Our Community Our Voice - Flint Neighborhoods United

FLINT
Our Community Our Voice
Standing Together For Positive Change
African American Heritage Month
"From Celebrating Freedom to Civil
Rights to Right to Live"
By Tendaji W. Ganges
Each year in February
we celebrate African
American
Heritage
Month by looking at
the history, contributions and achievements
of African Americans.
Too often we begin at
the usual baseline of
slavery and offer a few
lines about Harriet
Tubman and the Underground Railroad and the
stories of those who escaped to the north. We
then quickly run through science and inventors
including George Washington Carver (the peanut products); Elijah McCoy (“the real McCoy”
oil drip cup for trains); Lewis Latimer
(invented/discovered the critical component of
the light bulb, the carbon filament); Garrett
Morgan (invented the gas mask and the first
traffic signal); and Charles Drew (who pioneered methods of storing blood plasma for
transfusion and organized the first large-scale
blood banks in Britain and the U.S.). We give
credit to civil rights fighters, such as Rosa
Parks, Bayard Rustin, Daisy Bates, James Meredith, Stokely Carmichael, and Fannie Lou
Hamer. We also take a few side trips for business people millionaires such as Madam C. J.
Walker (invented a hair-growing lotion and became the first female African American millionaire), and even modern day multimillionaires Jay Z and Beyonce, Bill Cosby and
Magic Johnson. By the way, according to
Forbes, there are more than 35,000 Black Millionaires in the U.S. today…and even a billionaire -- Oprah Winfrey.
Of course, one could go on and on for pages
citing the lives of the inventors, scientists, athletes and business people and the significant
actions of numerous Black men and women in
virtually every area of life and throughout the
world. For example, here’s an interesting tidbit
that might appeal to the Flint-area readership
that I just read. It’s about an African Ameri-
can, a former slave, who was a part of the early
auto industry.
“The C.R. Patterson & Sons Company
was a carriage building firm, and the
first African American-owned automobile manufacturer. The company
was founded by Charles Richard Patterson, who was born into slavery in
April 1833 on a plantation in Virginia.
Patterson escaped from slavery in
1861, heading west and settling in
Greenfield, Ohio around 1862.
Charles Patterson died in 1910, leaving the successful carriage business to
his son Frederick who in turn initiated
the conversion of the company from a
carriage business into an automobile
manufacturer. The first PattersonGreenfield car debuted in 1915 and
was sold for $850. With a fourcylinder Continental engine, the car
was comparable to the contemporary
Ford Model T. The PattersonGreenfield car may, in fact, have been
more sophisticated than Ford’s car, but
C.R. Patterson & Sons never matched
Ford’s manufacturing capability.” See more at: http://
www.blackpast.org/aah/c-r-pattersonsons-company-1893-1939
This January Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
would have celebrated his 86th birthday.
He was assassinated in April 1968 at the
Volume 5 Issue 1 January/February 2015
age of 39. Also cut down by an assassin’s
bullet at age 39, in February 1965, was
another African American leader and civil
rights activist, born 89 years ago as Malcolm Little, later changed to Malcom X
and then finally to El-Hajj Malik ElShabazz. In 2014 alone we have lost additional giants. Former District of Columbia
Mayor and civil rights activist Marion
Barry died in November 2014. Famed
author, poet and philosopher Dr. Maya
Angelou died in May 2104. Widely acclaimed actor and civil rights activist Ruby Dee died in June 2014.
When Barack Obama placed his hand on Abraham Lincoln’s Bible to take the oath as the 44th
President of the United States of America on
January 20, 2009, (an event I personally witnessed as a part of that massive crowd) some
wondered aloud, “Have we finally arrived? Is
this the end of the book in the saga of hate?”
Had the civil rights movement ended in 1970
as some histories tended to depict it and that
racism was no longer a problem in America
following the election of our first Black president? So what has happened in the past 45
years? While there was yet broad acknowledgement of the continuing presence of oppression and racism in American society, it
was perhaps most clearly reinforced by the
federal striking down of Affirmative Action
and the widespread passage of severe limitations on voting access.
In these early years of the 21st century we have
seen the election AND re-election of Barack
Hussein Obama, a Black man, as the president
of the world’s most powerful country. He sits
in the White House in the District of Columbia
– a house built with the labor of hundreds of
Black slaves and subsequently served in by
hundreds more Black men and women ever
since. Yet, even before he officially took office and ever since, he has been vilified and
degraded by white America with extremely
disrespectful slurs and insults, including those
directed at his wife, the First Lady, and their
two young daughters. Indeed, the Republicans
declared that their primary goal was not to
From Celebration Continued on Page 2
FLINT
Editorial Board
Donna Calvin, Bill Hammond, Tanya Meeks,
Jane Richardson, Sandra E. Robinson, Raynetta Speed,
Ron White, F. Lee McDaniel, Clarence Campbell
L a yo u t an d D e si gn
Chevon Wilborn
[email protected]
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We welcome articles from any community member. We
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FLINT Our Community Our Voice
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From Celebration Continued from page 1
govern but to thwart his every effort and to remove him from office at all costs. His Affordable Care Act has been the single most attacked action by Republicans; followed closely
by their disapproval of his stand on immigration. And even some African Americans feel
Barack is not progressive enough; that he forgives too easily. The entire world has suffered
as a result of this narrow and spiteful campaign
of hate.
Dr. King was assailed for the stands he took
against systemic inequities and the way the society manifested its values in laws, policies and
practices that enforced second-class citizenship
and oppressiveness.
But, we’ve moved on, haven’t we?!
In 2013, 17 year old Trayvon Martin was shot
and killed by a so-called neighborhood watch
man in Florida. In 2013, 16 year old Kimani
Gray was killed by New York City police. In
2012, 19 year old Kendrec McDade was shot
and killed by police in Pasadena, California. In
2012, 18 year old Ervin Jefferson was shot and
killed by two security guards in Atlanta, Georgia. Wendell Allen, 20, was shot and killed in
New Orleans in 2012 by police. Ramafley
Graham, 18, was shot and killed by police in a
chase in the Bronx, NY. Michael Brown, 18,
shot and killed by police in Ferguson, MO in
August, 2014. Kajieme Powell, 25, was shot
and killed by police in August 2014 in St. Louis. In July 2012, Chavis Carter, 21, is alleged
to have committed suicide while hand cuffed in
the back seat of a squad car in Jonesboro, Arkansas. In March, 2014, Victor White, 22, also
allegedly committed suicide while handcuffed
in the back seat of a squad car in Iberia Parish,
Louisiana. In 2014, John Crawford, III, 22,
was shot and killed in a Wal-Mart store in Beavercreek, Ohio while looking at an unpackaged
BB rifle inside the store's toy section. Tamir
Rice, 12 years old, was shot and killed by police in Cleveland, Ohio in a park while playing
with a toy gun. The NAACP Legal defense
Fund has posted 76 young men and women
killed by police since 1999. In only the single
instance of Oscar Grant, 22, shot in the back
and killed by the transit police as he lay handcuffed face down on the commuter train station
platform in Oakland, California January 2009,
was an officer indicted, convicted and actually
imprisoned for of any wrongdoing. That officer was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served only 12 months of a two-year
sentence.
