Source: Joan McQuaid, The Jones Center
Kajin M̧ajeļ: https://www.chikinmelele.com/elman-bobrae-covid-ilo-burokraam-in-jones-center
Anyone who has been to Springdale, Arkansas knows how to get to The Jones Center. The basketball games and tournaments are a popular past time. A few years ago, Jack Niedenthal screened a Marshallese movie, Jilel: The Calling of the Shell, at The Jones Center. The community center has so much to offer members including a year-round ice skating rink, swimming pool, bike park, fitness center, and indoor track. The Jones Center, which opened in 1995, continues the legacy of Harvey and Bernice Jones who spent a lifetime promoting education and healthcare throughout their home state of Arkansas. If Bernice Jones was here, she could tell you about how she and her husband rallied to create a community space during the Great Depression. When Springdale could not afford to keep the public schools open, Harvey and Bernice Jones rented a church, hired a teacher and paid for school materials to continue teaching the children. Bernice Jones would be glad to see that the center that she founded has been able to continue to serve the community this year. The coronavirus pandemic shut down businesses, schools and community spaces, and communities have had to figure out what needs to meet first and how to reopen. Joan McQuaid, communications and marketing manager for The Jones Center, answered our questions about how The Jones Center was affected by the COVID-pandemic, how they have responded and what programming looks like now. Translation was kindly provided by Chloe Mateariki, accounting assistant with The Jones Center.
The Jones Center closed completely on March 17. Some affiliates, located in The Center for Nonprofits in Springdale and Rogers, have provided drive through events at The Jones Center. They also created a Virtual Center to offer access to programs and activities for members to enjoy remotely. This virtual hub offers online programs to encourage people to stay active and healthy. The virtual programming includes over 10 workout videos online from their regular program instructors: Yoga flow, Strength Circuit, Dance Fit, and Silver Sneaker. There are also lots of suggestions for do-it-yourself family activities like free top golf at home, indoor scavenger hunts, obstacle courses, and online puzzles. Plus, they link to online resources for recreation and activities like online tutorials for skating, biking and ballet, virtual tours of national parks and museums, and story time, theater and art projects. Look for information about upcoming events via social media announcements. More English announcements are now accompanied by translations in Marshallese and Spanish.
During the closure The Jones Center readied facilities for intensive cleaning safety precautions. The food café closed and remains closed. When it was safe to reopen, on May 11, The Jones Center made it a priority to enforce safety measures and social distancing. Presently, access to The Jones Center is limited to a single entrance and exit, with temperature screenings required for everyone entering the building. To reduce the total number of people in the Center, they have limited admission to members only. Some programs have gone on hiatus until the pandemic is over. They have also reduced the maximum number of participants in classes.
Since reopening, The Jones Center has integrated regularly scheduled public sessions for ice skating and lap pool swimming, plus they continue to offer activities that anyone may attend — for example, Runway Bike Park events — held outdoors. Basketball tournaments and games are still held at The Jones Center. Coaches are required to use masks. Players are also required to wear masks, except when they are actively playing on the basketball court. Social distance guidelines are enforced, and audience members are required to wear masks at all times. Family groups are allowed to sit together, with adequate social distance from other spectators. Every other row of the arena is restricted; no seating. Total audience capacity is therefore reduced to half of the regular capacity.
The Jones Center, as an organization, strives to provide programs in an environment which embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion for everyone: “We welcome all to The Jones Center.” Everyone in The Jones Center is required to follow guidelines enacted by the Arkansas Department of Health – this includes members, staff, and the general public during open-to-the-public events. Face masks, social distancing, and adherence to all guidelines are enforced. They provide for and encourage frequent hand sanitizing and washing, and their facilities maintenance teams constantly sanitize equipment and clean all areas of The Jones Center. Their website features a video in Marshallese as well as English and Spanish describing their public health precautions.
Having reopened in May 2020 with limited programming for members, The Jones Center hopes to add more hours for public access to the ice rink, pool, gym and fitness center later next month, January 2021. This depends on guidelines that are subject to changing pandemic conditions. Public health precautions like limited capacity, social distancing, face masks, and temperature checks will continue to be enforced. Day passes will again cost $3 for the pool and gym, $5 for the fitness center and ice rink (+$2 skate rental). The Jones Center is accepting new memberships which has many benefits like The Jones Center Fitness app, discounts on room reservations and activities, use of the walking trail and community park, and free wi-fi. Membership (Individual or Family) ranges from $8-35 per month or $80-$350 per year for unlimited use of the fitness center, gymnasium and indoor track and add-on fitness classes and unlimited use of the pool and ice rink. Scholarships funded by Walmart and Sam’s Club are available based on eligibility, funding, and space. You can inquire about scholarship opportunities for programs and services, if you or anyone in your household currently receives disability, free and reduced lunches, AR Kids, Child Support, Unemployment Benefits, SSI, SNAP, or TEA. Chloe Mateariki, Accounting Assistant, can assist anyone in Marshallese to learn more about what and how to access the many activities offered at The Jones Center. Just ask for Chloe when you call or visit.
