Humanitarians Honored and Black History Alive at Aquarium of the Pacific

By C. MacDonald

Long Beach, Ca--Dr. Matthew Jenkins, D.V.M., and his wife, Roberta, received the prestigious Heritage Award at the 13th Annual African-American Festival inside the Aquarium of the Pacific Feb. 22nd, during National Black History Month.

Aquarium President/CEO Dr. Jerry Schubel presented the award to the Jenkins for all they have done to help schools, community groups and make advances in social justice and equality. They also were a force in creating this institution!” he said.

The Aquarium has always been about educating our youth and others about the Pacific Ocean,” Roberta said. I grew up on a South Carolina dairy farm and milked cows twice a day. Education was my outlet. And here they're offering education to thousands of students.” Since 1984, the Matthew and Roberta Jenkins Family Foundation has provided scholarships for students, colleges and other institutions. The Jenkins have been very active at Long Beach State, Long Beach City Schools as well as elsewhere.

I'm most proud of our Math Collaborative at Jordan High School, where we help black men improve their grades,” she said. Roberta mentioned volunteer Doris Robinson for assisting in this program.

We use tutoring, mentorship, even a two week Summer Camp to help the men improve and it's a success,” said Robinson, who retired as a Long Beach elementary school principal.

Dr. Matthew Jenkins, D.M.V., met his wife at Alabama's Tuskegee University, where he later served as Interim President. We're so privileged to have this wonderful Aquarium in Long Beach, where they've taken the ocean and brought it inside to help us better understand it,” he said. They're doing such great research on how we can stop polluting and save the ocean. This is critical because we have more than 7 billion (and growing) people on earth but we're not going to get any more ocean. I encourage all the schools to bring their students here.”

The Aquarium's festival featured two days of sights and sounds of local African-American groups, including break and tap dancers, jazz musicians, storytellers, drum circles and a flute performance by the legendary Abdul-Salaam Muhammad near a variety of vendors with handmade craftwork, ethnic food and art as well as black history. The Café Scuba featured Blackened Catfish, Po-Boy Sandwiches, Black-Eyed Peas and Ham as well as Country Fried Chicken. Other ethnic and special groups are highlighted at events throughout the year at the amazing facility which is home to over 11,000 animals from the Pacific Ocean.

Be sure and Discover the Wonder” at the fantastic Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Visit www.aquariumofpacific.org or call 562-590-3100 for further information.

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