I think that this is a period when we need to
reflect and take stock. Some rungs of the lad2
From Celebration continued from column 2
der have been climbed, but we have yet a distance to go and some of us are holding the ladder and some of us are passing up tools. And
finally, there are those who congregate daily
over breakfast in diners and meet in barber
shops and beauty salons and talk, just talk.
How many of us have
been truly inspired by and
challenged by the examples of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm
X, or even Jackie Robinson, and the many other
leaders? How many of us
have looked hard at ourselves and can honestly
say that we have in fact been enhanced by the
vision and leadership and that we have stepped
up to take our turn?
How many of us now claim to have embraced
their teachings and celebrated their lives and
sacrifices in our everyday lives? And how
many were afraid to do that while he lived?!
This is not to suggest that anyone should feel
shame, only introspection; to consider what we
From Celebration continued on page 3
From Celebration Continued from page 2, column 3
January 13 and 27, 7 - 9
NAMI (National Alliance on
Mental Illness) of Genesee County
Family Support group for r elatives and friends of people with
mental illness, Call for location and info
January 13, 6
January 15, 6
January 19, 9 – 6
232-6498
City of Flint Planning Commission,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Tribute Dinner, Riverfront Ban-
On the
Calendar...
quet Center, tickets, $50, 762-0425.
Flint Public Library, Walk in Craft, 1 -2, Community
Celebration, 2 , Reception at FIA, 4
January 19, 8:30 a.m. Big Brothers, Big Sisters 9th Annual Mentoring Inspiration Breakfast, Diplomat Pharmacy, 4100 S. Saginaw . Tickets
$15/ , 235-0617
January 24 & all Saturdays Super Science Saturdays for Grades 2 – 6, Flint Public Library,
2. Register 249-2170+
Raise it Up Youth Teen Poetry Workshop 11 -1
January 28, 6
Flint Public Library, Workshop for Parents, Caregivers
and Educators,
“Tellin’ Tales” Techniques for
learning and telling stories. Register 249-2170
January 31
Super Saturday Story Time, 11 Flint Public Library
Reception for the Anthony and Davida Artis Collection
of African American Fine Art, 1
February 3, 6
African American Sports Hall of Fame Induction
Announcement Reception, 6 Flint Public Library
February 5, 5 – 6:30 Friends of Max Brandon Park, Salem Housing Resour ce
Center 3216 M. L. King, all welcome, Info, call 785-5340,
ext. 28
February 6, 10:30
Teen Author Forum, Meet ar tist Chakaia Booker .
Register, 249-2046, Flint Public Library
February 2, & 21, 9-11 & 5:30 – 7:30 at Bethel United Methodist, 1309 N. Ball
enger “Resident discussion of water issues” sponsored
by
Democracy Defense League, Info (810)610-3681
February 7, 9 – 11
February 8, 4
Flint Neighborhoods United, Woodside Church lower
level, 1509 E. Court St
Orlando J. Roberts Concert: Universal Expression, Flint
Public Library
February 14, 21, 28 /9 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, Flint Public Library
February 10 and 24 NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Genesee
County Family Support group for relatives and friends
of people with mental illness, 7 – 9 p.m. Call for location and
February 19 – 22
February 21, 8:30
February 25, 6
info 232-6498
Bowl for Kids Sake, Big Brothers big Sisters, Galaxy
Lanes, info call 235-0617
2nd Annual Sister to Sister Summit, ages 8 to 18, New Creation Church of God, 3472 Lennon Rd., register required, 396-3112
Flint Public Library, Workshop for Parents, Caregivers
and Educators,
“Using Puppets” Techniques for
making and using puppets. Register 249-2170
Website to try out: geneseefun.com
really mean and how strongly we really want
change. On the other hand, I do wish to deflate
some of the puffed up chests who say that success has been achieved and that our work is
done. There are false activists who claim to
have marched, who claim to have been civil
rights soldiers, who claim to have stood shoulder to shoulder with the protesters and activists,
who behave as though they were part of the
struggle when really all they did was live
through it and read about it and talk about it
and watch it on TV. Let’s be honest, we all
know such folks.
Throughout the non-violent civil rights movement, Dr. Rev. King and all of the leaders
preached as well as modeled that LOVE and
HOPE were their guiding principles, not hate
and revenge. Following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, among others, the civil rights
movement was predicated on following the precepts of religious and spiritual beliefs of believing in the good of man. South African leader
Nelson Mandela
shocked
the
world when after
being released
from prison in
1990 after 27
years of unlawful
imprisonment; he and
Bishop Tutu led
the South Africa
Truth and Reconciliation
movement which
was driven by
forgiveness and
rebuilding on the platform of love and hope.
Barack Obama’s ascension to the presidency
does not represent the end. He represents another step or turn in the journey, but not the end
of the trip.
It sometimes amazes me that such commitment
to principles is so rooted in those we treasure
and value the most…yet we tend to struggle to
emulate them in our everyday lives. I suppose
that is what is so very hard about movements.
It’s not just about beliefs and values held; it’s
ALL ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THINGS
EVERYDAY!!! That means sacrifices of the
highest order – WALKING THE TALK BY
LIVING THE PRINCIPLES!!!
We owe a debt to the legacy we inherited from
those who sacrificed virtually everything for us,
for our children and our grandchildren,
Have we decided yet?
3
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint Announces Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2014
The 36th Annual Bowling Challenge will be held Thursday February 19 through Sunday 22, 2015 at Galaxy Lanes in Grand Blanc, in support of Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint. Over 2,500 people from Genesee County and beyond participate in this annual event to benefit children in our
community. It is our most important and largest fundraising event of the year. All proceeds from the Bowl for Kids’ Sake Bowling Challenge
strengthen our mentoring programs for Little Brothers and Little Sisters throughout Genesee County.
We are proud to announce that Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy is returning as our Title Sponsor for the 2015 event! First Merit Bank,
Meijer and Landaal Packaging Systems have committed as the Platinum Sponsors! We ar e gr ateful to each of these businesses including WJRT ABC-12 for the gr eat job they do as our media par tner . We r ealize the impor tance of community
supporters who believe in our work and are willing to not only sponsor but participate in the fun as well! We are encouraging Genesee County area leaders and organizations to get involved by becoming sponsors and forming teams for this event. Taking place for
36 years, Bowl for Kids’ Sake is our largest fundraiser and raises a vital portion of the funds needed to support youth mentoring initiatives of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint seeks to raise $185,000 through Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2015.
This four-day long, fun filled event attracts families, co-workers, friends, service clubs, fraternities, sororities, faith-based groups
and others! There are several ways for the community to get involved in Bowl for Kids’ Sake:
 Become a corporate sponsor through a variety of sponsorship opportunities
 Organize teams of five participants each. Bowlers collect pledges ($50 minimum) and earn prizes with increasing pledge levels.
Commit to join the Team Spirit Team (visit www.bbbsflint.org to learn more details)
Volunteer to help at the event.
