FLINT

Our Community Our Voice FLINT NEIGHBORHOODS UNITED: Standing Together For Positive Change

Volume 7, Issue 2 Winter 2017

It’s Complicated Since the water crisis in Flint began going on 3 years ago Flint citizens have been searching for answers to questions they have concerning the water they drink, bathe in, garden with and use in any other number of ways. They have questions about their health, the health of their loved ones and what damage may have been done to them and those they care for. There are questions about the KWA, pipe and infrastructure replacement, how it can be fixed and what the time frame for repairs and a clean bill of health for the system could be. Answers to these questions have sometimes been hard to come by. Sometimes the information is contradictory. As the headline above states: It’s Complicated. A Town Hall Meeting on the current status of the crisis was held at the Northbank Center in Flint on January 11. Representatives from Flint, the State of Michigan and the EPA were in attendance to give updates and answer questions as they were able from the hundreds of citizens who were in attendance. Nearly 100 questions were submitted. Space does not allow a discussion of every item discussed. We’ll try to relay some of the more common questions and answers, but consult the Flint Cares website (flintcares.com) to see all the questions and answers as they become available. Q: Do you have expertise dealing with such a high corrosion level? A:Yes. Nothing has happened to Flint's pipes, in terms of their ability to produce good quality drinking water, that cannot be fixed by restoring corrosion control. However, unlined iron pipes were a problem and barrier to producing high quality water in Flint before the crisis, and they remain a major problem today. Also, we believe the pipes were physically damaged, and that cannot be undone-- so they might break more frequently. Source: V aTech Q: Can you recoat holes in our infrastructure? A: Such recoating technologies exist. The question is whether that is more cost effective than actual replacing and re-sizing pipes. Source: V aTech Q: Why have the city, state or government not installed a point of entry backwash whole house system in every home? A: Whole house filter systems might trigger more bacteria problems. Much, much worse than the POU filters. This is what we published on our website last year. "Will filters help Mitigate this Problem in Flint? Source: V aTech These are only 3 of the questions posed to the various representatives. To keep informed with the latest current information is sometimes difficult. However, if you have access to a computer in your home, or visit the Flint Public Library, any branch of the Genesee District Library, Mott Community College, the Hispanic Tech Center, the Neighborhood Engagement Hub, or any other location that has community use computers available, you can visit flintcares.com. Ask someone there how to navigate the site. Flint Cares was created out of the Community Partners Group as a way to provide Flint residents with the most accurate, up-to-date and trustworthy information regarding the water crisis. No information carrying the Flint Cares logo is delivered without complete research. Caution symbols indicate differing opinions on a topic. Lastly, Share this information with friends and neighbors who may be unable to access it in any other way! It is vitally important that every resident of Flint is armed with the latest information!

CORE Teams to the Rescue As the State of Michigan continues to support city, county and federal efforts to restore water quality in the City of Flint. Community Outreach and Resident Education (CORE) Teams are playing a critical role in ensuring Flint Residents are aware of the safeguards to protect themselves. Spearheaded by the MDEQ, the teams were originally created to provide door-to-door community outreach and education to ensure that Flint residents were properly installing, using and maintaining their water filters. The teams’ responsibilities have since grown to include a multi-faceted approach for providing education and training to the residents on a range of topics. GST/ Michigan Works has been collaborating within the community to provide workers to assist the State of Michigan (DEQ). Training sessions are ongoing. Many more community and non-profit organizations are also working together to provide information and education regarding drinking water that will be provided to residents by trained CORE team members. Just as the teams’ responsibilities are increasing so are the number of team members. There are currently more than 55 core team members – comprised mostly of Flint residents- who have been hired to help with the recovery efforts in the city. These teams will continue to expand with the hiring of more Flint workers through GST/Michigan Works.

FLINT Editorial Board Donna Calvin, Bill Hammond, Jane Richardson, Sandra E. Robinson, Carma Lewis, Chris Frye

L a yo u t an d D e si gn Chevon Wilborn [email protected] Chris Frye

Letters, Email & Telephone FLINT Our Community Our Voice 3216 M.L. King Ave. Flint, MI 48505 (810) 348-5332 [email protected] FOCOV Published bi-monthly the first week of the month

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Follow Flint Neighborhoods United on the web at www.flintneighborhoodsunited.org/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ FlintNeighborhoodsUnited Editorial Policy This newspaper is the voice of our neighborhoods. We will share the views of our neighbors, groups and leaders for your evaluation and edification. We welcome articles from any community member. We also reserve the right to refuse articles. While we welcome your contributions, we ask that they be constructive. All articles should contribute positively to the welfare of our community and its residents. We will accept a thoughtful discussion of all related issues and reserve the right to reply to those that seem to reflect a misunderstanding of our views of Our Community. We look forward to hearing from you. FLINT Our Community Our Voice You may also email your information to [email protected] Thank You in Advance FOCOV Staff of Volunteers

