Robert DeYoung
Written by Taryn Upmann, RNeighbors Summer 2010 Intern
Photo: Standing on the Goose Egg mural prior to summer 2010 painting is Taryn Upman, RNeighbors Intern; Robert DeYoung, Northrop staff; Greg Wimmer, muralist; and Cassie Runke, RColorful Corners Chair.
This year our RColorful Corners program worked on refreshing and creating new artwork on neighborhood intersections across the city. It takes much time and coordination ahead of time in order to get the paint where it needs to be. Thankfully, we have people who work exceptionally hard behind the scenes to make these events the community building experiences that they are.
One of these amazing people is Robert DeYoung of the Northrop Community Education Center staff. He works there as a lead for the Maintenance (custodial/building repairs) Department.
“I come to work every day to provide support services within our department and the school district to fulfill the districts goal of Lifelong Learning for All”. Robert works diligently to maintain and meet the districts standards for Quality and Safety, good customer service relationships with students, staff, and community, in Northrop.
When asked what he found rewarding in his career he stated that because “the building brings ‘Enrichment for All Ages’” and that “being apart in some way of Enriching the community is rewarding.” He also feels rewarded when someone says “Northrop is an amazingly clean building”.
Robert has always lived in Rochester or the surrounding community and enjoys the many activities offered within the city. He enjoys amateur sporting events such as Honkers baseball and Ice hawks. Favorite past times include outdoor activities such as visiting Whitewater State Park and the Mississippi river valley, fishing in S.E. Minnesota trout streams, and biking on Rochester’s “great bike path system”.
He began working with RNeighbors when the Northrop Community Education Center partnered with us in the RColorful Corners Goose Egg street mural. Being an employee, it allowed him to hear about the project and assist.
Being an employee of Community Education, there is consistent news and information available to be involved in the community in some way, something Robert feels Northrop and RNeighbors has in common. “The street murals are a benefit to the community in many ways. When a car comes down the road maybe too fast to be safe and approaches the street mural with all the colors, the car slows down. I’ve seen it happen. It makes Goose Egg park and the Northrop building a safer place for children playing in the area”.
His favorite thing about the mural painting event each year? “Seeing the neighborhood and neighboring organizations and business work together to make their neighborhoods better.” We couldn’t agree more. Thanks to Robert and other RColorful Corner committee members for a successful 2010 mural season!
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