To join Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2015, take the first step and get started making an impact at www.bbbsflint.org/bowlingchallenge, where you can
sign up online to participate or make a donation. Bowling packets containing registration and pledge information are available for pickup or delivery for convenience! For additional infor mation, please call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint at 810.235.0617 or contact:
Ashoka Rao, Development Director 810.235.7274 [email protected]
About Big Brothers Big Sisters: For 70 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint has remained committed to providing children with the mentoring leadership necessary to have a sustainable impression on our community. One-to-one mentoring has proven to have a positive effect on a young
person’s life, making them less likely to begin using illegal drugs or skip school. Additionally, they are more confident in their school performance and
are less likely to solve a problem with violence. Because they are the leaders of tomorrow it’s important that we touch as many young lives as possible.
NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT!
Notes from
Hurb Pitts
Have you seen the new playground equipment in Max Brandon Park? Well, if you
haven’t take a ride down M. L. King Avenue
between Pasadena Avenue and Stewart Avenue and check it out. Thanks to Keep Genesee County Beautiful, the Friends of Max
Brandon Park and the Genesee County Parks
Department changes are being made in the
park. This is the first piece of playground
equipment added to the park in years and it’s
only the start. Other pieces can be added to it
later on. This is just one of the many changes coming to the park. Improvements to the
basketball court, exercise stations, signage ,and more programming in the park are
on the way.
Keep your eyes and ears open for more events
and happenings in Max Brandon Park. Take
your kids to the park now and let them enjoy it.
You may think it’s cold outside but the kids
don’t…they’ll be glad to explore the park and
discover much that is harder to see when the
leaves are on the tree!
Attention all Motown fans in Flint and surrounding areas, join with Mid-Michigan’s most
exciting theatre, McCree Theatre, as we present
Flint’s most dynamic singing group, the Heartbeats, Live on Stage… singing all of your favorite Motown hits, Friday, January 23, 2015 at
7:00 p.m., for one show only. All seats $15.00.
Tickets are on sale now at McCree Theatre, G2040 W. Carpenter Road, by calling (810) 7872200 or by visiting the theatre’s website at
www.thenewmccreetheatre.com.
4
Ballenger Square Story of Heroics
Many residents are afraid or unwilling to get
involved
with
issues
in
their
communities. However, on September 28th,
2014, the tables were turned when two BSCA
members were not fearful, but fearless. On
this warm sunny day, several neighbors heard a
loud noise and then observed a group of
teenagers running through the side door of a
home. The neighbors knew the homeowners
were not there and immediately knew what
was happening. It was a group of teenagers
breaking into the home in the middle of the
day!
What the group of
teenagers did not
know is that the
neighborhood has a
strong block club
and several of its
members have been
trained by the City of
Flint
Police
Departments & Blue
Badge
Citizens
Patrol. The patrol
teaches
residents
how to effectively
and safely patrol
their
community.
Willie, one of the members quickly responded
with
assistance
from
another
member; James. They confronted several of
the perpetrators as they ran out of the
house. One was apprehended by the two and
held until the police arrived. The other
teenagers were also arrested. Other block club
members and neighbors in the community
responded
quickly
by
calling
911.
The homeowners were so grateful for having
neighbors
like
Mr.
Willie
and
Mr. James. We hope their bravery will
encourage others to do the same. We
would like to thank the City of Flint & State
Police for responding in a timely manner.
T. R. Harris C.D.C and Friends 11th Community Christmas Dinner
by Sandra E
T. R. Harris C.D.C. along with numerous partners sponsored its eleventh Community Christmas
Dinner. Senator Jim Ananich, Councilman Scott Kincaid and Center Rd. Meijers partnered with
the C.D.C to provide the food, decorations and gifts. Children received hats, scarves, gloves and
toys. Some adults also won gifts. Families spent the evening in pleasant conversation while listening to the joyful sounds of The Refuge Temple Church Praise Team under the direction of Perry Dunlap. Seon Thompson is the pastor of the church. Volunteers, who see service as an excellent opportunity to begin their holiday celebration; decorated, prepared and served meals, and assisted Santa with gifts for the children.
Mrs. Griffith-Wilson extends her thanks to numerous volunteers like Bonita Thompson a member
of the T. R. Harris C.D.C board, Karen Aldridge-Eason, Annie Gordon, Albert Mason, Darlene
Williams and her son Andrew, Jean Montgomery, Doris E. Keels and Sandra E. Robinson.
Friends and family of Mrs. Keels; Keyaira Keels, Amiah and LaKyah Mayfield, also gave assistance. Six members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority volunteered along with Chyrita Robinson, T’Shari,
Alexis and Janea Griffith, members of Mrs. Griffith-Wilson’s family. She also says thank you to
a life long resident of Flint, Larry White who has assisted as Santa Claus every year; Frank, the
church custodian for offering his services; and Ron Fonger for his article in MLive, to advertise
the event.
About 75 people participated, well below the almost 200 who normally attend the dinner. The
difference in number of participants might be explained by the change in venue. Though the
number of participants was down, the spirit of giving and receiving soared. All left for home
with a full stomach, positive spirit, big smile, and those who chose, a plate of delicious food to
continue the celebration.
Mrs. Griffith-Wilson says, “God is an awesome God! He is faithful to his word. Though the
number was down in attendance it was high in spirit and service to others. We are a basic needs
agency and we strive to impact lives in a positive, loving way. I pray we have a Merry Christmas
and prosperous New Year!”
Code of Ordinances
“Did you know?”
28-146 EMISSION OF EXCESSIVE SMOKE OR NOISE.
It shall be deemed a violation of this ordinance for any person in charge or control of any vehicle
to make, with such vehicle, or any device connected therewith, any excessive noise, or unnecessarily to race his motor while running idle, or to open the muffler o any vehicle or to permit such vehicle or any device thereon to emit an unreasonable quantity of smoke or noxious gases or vapors.
31-75 CONTINUOUS NOISE LEVELS AND PROHIBITIONS.
(a) Prohibition. Except as otherwise provided in this article, it shall be unlawful for any person
to operate, cause or permit to be operated any source of continuous noise within the City which exceeds the maximum permissible sound levels established herein, when measured at or within the
real property line of the receiving land use.
(b) Maximum permissible sound levels. Maximum permissible sound levels for receiving land
uses are hereby established as follows:
Land Use
Daytime
Nighttime
Residential area
60 dB(A)
50 dB(A)
Commercial area
65 dB(A)
60 dB(A)
Industrial area
70 dB(A)
65 dB(A)
Did you know?
dB(A) is decibles?
Normal conversation between people is 60 – 65 decibles?
Telephone dial tone is at 80 decibles
5
Max Brandon Eco-Park Project
ML King Day Challenge
by Mark Baldwin
UFO Village
We are just a month away from Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
With all that has happened in the news I have
been reflecting on Dr. Kings goals and what
he has done to inspire treating one another
with dignity, respect and most importantly
love. Today it feels that we have a long way
to go to achieve a lifestyle for all that represents what he wanted for mankind.
I for one believe we can and will overcome
injustice and man's inhumanity to man.
Challenge
 Paint, draw, or write on a board something that reflects how you are inspired
by Dr. King.
 Hold a weekly reading of Dr. Kings
works or works inspired by or otherwise
influenced by the man's teachings and
invite others in your community to join
in.
If you accept my challenge to do some art
work I will get you a board for the project. If
multiple people in your group desire to participate we will get a board to your group for
each person who wants to join in.
