The God-Mother of the Southeast: A Conversation with Retired Officer Diane Rogers
By M. Todd Manuel
Ink Spot Contributing Writer
Some see her as a mother, and others see her as their protector. I see her as the Southeast's Godmother, a woman who embodies the collective spirit of us all. After being in the Fort Wayne police department for nearly three decades, retired officer Diane Rodgers' mission has stayed the same: to serve and protect the Fort Wayne Community. Her assignment then was to patrol and now is to enhance the community that created her. She is the oldest of twelve siblings and has provided as a guardian over family and community members—covering three generations. If you have ever met her, you know she is as real as it gets: she says what she means, means what she says, and always leads with courage.
"After spending so long patrolling these streets, I've learned that the most important ingredient in making a healthy community is love," explains Rogers. Next, she shared information about herself that was bold and encouraging. She told me she was the first officer to join the force that has been on public assistance. Receiving welfare was necessary for Ms. Diane to note because she has lifted herself by her bootstraps and wants others to know they can too!
My conversation with Retired Officer Rogers was full of excitement and energy as she recounted her experiences on the police force. Perhaps one of the most recognizable faces is her experiences as a black female officer were not without struggle. Nevertheless, this did not stop her from looking out for members of her community. Rogers told me that she "loved to do 'good police work' both on and off of duty" and went out of the way to help citizens voice their concerns with police departments—formally—while in uniform.
Expanding on this, Rogers explained, "It was important [for her] to show others that while I was an officer by profession, that I was their neighbor who shared a community with them in real life," she explained. "No police organization is perfect, but I was committed to helping anyone who could help identify areas where we could improve," said Diane. She also supported Juneteenth celebrations before they became mainstream, popular, and representative of the struggles that Americans now embrace because of the Black Lives Matter movement. She then expressed how great it is to see the next generation advocate for our community, “every generation has to stand for freedom,” she said.
Ms. Rogers carries on a critical legacy for African Americans in this community and has done so since she joined the force in 1989. At that time, only a few black female officers were in Fort Wayne history. Two of them include Rosemary Mosely and Amy Ford, who Diane says to set the way for her and other black female officers today. However, from our conversation, I gathered that what truly sets Ms. Diane apart is not that she was a police officer for so many years but that she has an unwavering love for her people, her family, and her community.
"I intentionally built my home in the community that I grew up in. As the oldest of 12 children, I grew up learning to be successful and bring myself out of poverty," Ms. Diane explained. Adding to her tenure of community leadership, Diane is the president of the Oxford Community Association, the founding instructor of The Rooted Connection LLC, which provides yoga and meditation, and the founder of the self-funded Omotayo Rites of Passage group that teaches the youth how to use African drums to create music, while providing mentoring in a way that hopes to reduce crime. Omotayo teaches love, peace, and self-development principles to children of all ages. And according to their website, "...performing arts activities are a positive influence on youth and can effectively be used as an intervention method to improve academic performance in school, reduce juvenile delinquency and crime" (Omotayo, 2022).
Earlier this year her Rooted Connection yoga studio, located in La Amistad church on Anthony Boulevard, was renovated allowing for more space and storage for community activities. Her classes are becoming more popular as people are beginning to embrace mental, physical, and emotional health. I asked Ms. Diane what she believes The Rooted Connection's true impact is, and she responded, " [The Rooted Connection] helps one embrace who they are, while discovering what true wellness is. In the middle of our conversation, I abruptly noticed a picture with seven other black officers standing with her, hanging on her living room wall. I was surprised to learn that she was one of many other Rogers family members who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting the Fort Wayne Community. When I asked about the picture, she told me, "Oh, that's the Rogers clan!" she said excitingly prideful tone. The Rogers Clan refers to the seven other officers who were family members and co-workers on the force. Going further, I learned how their family relationship helped her adopt and uphold great values while carrying the badge and family name together.
"I have been policing my entire life by looking out for my community... I've been a Yogi since birth," Ms. Diane explained. It was apparent then that just about everything she cares for involves the community, family, and protecting and serving. More importantly, what she cares about directly impacts you and me. Last month she received the MACKfest's Cozi Service Award at this year's Juneteenth celebration. The award was presented to her for her years of community service and love.
What an inspiration we have right here, a leader and community matriarch. She is not perfect and has admittedly made her fair share of mistakes. But what makes Diane Rogers unique is that through it all, she has somehow found a vision and limitless energy to pass along to the next generation. Undoubtedly, DianeRogers will continue to enhance our community and provide hope for the future. “I want to say that our first community is our family. Unity starts in the home, and then it trickles into the street.”
References
About Us. Omotayo Rite of Passage. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://omotayorite.com/about-us/
To learn more about Omatayo, visit https://omotayorite.com/
To learn more about The Rooted Connection, visit https://www.rootedconnectionllc.com/