Her official title is dance instructor, but most of the kids just call her 'Mama Rhonda'
Meet Rhonda Thompson, a former Mayo Clinic nurse who ended up at Rochester’s Boys and Girls Club nearly 20 years ago. The connections she has made with kids have lasted far past the day when a child leaves the Club. Rhonda said her Facebook feed is littered with stories from past Club members who have gone on to lead their lives, in Rochester and elsewhere. It’s easy to see the impact Rhonda has on these kids — a sweet, knowledgeable woman imparting her wisdom and kindness on the next generation is something to be celebrated. But this relationship is more symbiotic than you’d think. Reporter Isaac Jahns has the story in this week’s episode of the Rochester Rundown.
This weekend in Rochester
Cold Sweat & Tabby @ Thesis Beer Project
Fargo’s Cold Sweat, a DJ and MC with a penchant for interesting beats is coming to town. Supporting him is Tabby, a Minneapolis rapper with roots in Winona and one of my favorite discographies from any local artist. This show is 21+, but if you’ve got the horizontal ID, you can get in for free.
Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash
I remember being a kid at Bamber Valley Elementary, getting served green eggs and ham for Dr. Seuss’s birthday — maybe your school did that, too. If you’ve aged out of the lunch line but still want to celebrate the children’s icon, head to Kathy’s Pub on Leap Day, this Saturday, for their annual Dr. Seuss birthday bash. It’s a genre-bending party on the second floor, going till closing time, but starting at 9 p.m.
Dessa w/ MONAKR & Topo + the Chemist
Dessa’s bringing her unique and fresh blend of hip-hop and singer-songwriter music to the Castle Saturday night, with special guests MONAKR and Topo and the Chemist. This show is gonna be crazy… and the people of Rochester noticed. This show has been sold out for nearly the entire month of February.
We’ve got a little workaround for that, though. Through Med City Beat’s partnership with My Town My Music, we’re giving away two tickets to our members. If you’re already a member and want to go, great! You’ve got a shot. If not, head to our website and sign up ASAP — winners will be announced in our weekly member newsletter, which comes out not long after this podcast does. Better hustle.
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