When you finish the art work we will make
arrangements to install them on an abandoned house changing it from a blighted
building to an inspirational art display.
If you decide to take on the weekly reading
of Dr. Kings inspired works then let us know
when and where so we may share the info
with others.
Flint Planning Staff
Begun in early 2014 as one of the City’s first Master
Plan Implementation Demonstration Projects, the Max Brandon
Eco-Park project represents an important first step towards implementing several strategies of the Master Plan, including the
healthy maintenance of urban woodland, wetland expansion for
storm water retention, and habitat restoration through the removal of invasive species and planting of native vegetation.
This project is generously funded through grants from the Great
Lakes Adaptation Assessment for Cities (GLAA-C) and the
Ruth Mott Foundation.
A tremendous amount of work has taken place to date
and Phase I of this 2-year project is nearly completed. This past
August, crews were hard at work removing invasive vegetation
and overgrowth around the wetlands section of the park’s western side. Thanks to this work, for the first time in years residents and park goers can now see and appreciate the natural splendor of this rich and formerly
overgrown feature of the park’s lush landscape. In the process of carrying out this work, staff discovered that a culvert (drainage pipe) in the park was broken. The condition of this culvert –
which was believed to be operational – was previously unknown to both Max Brandon Park volunteers and City staff. The culvert is designed to channel excess storm and rain water runoff flows
from the exterior, into the wetland located in the park’s interior. Upon further investigation it was
found that the existing condition of the culvert was broken, resulting in large pools of standing
water throughout the park due to insufficient drainage. Thanks to this discovery repairs to the culvert are now being made, and when repaired it will once again properlychannel rainwater into the
wetland and reduce flooding incidences that have plagued the park for years.
This is only the beginning!
2015 marks Phase II of the Max Brandon Eco-Park project. Phase II work
includes the planting of native species
around the wetlands, the development
of an urban ecology curriculum, the
installation of interpretive signage, and
the construction of a pedestrian boardwalk/overlook which would give park
goers access to the wetlands. For more
information about this and other Master Plan Demonstration Projects, please
visit
our
website
at
www.imagineflint.com or call us at
(810)766-7426 ext. 3028.
FREE Super Science Saturdays for Grades 2-6
At the Flint Public Library
Introducing Super Science Saturdays for kids,
grades 2-6, at the Flint Public Library. Learning
science can be a fun activity that, at the same
time, reinforces what students have learned in
school! These activities offer families the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds related to science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) learning!
Program begins January 24, 2pm and meets
weekly through March 7. Registration is required. Call 810.249-2170 to register.
6
City of Flint’s Volunteer Service
Strategy Update
-By Mayor Dayne Walling
Last year as part of the
new Cities of Service
initiative, the City of
Flint launched a comprehensive effort to engage volunteers in
neighborhood revitalization and get more people involved in addressing other high priority issues. This is a personal
passion of mine as a lifelong volunteer and an
AmeriCorps alum.
Our vision for volunteer service starts with an
engaged community wherein community residents, businesses organizations and partners
embrace the notion that sustaining a safe and
healthy community is everyone’s responsibility. Within the framework of the new master
plan, you can imagine Flint as a place where
every senior in high school has the opportunity
and expectation of serving their community,
tackling local issues and building their resume
and gaining life skills. We can imagine becoming a special kind of college town where every
graduate eagerly anticipates applying their
knowledge at local non-profits, developing social enterprises and fostering civic engagement.
Yes, it is possible that we work together to create a place where thousands of youth and adult
residents serve their community and neighborhood because they want to expand opportunity
and improve the quality of life for all. In fact,
the new City of Flint Strategic Plan establishes
the goal of increasing national service and volunteer engagement each year for the next five
years as part of a community-wide effort to
build a culture of service that demonstrates how
the City and community priorities can be addressed through service solutions.
Along with many partners organizations, we
are focusing on public safety and education as
two of our top priorities that also align with
those of the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Michigan State Service
Commission. The City has applied for a program to put AmeriCorps members in neighborhood service centers to address blight and work
with block clubs.
This past year we accomplished so much with
hundreds of volunteers tackling blight, serving
with Blue Badge, cleaning up their neighborhoods, working with youth, getting prepared
for emergencies and the list goes on and
on. We did a lot and there is a lot more to be
done. A lot of people and organizations are to
be thanked, you know who you are and I deeply appreciate all of your efforts.
I hope you, and everyone, will join me in resolving to volunteer more in this new year. Our
plan, our community, our kids, and truly our
future all depends on it.
Follow the Mayor online @MayorWalling and
for more information on Flint Police Department
Blue
Badge
visit www.flintbluebadge.com
InFebruary
African American Book Reviews
by the Flint Public Library Staff
The Flint Public Library will highlight a classic African American book or author every
few days on their Facebook page. Look for
the book cover and a brief summary of the
book and be inspired!
Just to get you started: One of the most important and enduring
books of the 20th century, Their Eyes
were Watching God, written in 1937 by Zora
Neale Hurston, tells the story of Janie Crawford, a
fiercely independent woman who lives a life
marked by poverty, but who refuses to live in
sorrow. The novel revolves around Janie’s
three marriages as she challenges the morals
of her small southern town. Please visit,
check our website, or call the library to see if
a copy is available for immediate reading or
place a hold.
We already have a great start already with the
AmeriCorps and volunteer involvement with
the Brownell-Holmes Science Technology Engineering and Math pods – Flint Community
School’s pilot community school. People are
helping there on literacy improvement and retention, STEM programming, and youth recreation and mentorship.
Share your information here!
Send your announcements by the 1st Friday of
each month:
FLINT Our Community Our Voice
3216 M. L. King Ave., Flint, MI 48505
Or email:
[email protected]
Thank you in advance
7
From the President’s Desk…..
I want to thank everyone
for the great honor and
privilege of being elected to serve you as President of the Flint Neighborhoods United (FNU)
organization for the
2015 year. I look forward to working with all
the members and friends
of the FNU during this
next year. I appreciate your time and energy.
In the coming year we will face many more
challenges, as we struggle to do more with
much less. However, I have met so many
smart, hardworking, and dedicated people at
FNU meetings over the last two years. Members who have willing shared their insights and
experiences as we have worked together to find
answers to the city issues that we all face as
residents.
Thanks to the past year leadership of Christopher Frye, the FNU has grown increasingly responsive to its members. I will continue to
build on that. Financial stability and growth in
membership will follow as local neighborhood
organizations see the value and benefits of being a member of Flint Neighborhoods United.
My first priority will be to communicate that
value to the City of Flint.
Again, I thank all of you and God bless.
Joe King, President
Chris frye...thanks to all!
As I write this, I am winding down my term as
President of Flint Neighborhoods United.
It has been an eventful year with many accomplishments by the members of this organizations and the citizens of the City of Flint.
I’m not going to go into detail of everything
that has been a success during my term as President, mainly because I will undoubtedly forget
a major success and never hear the end of it.
Let’s just say that in the past year I have been
to many neighborhoods in Flint. North side,
East Side, South Side and West Side. Some
neighborhoods needing more help than others,
but one thing does stand out. Generally, the
pride that home owners take in their property.