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WHAT I LEARNED WHILE STUDYING FLINT’S MUNICIPAL TAKEOVER: FISCAL STABILITY VERSUS LOCAL DEMOCRACY -Ashley E. Nickels Assistant Professor of Political Science Kent State University

Municipal takeover policies, known in Michigan as the “emergency manager laws,” claim to eschew politics. These policies, which rest on the principle that local government is broken, suspend local democracy in an attempt to fix local fiscal problems. Fear of municipal bankruptcy, economic contagion, and credit downgrades are among the most common motivations for intervening in local municipal affairs. For Flint, the city’s budget deficit was the expressed reason for its takeover. States have a fiduciary responsibility to guarantee that municipalities meet their obligation to provide services to the public. When faced with on-going fiscal problems, some proponents argue that strong state interventions are necessary “in the interest of efficiency”. From an economic-stability perspective, municipal takeovers are considered to be the best alternative when compared to municipal bankruptcy or doing nothing. State interventions by emergency managers are designed to be temporary and quick, yet often the typical processes of deliberation (or checks and balances) be damned. In a 2012 op-ed in the Detroit Free Press, Governor Snyder defended Michigan’s municipal takeover policy. He wrote, “It’s not about takeovers or control. It’s about helping communities and schools get back on solid financial footing and adapt to changing circumstances and fiscal realities.” Addressing the concerns of public workers, the Governor stated, “It’s not about voiding contracts or circumventing collective bargaining, but about ensuring fair contracts and benefits while recognizing that the past status quo simply isn’t sustainable anymore.” And his answer to citizens deeply worried about the loss of their voting franchise, he offered this justification: “It’s not about voting rights. This updated measure was passed after a thorough legislative process and robust public discussion. Emergency Managers are accountable to me and the Legislature, all of whom are elected.” Proponents of municipal takeover seek expediency, efficiency, and fiscal stability. Democracy, on the other hand, is messy and politics is complex. As a result of the hegemony of this “rational-fiscal perspective,” little attention is paid to the potential long-term socio-economic and political ramifications of these policies. For example, in Benton Harbor, Emergency Manager Joseph Harris seemed bewildered by criticisms that the law suspended local democracy. In a scathing review of Michigan’s emergency manager law in the New York Times, Jonathon Mahler wrote that Harris was “Blissfully free of the checks and balances of democratic government, he [Harris] is living the 2

dream of every frustrated city administrator.” In the article, Harris was quoted as saying, “Here, I don’t have to worry about whether the politicians or union leaders like what I am doing, I have to worry about whether it’s the right thing to do. That’s the only thing that should matter. I love this job.” My research found that despite politician’s claims to the contrary, municipal takeovers are in fact political, and have significant political consequences at the local level. By taking an indepth, policy-focused look at the municipal takeovers in Flint, I found that the state’s intervention not only suspended the authority of local elected officials in the short-term, but reshaped the local political landscape for the long term. The implementation of the policy by a series of state-appointed managers interrupted politics-asusual. While some argued that municipal takeovers are only temporary, implying that the political impact too is only temporary, the tools and strategies utilized by the emergency-managers are in fact political. To borrow from political scientist Harold Lasswell’s phraseology, municipal takeovers determine “who gets what, when, [and] how.” In Flint, some groups benefited from the takeover, while others lost. Under a series of state-appointed managers, more than one hundred executive orders, resolutions and directives were implemented. These directives included, among other things, shuttering city offices, laying off employees, restructuring collective bargaining agreements, selling city assets and increasing fees. These decisions reshaped the local political landscape in numerous ways. First, it allocated local resource benefits to some while creating burdens for others. Second, it restructured local government entirely, in some instances removing points of participatory access for city residents. Third, these polices and their implementation had a symbolic effect, conveying important messages to community stakeholders and residents about their value and position in the city. Together, these policies dictated just who participates in local politics in Flint and who benefits. Implications The crisis in Flint draws our attention to ongoing conflicts in how we respond to urban fiscal crises. Is fiscal stability to be pursued at the expense of social equity, process at the expense of expediency, budget line-items at the expense of citizens in a troubled city. Flint is hardly alone. Local governments across the United States are caught between increasing costs and shrinking revenues, what Drier, Mollenkopf, Swanstrom refer to as the “iron cage of municipal finance.” From city to city, the causes of fiscal distress vary from loss of state revenues to rising costs for public services and underfunded public pensions, to outright fiscal mismanagement. Across the country, these difficulties are similar and often What I Learned... Continued on Page 3

