Howard Jones Honored In Wilson Friday 2-20-09

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Submitted by Reginald Mitchell
Howard Jones, flanked by U.S. Rep. G.K Butterfield, left, and the Rev. Calvin El ...




Monday, February 23, 2009, 10:43 AM

Howard Jones honored for his work in Wilson

By Janet Conner-Knox | Daily Times Staff Writer


More than 300 people crowded into the Darden Alumni Center Friday night to pay tribute to Howard Jones, founder of Wilson OIC. Jones was awarded the first Community Stellar Award given by Success Dynamics CDC (community development center) of Farmville.

The Community Stellar Award is given to a person who has served his community, making it a better place for the poor and downtrodden, said the Rev. Calvin Ellison, the chief executive officer of Success Dynamics CDC.

There were videos shown and a host of special speakers, one of whom came from California to talk about just how much better Wilson is because of Jones.

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield said he remembers when he first met Jones in the 1970s east Wilson did not look like it looks today.

"We had 23 miles of unpaved streets when I met Howard," Butterfield said. "Job opportunities were not very plentiful, and many young people dropped out of school and didn't have any educational opportunities. Howard Jones came along and created a new vision in this community whereby people became motivated."

Butterfield said many people don't think you can teach motivation, but Jones proved that theory wrong.

Dejohn Battle, 19, said his life has been turned around because of the programs Jones has brought to OIC. Battle attends Charis Prep, a school located at the OIC building.

Battle said he had bad grades in high school until he finally just dropped out of school. He said he started hanging out and wasn't doing positive things in his neighborhood.

"Now my grades are good, I go to school like I'm supposed to, and I plan to go to college," Battle said. "If it wasn't for the programs like OIC and Mr. Jones, I would probably be in the streets and up to no good."


Battle said through the program he feels he is on the right track now.

Also during the dinner, Jones was presented with a print of the Obama girls, done by Jesse Raudales, who is an Olympic artist. A Wilson native, Raudales is the second artist of color to be an Olympic artist, and he traveled from his North Hollywood home to give Jones the first print of this collection.

Raudales went to school with Jones' children and said he is like a father to him. "Growing up, everyone always talked about Mr. Jones and OIC," Raudales said. "He is a great role model and a person you'd want your own father to be like."

Raudales said he felt honored to come back home for the event. He said after all the years he has known Jones, he still believes in reaching back for others, and Jones is where he learned how to give back to the community.

Although the night was to celebrate the work of Jones, he took the time to spotlight the work that still needs to be done in the Wilson community.

"My vision has always been to attempt to end the culture of poverty that plagues our community," Jones said. "In these uncertain times, I find providing leadership to be a responsibility of increasing weight but brings increasing honor. The work of OIC cannot be accomplished without continued partnerships, alliances and support."

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