The pride they have in their neighborhoods no
matter how devastated they may have become.
I’ve been in neighborhoods with only one home
on a block, I’ve been in neighborhoods where
there are complete block without a house to be
seen. In many of these neighborhoods, the remaining residents have taken it upon themselves to keep the grass mowed and the trash
picked up. I can’t think of anything that says
“good neighbor” more than the generosity of
these good neighbors.
Our communication outreach to the community
is also strong and growing stronger. The FNU
Facebook Page, our email blasts and our very
informative
website
(www.flintneighborhoodsunited.org) get information out to the citizens of Flint in a timely
manner. We hope we’re on our way to becoming the clearing house for information about
community events you may not find anywhere
else.
We have a lot to be proud of, and yet, have a
long way to go. It is a never ending process.
I’d like to thank my
team for their help and
support. Vice President
(soon to be President)
Joe King, and Secretary
Donna Calvin. I’d also
like to thank Audrey
Martini from Michigan
State University, Tanya
Meeks of the Flint Police Department, Jane
and Jim Richardson for
all their hard work and dedication to “the
cause” that is Flint. I’d like to thank Woodside
Church for their generous donation of meeting
space. All those who bring donuts and refreshments to our meetings.
I’d also like to thank our new officers. President elect, Joe King, Vice-President elect, Clarence Campbell and new Secretary elect,
Laverne McGowan. I am confident each will do
a wonderful job. Rest assured that I will still be
around if you should ever call on me for advice
or assurances. (But, I won’t be looking over
your shoulders.)
Lastly, I want to thank each and every member
of Flint Neighborhoods United for their time,
their dedication and their efforts to make Flint,
their city, their home, a better place to live and
play. If I’ve forgotten anyone, I apologize. I
recognize each and every one of you.
It has been an honor to serve as your President.
CALLING ALL WRITERS
Do you have opinions to share? Please send your
articles to:
FLINT Our Community Our Voice
Email your information to:
[email protected]
Thank you in Advance
8
Edo Has a Vest
By: Christopher Frye
Thanks to the efforts of Flint Neighborhoods
United, Edo, currently the only member of
the Flint Police Department’s K-9 unit, will
soon have the bulletproof vest he so desperately needed for his protection. Partnered
with Officer John Boismier, Edo is certified
in human tracking, handler protection, area
and article searching and suspect location.
Edo is a welcome addition to the Flint Police
Force.
Through a clever ad written by Carma Lewis
and placed on internet crowdfunding website
GoFundMe.com we were able to raise
$2,481.24 after our commission to GoFundMe.
The vest itself will cost somewhere in the
ballpark of $1,000. His vest is custom made.
In addition to the money raised on GoFundMe, other contributions were made directly to the Flint Police Department, so many
that they may be able to purchase another K9.
Any leftover funds will be used for food, veterinarian bills and the like.
Many thanks to all of you who contributed to
keep Edo safe and on the job for years to
come.
Well done, Flint!
Follow Flint Neighborhoods United on
the web at
www.flintneighborhoodsunited.org/
and on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/
FlintNeighborhoodsUnited
BLACK HISTORY MONTH BRUNCH HEADLINED BY DOTTIE PEOPLES
The Genesee District Library will present the 14th Annual Black History Month Brunch at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Riverfront Banquet
Center in downtown Flint. Part of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Genesee District Library’s Summer Reading Program for kids
and teens.
This year’s brunch will feature three-time Grammy Award nominee and
Stellar, Dove, Soul Train, NAACP, and GMWA award-winning vocalist, Dottie Peoples. Her hits have included the popular songs “On Time
God,” “Testify” and “Do It!” Known as the gospel “Patti LaBelle,”
Dottie has been featured in hit stage plays “God Don’t Like Ugly” and “A Fool For Love,” along with feature films “Dirty Laundry” and “Kudzu Christmas.”
The Ishmel Sisters, a nationally-recognized trio from Flint, will also
perform. In addition, UM-Flint professor and spoken word artist, Dr.
Traci Currie, will pay special tribute to one of the best poets of our time
and will be accompanied by speed painter, Martina Hahn. During the
brunch, the Genesee District Library will recognize five individuals for
their achievements, contributions and service to the residents of the
county and state. The honorees include Omar Sims (Genesee County
Commissioner for District 1), Dr. Beverly Jones (professor at Kettering
University), Charlotte McCann Lancaster (founder of Building Strong
Women, Inc.), and Jacky King (King Karate Youth Karate-Ka and Harvesting Earth Urban Farm). The event will also recognize Motherly Intercession, an organization that assists children of incarcerated parents,
with founder Shirley Cochran accepting the award. Tickets for the
event are $30 each and can be purchased at the Genesee District Library’s Headquarters Branch. For more information, call 810-230-9613.
TURKEY TROT...2nd annual trot in
Max Brandon Park
Please save the date for the 2nd Annual Flint & Genesee Meet the Buyer event
on January 29, 2015. Join the I-69 Thumb Region PTAC and the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with I-69 Thumb Region, for a fastpaced event that provides an innovative way for you to connect with buyers from
across the region.
The format of the event will be similar to 'speed dating'. Each buyer will have five
minutes to share information about their organization and what they buy, followed by 15 minutes for attendees to briefly present their companies and ask
questions.
Cost: $30 for Flint & Genesee Chamber members; $45 for non -members.
For more information visit flintandgenesee.org/meetthebuyer or contact Chelsea
Schutz at (810) 600-1437 or [email protected].
In partnership with
9
FLINT DEVELOPMENT GROUP PURCHASES BUNCHE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
The Flint Development Group announced their agreement with the Flint Public Schools to purchase Bunche Elementary. They plan to rename it the Flint Development Center. The Flint Development Center will be a hub for the community of Flint and Genesee County.
The Center will offer Senior, Youth and Family ser vices, including Health, Liter acy and
Culture, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development.
The Flint Development Center will be a par tner ship project. Ever green Community Development Initiative (ECDI), The Flint Neighborhood Coalition, Flintball.com and N.I.A have come
together to form The Flint Development Group. This partnership is looking to work with all organizations to make this dream happen. According to Michael J. Harris who is one of the partners of the project, they expect to have Phase 1 of the project open by spring of 2015.
To help with some of the renovations, they are asking for participation from the Greater Flint
community all around the world. They are asking that anyone who wants to help Flint, start by
donating to the INDIEGOGO campaign- you can go to INDIEGOGO.COM and donate to their
kickstart effort. If you would like more information please go to our website FLINTDC.ORG or
call us at (810)328-3631
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAMWORK!
FREE Computer Classes at the
Flint Public Library
The Flint Public Library offers a variety of
free computer training classes for beginners.
Call 810.249-2569 for details and
to register:
• Computers for Beginners
• Downloading Books 101
• Microsoft Word for Beginners
• Find it Online
• Internet Skills: Beyond the Basics
• E-mail
• Social Networking
• Preventing Identity Theft
Income Tax Assistance
At the Flint Public Library
Saturdays :
• February 14, 21 and 28
• March 7, 14, 21 and 28
Registration begins at 9am and
ends when slots are full.
VITA volunteers will provide income tax assistance to those with low to moderate incomes ($50,000 or less) filing 2014 tax returns. (No itemized deductions, no business
income
(self-employed),
no
capital
gains transactions.)
