’t study journalism until college, first at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, before homesickness led her to transfer to UNO. A need to pay off a student led her to the World-Herald. She attributes her work ethic to her late father Eugene “Gene’O” Persons, who had a liquor, candy, convenience store at 16th and Evans. Known for his generosity to customers and neighbors in need, he also owned restaurants, a limo company and investment properties. The family home was attached to the store, where Jones helped out growing up. Her mother recently retired from a managerial position at CHI Health Center after years doing shift work at an Omaha factory. THROUGH THE RANKS In college Jones worked at OWH and attended school part-time. She --Jones continued on page 9.
Grandfather, grandson will be able to connect through music in the IGO of Omaha
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By Ron Petersen cello is a musical instrument with four strings that looks like a large violin. You play the cello with a bow while sitting down and holding it upright between your legs. To be able to play the cello, you have to have the physical stamina, strength and a great deal of precision, which is what Richard Sherburne and Kobey Sherburne both have. “I really like the cello because I like the lower tones,” Kobey Sherburne said. “The base is very practical.” Richard Sherburne, 76, and his grandson, Kobey Sherburne, 15, both picked up the interest of cello about six years ago, when Kobey agreed to play the instrument for his school orchestra. Several years of practice later, the two get to perform together in the
same orchestra in The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha. “It’s going to be great,” Richard said. “I am very proud of Kobey, and it will be a really cool experience.” The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha is a unique musical ensemble that consists of musicians that are either age 50 and older or age 25 and younger. There are no minimum or maximum age restrictions in the ensemble. “You have grandma and grandpa types playing with those in high school and college. It’s very unique,” Richard said. Richard first played in the orchestra a year ago and is happy to have his grandson join him on stage this year. “I just loved it – I really liked the music we put together,” Richard said. “It is great being a part of this --IGO continued on page 8.
Fun way to stay connected with nature: Bird Watching
Birds are some of the best ambassadors from the natural world. There are roughly 10,000 species spread across countless habitats on all seven continents. Learn more about several of the best places to find birds in eastern Nebraska on Page 16.