Published Sunday, November 01, 2009
National Community Action Network honors Coweta's Robinson
The Newnan Times-Herald
On Monday morning, Minnie Robinson will be busy getting the current Energy Assistance application program under way.
Robinson, who is known for her trademark smile and a drive to help the less fortunate in Coweta County, is the program coordinator for Community Action for Improvement in Newnan. If she has an extra sunny smile this coming week, it might be because of an honor from the national Community Action Partnership program.
In February, Robinson celebrated 40 years with CAFI, which administers a variety of programs that help people in need. She knew about the 2009 Community Action Partnership Convention, held in July in Philadelphia, but could not attend.
The theme for the convention was "Community Action at 45: Keeping Our Promise." It turns out Robinson was one of a select group recognized at the Philadelphia gathering as Community Action noted those who had served with the agency for 40 years or more.
When Robinson went to work with the program, Lyndon Johnson was president. CAFI is one of the remnants of LBJ's Great Society effort that has survived. Locally, the program has not only survived, but periodically transformed itself as the community and its needs have changed.
Recently Robinson received a certificate recognizing her "for decades of service, commitment and achievement, on the occasion of the 45th Anniversary of Community Action." The certificate was signed by Donald W. Mathis, president and CEO for the national partnership which has as themes "America's Poverty Fighting Network" and "Helping People. Changing Lives."
Robinson was surprised when she received the certificate and a Community Action pioneer lapel pin. She also received a letter from Sranda Watkins, administrative and member services coordinator with the Community Action headquarters in Washington, D.C.
"We appreciate your hard work and commitment to Community Action. We encourage you to frame your certificate and wear your 'pioneer' pin with pride -- you truly deserve it," Watkins wrote.
In a February interview, Robinson reflected on her years with CAFI. She got into the program without a college degree or social services experience, but has thrived and become an institution in the Coweta County social services community.
"It was a challenge for me," she said. "I was a person who was willing and wanted to succeed. I began to figure out that if people trusted me and wanted me to take on the program, I had to show them what I could do. I felt like I had to prove it."
Over the years, the local CAFI program has focused on helping people get job training, working with youth and substandard housing -- and Robinson has had a particular interest in helping senior citizens who often lack advocates.
"I'm a people person. It's not about race. It's about helping all our people. I was concerned about people. It didn't matter who they were," she said.
Robinson was born in Newnan but grew up and went to school in Detroit, Mich. She and her husband, Willie Robinson, have been married more than 53 years. They have three daughters, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Minnie Robinson is a member of the Newnan Kiwanis Club and a deaconess at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church.