Bring proof of income (W-2, 1099, SSI benefits), proof of identity (driver’s license or
state identification), and proof of Social Security number (Social Security card preferred)
for every family member being claimed.
Homeowners MUST bring their 2014 property tax statements for BOTH winter and summer property taxes to claim the property tax
credit.
Follow Flint Neighborhoods United on
the web at
www.flintneighborhoodsunited.org/
and on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/
FlintNeighborhoodsUnited
Bring in this ad to get $10.00 off
your next Spa Pedicure!
Call Cathy
for an appointment
Escape Salon & Spa
2075 S. Linden Road
Flint, MI 48532
810.919.9688
10
Frances Gilcreast ReElected As Leader of Flint
NAACP
The Flint Branch NAACP election was held
on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the Regional Office of the United Auto Workers.
Members steadily and continuously came to
vote from 9am until 5pm, sometimes waiting
in line outside. It was a very diverse combination of voters from every age group and
ethnic makeup. After the polls closed at 5
pm, the counting of the votes began. It was
nearly 3:30am when the votes were finally
tallied. That is when Mrs. Gilcreast learned
that she had been re-elected to her 5th term as
President of the Flint Branch NAACP. Other
officers elected were Gregory Eason, 1st Vice
-President; A.C. Dumas, 2nd Vice-President;
Tonya Bailey, 3rd Vice-President, Pamela
Montgomery, Secretary; Jolena Sanders,
Treasurer; and many new Executive Committee Members. All Officers and Executive
Committee Members elected, will be sworn
in and assume their positions in January 2015.
Mrs. Gilcreast said
in a press release;
“The Flint Branch
NAACP is alive and
well!! Our branch
elections are behind
us, and we have
new Officers and
Executive Committee members who are willing to continue the fight for justice and
equality. There is much work to be done in
this community and all are ready for the
challenge. We will continue to focus on
membership development, economic development, engaging our youth in advocacy,
voter empowerment, law enforcement accountability, and regaining our democracy
back in the City of Flint”
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s
oldest and largest civil-rights organization.
From the ballot box to the classroom, the
thousands of dedicated workers, organizers,
leaders and members who make up the
NAACP continue to fight for social justice
for all Americans.
Dig In with edible flint! 2015 Garden Starters Introduction to Urban Food Gardening Class Applications Now Available
November, 2014 Flint, MI - edible flint is preparing for their 5th year of Garden Starters Training Classes! This is a 14-week
training program teaching beginning and experienced gardeners how to grow productive food gardens in an urban setting. The
classes are open to anyone in Genesee County, and cover community and residential food gardening. Class topics range from
understanding our local food system to garden site planning to harvesting and food preservation.
The edible flint Garden Starter Training Classes are on Monday evenings, 5:30-7:30pm, beginning February 2nd and continuing weekly until May 4th,
2015. The classes will be held in the GCCARD building, located at 601 N. Saginaw Street in Flint. .edible flint is now accepting applications, which
can be found at edibleflint.org, the list of class topics is also available online. The cost is $65 for the total 14-week program; class materials and meals
are provided. Applications are due January 23rd, 2015 along with the class fee. Those interested should not feel discouraged by the class fee, as there
are partial scholarships and payment plans available.
In each class participants learn from local experts and get to know and learn from each other. Applications are available at edibleflint.org. For questions, additional information, or to arrange a payment plan, please contact Sam Farah, the Garden Starters Training Program Coordinator, at (810)2448527, [email protected].
The purpose of edible flint Garden Starters is to support residents in producing food by providing training and garden resources - coordinating and
providing services, tools and materials for urban food gardens, enhancing their quality and productivity.
edible flint is a network of local residents and public and private organizations unified by the mission, “to support Flint residents in growing and
accessing healthy food in order to reconnect with the land and each other.”
For more information on edible flint contact Terry McLean at (810) 244-8530 or [email protected] find us on edibleflint.org, Facebook and Twitter.
Service provider opportunity – edible flint gardening season 2015
The edible flint Garden Starters workgroup is seeking proposals from
qualified “for hire contractors” to provide services to gardens in the
City of Flint for the 2015 garden season preparation. Services include compost delivery, compost spreading and tilling of gardens up
to 1,500 sq. ft. but not exceeding 3,000 sq. ft. per garden application.
There will be approximately 40 gardens requiring tilling – (with or
without compost. Compost to be spread is bid on per sq. yard. Tilling
is bid on a per sq. ft. basis. Contractor is responsible for their own
equipment, gasoline, repairs and insurance. The service period is
April 20, 2015 – May 29, 2015. Services may be delayed based on
weather and soil conditions to accommodate the service equipment on
the garden sites. To obtain Proposal application, go to
www.edibleflint.org. , Request for Proposal. Proposal due date is Friday, January 23, 2015. Contact Deb Hamilton at 810-244-8547 with
questions.
“edible flint programs and materials are open to all without regard to
race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identification, marital status or
family status.”
More info? Deb Hamilton, 810-244-8547, Garden Starters Coordinator, edible flint,
605 N. Saginaw St. Ste. 1A, Flint, MI 48502
11
Imagine Flint Draft Capital
Improvement Plan and Zoning
Code
By: Vincent Slocum
We hope that you all had a safe and
happy holiday! January 1st marked a new
year, full of opportunity and promise, and
work continues implementing the Imagine
Flint Master Plan. In November, the City released a draft copy of its 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for fiscal years 20152020 – the City’s first combined CIP. The
CIP will serve as an important planning tool
for implementing the Master Plan and serve
as a guide for City Council in their annual
budgeting process. It provides more than 200
recommendations for permanent physical improvements to City owned assets such as infrastructure and facilities, parks and recreation facilities, community centers, utilities,
and roads and sidewalks. As part of the City’s
rollout of the draft CIP,
more than 100 community members took part
in a series of Citizen
Input Sessions which
were hosted in November and December. In
the coming weeks, the
CIP will be presented
to the Planning Commission and City Council for approval and
adoption. The Planning Commission will
hold a vote regarding plan approval on Tuesday, January 13th at 6:00 pm in City Council Chambers, and City Council will vote to
adopt at their meeting on Monday, January
19th at 5:30 pm in City Council Chambers.
All residents and community members are
encouraged to attend these meetings.
As if the adoption of the City’s first
combined CIP wasn’t enough, the City will
continue to roll out its draft Zoning Code over
the next few months.The Zoning Code serves
as the primary mechanism through which the
City will implement the Imagine Flint Land
Use Plan and its 12 “place-types”. With the
last zoning code update in the city occurring
during the 1970’s, the City has the ability to
tackle incompatible land uses and ordinance
violations with an updated code. Over the
next 3-4 months, the City will be hosting
many community-wide events to discuss the
draft zoning code and gather feedback on
ways to improve the draft. To view draft pieces of the code and to learn more, please visit
our website at www.imagineflint.com or call
us at (810)766-7426 ext. 3028.
Big Brothers Big Sisters 100 Men 100
Boys Program hosts
9th Annual Mentoring Inspiration
Breakfast
Commemorating National Mentoring
Month and Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. Day of Service
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint will
host its 9th Annual Mentoring Inspiration
Breakfast. The br eakfast will be held at
Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, 4100 S. Saginaw St. Flint, MI 48507, Monday, January 19,
2015 at 8:30am.
