Black Heritage Month Difference Maker 2
John Ponder III
Senior Custodian, Facilities Management Services/Staff Council Representative
Briefly describe your responsibilities at RIT.
So, I wear many hats as a senior custodian. My responsibility is to assist the supervisor and help the staff. I also train new staff when they join the FMS team. I help staff with the training they have to take on an annual basis, with anything they may need, which can be helping them with their time, emails, or just understanding their daily assignments. I work in the NTID area, so I also have 13 apartments that I maintain and keep clean for tenants or when old tenants move out.
How long have you been at RIT?
I have been at RIT for 14 years and 3 months. This October will mark 15 years for me.
What is it about your job that keeps you here?
When I first started here as a temporary employee, I was told I could go to school for free and I would have benefits. I said, “Let me stay here.” I started working at RIT at the age of 21. I started school, which also helped me learn about the campus, the different events, the different activities that went on which were amazing. But the main thing about my job that keeps me here is being able to help people. I remember when I first started here a lot of my peers did not know anything about benefits. I asked them if they minded me showing them the benefits plans so they can have benefits for themselves and their family.
You are a Staff Council Representative. Please describe the role of Staff Council.
Staff Council is one of the four governance groups whose representatives constitute the voting members of RIT's University Council. It is an advisory body to the administration on issues and decisions which impact the university. The Council makes sure that all staff are informed of the matters pertinent to their professional lives at RIT. This is not a union or bargaining unit, but it is an effort to establish a system that will include staff as full partners with faculty and students, in the governance of RIT. By serving as a communications conduit for staff, the Staff Council will be a catalyst for positive change within the Institute. Staff Council meets every other Thursday from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. The meetings are open to the public. I hope more people will tune in to these meetings. It's a great learning experience and another way you can learn about the campus and different things that go on and around campus.
How long have you been on Staff Council and why did you get involved?
So, this is my second term. One of the Representatives and I still laugh today about it. I was nominated to be on and was not sure who did it. Now, when I first started working here, I would always hear about the staff council group but never really knew what it was. So, when I received an email from the staff council, I did not know what to expect. But since I have been a part of the staff council, I have gained more knowledge about RIT. Now with what I know, I share it with people around the campus. I have over 80 people I represent, so I make sure they get the minutes and I am the spokesperson for them to ensure their issues or concerns are heard and addressed. As I mentioned before I love helping people, so it just made sense to be a part of staff council. I also have another role. I help put together the staff appreciation luncheon together. I love planning events and just seeing people being able to enjoy coming together and fellowship with their peers or people they do not get to see as often.
We are celebrating Black Heritage Month. Why is it important? Are there any individuals that stand out in your mind when you think of Black Heritage Month?
This is the one month we get to celebrate our ancestors and everything they have done for us. It is important because it gives people a chance to learn about the history of where we come from. Just to see who invented what and how we got here today.
My mom, Valicia Thomas, would be an individual that stands out to me. Watching my mom as a single mom raise three boys. She made sure we had everything, which means she had to work two jobs to make sure she was able to meet all the needs in our household. Even as a single mom, she showed us the principles of being independent, showed us how to go out and work for what we wanted and that started out with doing household chores. I remember on Saturdays we would wake up to the radio on, playing the weekend music and Gospel. Once we had all finished cleaning the house, she would reward us by taking us to different places. I do not know how many people remember Rochester’s Midtown Mall. It was one of my favorites because we would go down and shop, we would eat at Burger King when they had the “2 for 2.22” special- those were the best times! Also, during the Christmas season Midtown was a holiday icon in Rochester with Magic Mountain and the monorail. I can go on and on about growing up and how much my mom made sure we knew about our history and ancestors. My mom started her own traditions that we still carry on today.
Another person, I would say, from the RIT community has retired but we are still carrying his tradition along, we call him Mr. JB, known as Johnnie Brown. More than 25 years ago, JB was instrumental in organizing gatherings that led to him hosting an annual potluck luncheon. Vince Daniele recalls the history of how the gatherings came to be which I will share: During the early 1990s, a few employees from RIT’s Facilities Management Services (FMS) and a handful of NTID faculty members began talking, informally, about tasty food and cultural traditions. Conversations were sparked by what one person brought into the LBJ building for lunch. These conversations resulted in sharing, learning, and often good-naturedly teasing each other about which person might know more than the other about food, cooking, and eating well. Eventually, about seven to ten faculty and FMS staff members went to lunch together at some of Rochester’s Soul Food restaurants. From the very beginning, JB was a leader of the luncheon crowd. What began as informal, impromptu gatherings of FMS staff and a mix of faculty from several departments sharing their cultural cuisines subsequently became an annual luncheon open to all faculty and staff. As the event grew, JB enlisted the help of several individuals to assist with organizing the event. Eventually, the President and Dean’s offices were asked to provide financial support. JB is also responsible for the establishment of the Johnnie “JB” Brown Black Heritage Month Celebration Endowment Fund, which is fully funded and will cover all costs associated with the annual luncheon in perpetuity. If you would like to give to the fund, you can easily do so online here. Now this event started with a few people. Now every year the event has 250 people or more that come together.
Fun Facts
Favorite television show as a kid?
Oh wow, this list can go on and on but I will just name a few: Tom & Jerry, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Looney Tunes, so that tells you I loved Boomerang Cartoon Network that had all the old cartoons.
Favorite spot on the RIT campus and why?
When I started here, I heard we had a hockey team. I said,” Hockey?” Well, 14years later I am a huge hockey fan. Seeing the young students play a sport they are extremely passionate about and watching them work as a team does it for me all the time. And they know their fans are there supporting them. We win some and we lose some, but we still show up for all the games. Of course, I have been around the whole campus. I would have to say another area I enjoy is the central area where all the events take place. That’s where you see all the students and families.
What is on your bucket list?
To travel to all 195 countries in the world.
Do you have a favorite quote?
My favorite quote is from Nike. “Just do it.” Alot of people fear trying new things or they are not sure if they would like it. But you will not know if you like something till you try it. So just do it and you may really enjoy or like it.
It is the weekend, and you have no obligations. How will you spend it?
Most of the time I travel on the weekends. I get off work at 1:30pm and can be in another city within a few hours by plane or car. If I am not traveling, I am cooking for people, Sunday dinners or catering for someone event.
What would your friends and colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
They know I am always going to be on campus working events, traveling, and cooking. They also know I’m always going to be willing to help others in any way I can.