Von Washington Jr., Kalamazoo, MI will
serve as the keynote speaker, tickets $15 (call
235-0617).
The Dr. Martin Luther King Mentoring Inspiration Breakfast is a part of our celebration of
National Mentoring Month. National Mentoring Month aims to bring national attention to
the ever growing need for volunteers to serve as
mentors for youth. This effort, led by Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint’s100 Men
100 Boys program – a group effort designed to
provide a mentoring experience for unmatched
boys who are awaiting a one-on-one match
with a Big Brother volunteer.
Workshops for Parents, Caregivers
and Educators
Parents, caregivers and educators are welcome to register for a series of free early
childhood development workshops at the
Flint Public Library with Children’s Librarian
Brenda Harris.
Tellin’ Tales
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
at 6pm. Discuss techniques for learning and
telling stories.
Follow Flint Neighborhoods United on
the web at
www.flintneighborhoodsunited.org/
and on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/
FlintNeighborhoodsUnited
12
Using Puppets
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
at 6pm. Share different techniques for making
and using puppets.
A Review of Children’s Literature
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
at 6pm. Review the best children’s books
including award winning titles.
Registration required, call 810-249-2170.
African American Art from the Artis Collection on
Exhibit at the Flint Public Library
The Flint Public Library will be exhibiting selections from The Anthony and Davida Artis Collection of African American Fine Art, January through February in the library’s alcoves. The Artis
Collection focuses on three themes: faith, family, and faces.
Mr. Artis began collecting in 2009. The collection has inspired a community-based, nationallyrecognized project in 2014 called, “Art Community Outreach” for which they received a grant
through The Pollination Project Foundation to introduce African American art in Flint and Genesee County.
Meet Mr. Artis and hear more about the collection at 1pm, Saturday, January 31. The Pierians
Greater Flint, Inc., are hosting a reception at the
library for the Artis exhibit. Collector Anthony
Artis will give a short presentation about the collection, its goals, and its importance to the African American community.
Fences and Feelings
By Terri Stangl
In his poem, Mending Wall, Robert Frost
included an old saying: "good fences
make good neighbors".
The idea is that when
everyone agrees on
where the boundaries are, then this
helps everyone to tend to his own property ,
helping to prevent arguments and frustrations.
It's easy to see a fence on a piece of land and to
know what it takes to maintain one. It can be
harder to see a boundary between what's mine
and what's yours when it comes to feelings.
Many people blame someone else for how they
feel - whether pleasant or upsetting. I hear people talk all the time about how someone else
pushes" their "buttons". Even our pop songs
talk about how someone makes us feel "brand
new" or "like a natural woman" or
"like
dancing".
The problem with this habit of how we talk
about our feelings is that it has nothing to do
with how the human brain really works. What
each of us sees and feels is generated by how
our
brain
processes
things
including what other people do. The brain interprets what we think we've experienced and
what to do about it based on all of
our experiences and what we've been taught by
our parents, our teachers, and our peers (who in
turn learned things based on their experiences).
In other words, our feelings are something that
happens in our own minds and bodies. I know
no one else can sleep for me. Or use
the bathroom for me. Or learn for me. I alone
am responsible for those things. The same thing
is true for the feelings in my body, too.
When it comes to the connection between your
actions and my feelings (or vice versa), seeing
the difference between a "fence" or a
"button" becomes especially important when
we're talking about laws and violence. I admit
that I am troubled by stand your ground type
laws that say I'd be justified to shoot a kid in a
hoodie or a kid drunkenly ringing my doorbell
at night simply because I feel afraid. Not
whether the fear is reasonable under the circumstances. Not whether there could be a
course of action other than firing a gun. Not
whether
there is a real threat or not. My feeling of fear is
enough. A similar defense used to be common
around
violence
against
women.
Some assailants would argue that their feeling
that a woman was "asking for it" - with her
clothes, walk, or tone of voice - was enough.
When we as a society take the position that one
person is justified in their actions - even violent
action - - based on that person's feelings alone,
we are denying the most basic things about how
human thought works and where it errs. What
underlies and produces feelings of "comfort" or
"fear" are assumptions and fears we all have
about all manner of things. This can include
assumptions about race, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, and gender. It can also
include assumptions about what's "safe" or
"right"
or
"good".
Fences Continued on page 14
13
Check Out The Changes at the Flint Public
Library!
Look for new services, new spaces, new tools
or new programs each month as we
make incremental changes. And let us know
what you think!
In the next year, Flint Public Library is going
to be very intentional about adapting our services and spaces to keep pace with our residents’ interests.
Our first two bits of “new news” are coming
in January and February:
• STEM Saturdays. STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education is vitally
important for children. Many careers of the
future will demand these skills, and schools
are starting to focus intense effort on these
topics. To support this emerging need, we are
launching an exciting series of seven STEM
Saturday events, starting January 24. They’re
all designed to engage kids in STEM learning
disguised as fun!
• Idea Lounge. FPL is a popular meeting destination. We’ve transformed an area
on the second floor into a small whiteboard/ collaboration space. The Idea Lounge
is a great place for people to put their
heads together and come up with new ideas.
We are very focused on being the go-to place
where people can learn across their entire
lifespan. I invite you to engage with us as we
develop this next iteration of ourselves, and
support the City’s plans for growth
and development.
Flint Public Library is YOUR place to explore, learn, grow, and come together with
the community. Check it out and tell us what
you think!
Land Bank 10th Anniversary
Celebration
The Genesee County Land Bank celebrated 10
years of restoring value to the community on
December 7, 2014. The Genesee County Land
Bank was the first county land bank in the nation and has had many great accomplishments
in these first 10 years in removing blight, empowering residents, revitalizing neighborhoods
and supporting vacant land re-use. A celebration event took place on December 2nd at the
Durant to commemorate the occasion and to
thank all of our community partners for their
contributions to the community. The Clean &
Green Program also celebrated its 10 years anniversary and a special thanks to participants
that mow and maintain thousands of properties
each year.
By the numbers
14,803 Number of tax-foreclosed properties the
Land Bank has accepted
2,210 Number of homes the Land Bank has
sold
$60.2 million Funds spent in the community to
repurpose five large scale developments projects
(The Land Bank Center, The Durant, the Berridge and Tinlin House, Insight Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience, Oak Street Senior
Apartments)
4,000
Tons of trash removed from vacant properties
150,000
Vacant properties mowings completed
2,000
Vacant properties boarded and
secured
4,946
Blighted properties demolished
947
Vacant lots sold to homeowners
to extend their yards
701
Vacant lots leased and adopted to
community members
$55 million Amount of grants received by the
Land Bank
Thank you Flint and Genesee County for a
great first 10 years, we look forward working
with you to make the next 10 years even better than the first!
30th Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Community Celebration At the Flint Public
Library
The Flint Public Library (FPL), will be open
for business on Monday, January 19, from 9am
-6pm.
Join us for these FREE activities:
• 1pm: Make a "Peace Flower" craft and story
time in the Children’s Room
• 2pm: FPL will present its 30th Community
Celebration with guest speaker author, entrepreneur and philanthropist, W. David Tarver;
musical guests the Boys and Girls Club Steel
Band; followed by a reenactment of Dr. King’s
“I Have a Dream” speech and presentations by
the Gamma Delta Kudos and the Kappa Leadership League.
• 4pm: Join us at Flint Institute of Arts (FIA)
for a reception and performance in Isabel Hall
with the Gamma Delta Kudos and Kappa Leadership League, and spoken word artist Mama
Sol.
• 4-6pm: The FIA Museum Art School will offer a family art making activity in the studios.
We are the keepers of the dream!
More info? 785-5340, ext. 33
Fences Continued from page 13
I think a first step in being 'good neighbors' to
one another in a community is for each of us to
maintain a clear boundary so we each know
what's generated from our own thinking instead
of blaming each other. With a clear boundary, I
know I'm responsible for my own thoughts and
feelings, and it's up to me to attend to them,
'and adjust the ones that aren't working so well.
When each of us is clear about that and acts
accordingly, we are all in a lot better shape to
solve shared community problems together.
North Flint Holiday Party
North Flint Reinvestment Corporation participated at Councilwoman Jackie Poplar Special
Christmas event. Local donors provided gifts
from school supplies, toys, clothing items, to
large Butterball turkeys for each family that
attended. That wasn't all, there was a ticket raffle where nearly everyone received a door
prize. A light meal was served and Christmas
songs filled the air by the young children that
attended. NFRC passed out information about
the Eagle's Nest Academy.
Free Community Newspaper….Read, write, advertise, distribute!
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Camera ready copy is preferred. Picture pixels should be consistent with the size of the photo image required in the
layout. Cell phone photos do not have the same crisp clarity as do camera photos, especially if the photo is to be enlarged.
For additional information contact Jane Richardson, Salem Housing, (810) 785-5340 ext 33 or
[email protected].
Letters, email and telephone: FLINT Our Community Our Voice, 3216 M. L. King Ave., Flint, Mi. 48505
(810) 785-5340, ext. 33 email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Publication Schedule
March/April edition articles and ads must be received at Salem Housing by no later than close of business on the 16 th of
February. Papers will be available for distribution by the 1 st of each month. Check your neighborhood for distribution
points. All articles should contribute positively to the welfare of the Flint community and its residents; the editorial staff
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ASK KIA
(For Sound Solutions)
Q. I have been
keeping a secret for
over three months
now, and I’m feeling guilty about it.
I’m afraid if I reveal what I know it
will damage and
even destroy some
friendships. What
should I do Kia?
It’s really getting
next to me.
A. It’s difficult to suggest any specific solution based on the information you have provided. However, I do suggest that you assess
the extent to which your emotional and mental
health are being affected by carrying this secret. After a personal inventory, you must
then decide what action to take to relieve yourself of the guilt you are feeling. And know
that carrying guilt can impact your physical
health as well. A great philosopher has said,
and I agree, “To Thine Own Self Be True.”
Q. I am a twenty-five year old single female
who is constantly being pursued by my seventeen, (soon to be eighteen) year old neighbor.
I have to admit that I’m attracted to him, and
have a hard time looking the other way. I’m
fighting the urge to invite him in just on a
friendship basis. Should I allow him to visit,
or just look the other way? Tempted.
A. Temptation is not sin, but yielding to it is.
Without question you must make it clear to
this ‘child’ that there is absolutely no possibility of your being in a relationship with him. I
feel certain that you know that to act on your
feelings in this case would not only be immoral, but illegal as well. Look the other way and
seal the door shut on this one.
Q. My thirteen year old daughter is getting
more and more out of control with her appearance. She wears too much make up, and
her clothes are too short and too tight. How
can I convince her that she is headed for trouble?
A. Whether you convince her or not, as long
as you are the parent and provider, she has to
abide by the rules and guidelines you set for
her, or face the consequences that you must
establish and enforce. End of story.
Feeding the Total Needs of the Community
by Sandra E. Robinson
The article by Nic Custer, in the September 2014 edition of The East Village Magazine,
shared an explanation by William Kerr, president of the Food Bank, for the decision to take part of
a city park. Reportedly, that decision was made, to serve the people of Michigan by providing fresh
produce to enrich their diet, and serve the greater good by decreasing nutrition–related health problems. Reportedly, Mr. Kerr also said that a Hunger Education Program, presented in connection
with the Genesee Intermediate School District and Michigan State University would teach residents
how to prepare fresh fruit and vegetables.
Serving the dietary needs of the poor is a noble undertaking. That fact is not lost on those
who were not pleased to be the only ones to lose a portion of a valuable community asset, their
park. However, since dietary needs is only one of the many needs of the disadvantaged; and the
president of the Food Bank has expressed interest in their needs, area residents are depending on
him and all board members to support their desire to secure the vacant Stewart School building and
serve those additional needs. With the Food Bank’s help children in the area of the expansion;
many living in economically depressed, single parent families, without the support or involvement
of a father, can have an additional outlet for their physical, social, emotional and educational needs.
When we are successful in our efforts to renovate Brennan Park and secure the building, we
anticipate a positive outcome not only for our community, but also, for all who come in contact
with the children influenced in those venues. We look to involve any interested community members and any interested community service and religious organizations, to provide this needed support. We hope to give the youth an alternative way of seeing their world and interacting with it.
This new outlook would also permeate the schools and improve outcomes, so important to the survival of the public school system. We believe the Food Bank could help facilitate our efforts and
encourage members of the board of directors to get on board with this service effort. We look forward to their cooperation along with all other interested parties.
Currently, members of SouthParks Neighborhood Association are circulating petitions to
encourage the school board, mayor and city council to restrict the sale of the vacant Stewart School
building to organizations that will provide child and family development programs there. Please
contact us to lend your support. Phone Barbara Griffith-Wilson at 810 938-8660; Sandra E. Robinson at 810 275-4007; or contact us at [email protected].
As stated by Mother Teresa, “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the
hunger for bread.” Let’s work together, for the greater good, and provide that love.
Recipe corner: Dairy Free Vegan
Cilantro Lime Black Bean Rice
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons oil
1 medium sized red onion, finely diced
2 pods minced garlic
1 cup of Basmati rice
1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground cumin
½ teaspoon red cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
¾ cup black beans
1 lime
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Preparation
Heat the oil and add in the onion and sauté for about
4 to 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook for
another 2 minutes.
Add in the rice and mix well and stir the mixture for
2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cumin, red cayenne
pepper, turmeric, and the salt. Mix well.
Add in 2 cups of water and bring to simmer, cover
and cook for 10 minutes, the rice should be still
wet and mostly cooked.
Stir In the beans and reduce the heat to low and cook
for another 10 minutes. Remove the cover, cut
and squeeze in the lime juice and stir in the
cilantro.
Let the rice rest undisturbed for 10 minutes. Serve as
desired with your favorite meal.
15
Free Caribbean Concert
At the Flint Public Library
Warm up your winter Sunday, February 8, at
4pm at a FREE Reggae concert with popular
Detroit area band, Universal Xpression at the
Flint Public Library. Doors open at 3:45pm.
For more information call 810.232-7111.
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