What I Learned Continued from Page 2

hit poor, minority communities the hardest, creating greater social inequality. The impact of what happened in Flint has broader implications, as other states like New Jersey are poised to strengthen their municipal takeover policy, or adopting new emergency manager legislation like in Wisconsin. Members of the community continue to organize in opposition and file lawsuits, and residents express distrust and anger with local and state government. When policies are put in place with a narrow focus on the fiscal bottom line, the potential social and political impact is often overlooked. The consequences of isolating local elected officials and community residents from public policy decisions that directly and indirectly affected them have longterm consequences. Democracy is messy, yes; but decreasing resident access to local decision-makers, removing traditional forms of checks and balances, and cutting services, while raising costs serves to foster distrust among residents and provides openings for local elites to control or shape the agenda. Putting measures in place to ameliorate this problem would go a long way toward diminishing the lack of access to local power. In other words, deliberation and inclusion are essential to making laws aimed at addressing fiscal crises more socially equitable. Up Next In my next piece for FNU’s Our Community, Our Voice, I will summarize what I see as the consequences of municipal takeover and provide some recommendations.

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FOMA Films, February 17 – February 26, 2017, Films are screened every weekend in the comfort of plush theater-style seating and a state-of-the-art sound system. Check website for date, times and movies. The Whiting Presents: Cinderella the Musical Tues Feb. 14, 2017 7:00 PM - Wed 2/15/17 7:00 PM Complexions Ballet, Sat. Feb. 14, 2017 8:00 PM, Fahrenheit 451, Tues. Feb.28, 2017 7pm DRUMLine Live, 2016-17 Fri March 3, 2017 8pm Newsboys, 2016-17 Sun March 5, 2017 6:00 PM An Evening with Molly Ringwald, Fri. Mar. 10, 2017 8pm Pippin the Musical , Tue March 14, 2017, 7pm Flint Youth Theater Main Stage, The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963, Sat., Feb. 11, 2017 - Sun Feb.26, 2017 HIR, Off The Press, Sun Mar.12, 2017 4pm Flint Public Library, 1026 E. Kearsley St. Income Tax Assistance registration, Sat. February 11, 18, 25, 9am – 5pm, begins at 9 am, and ends when the day is full Fiction Only Book Club, Wed. February 15, 22, March , Wench by Dolen PerkinsValdez 12:00pm Tendaji Talks: African American History in Flint, Thurs., Feb. 16, 6 –7:30pm Saturday Night Jazz, Sat. February 18, 6:30pm Father’s Daze, Sat. February 25, Storytelling through the Eyes of Dads, Teens/Tweens Writer’s Workshop, Tues., February 28, 4:30pm Computers for Beginners: Part 1, Tues., 5:30 – 7:30pm Chess for Everyone! Sat., March 4, 2017, (every other Sat.) 3 – 5:30pm Every Sat. In February, 11:00 am Every Child Ready to Read; 2:00pm Super Science Saturday; 3:00 pm Teens/Tweens Coding Club

On the Calendar...

Water Distribution Optimization Plan, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 6pm-7:30pm, Reading Room Flint Public Library.

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edible flint: Growing Beyond the Grocery Aisle, Wed. March 1, 3pm-7pm, NEH, 3216 M L King Ave.

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edible flint general meeting: Thurs. March 2, 1pm-3pm, NEH, 3216 M L King Ave.

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edible flint: Annual Meeting, Thurs. March 30, 4:30pm, Hunger Solution Center, 2300 Lapeer Rd.

President’s Message Hello All, It has been a pleasure meeting and working with people that are doing some astonishing work right here inside the City of Flint. Many of them live here and many of them simply spend their days working here. Their dedication to Flint is so powerful that it is bringing about the change we need. People that would not have considered working together in the past are reaching out to one another, forming relationships, and making things happen. WE are making things happen. WE are lifting each other up. WE are protecting each other from harm. Other communities would have fallen apart after going through what we have been through. Not Flint. We grab onto each other and stand stronger. We persevere. Flint belongs to us and we will continue to fight for it. We are all in this together.

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Block Club, Neighborhood Association and Crime Watch Meetings

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Friends of Max Brandon, First Thursday, 5:00 pm, Neighborhood Engagement Hub

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Neighborhood Restoration Coalition, Tuesdays – biweekly at 9 a.m. or 6 p.m.

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Circle Drive Neighborhood Association, 1st Thursday, 6 p.m.. South Dort Service Center

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Flint Neighborhoods United, 1st Saturday, 9 a.m. Woodside Church, 1509 E. Court Street

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Ballenger Square Community Association, First Saturday, noon, New Baptist Church

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New Comm. Block Club, 2nd & 4th Thursday, 12-2 pm, New Community Baptist

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Civic Park Neighborhood Associations, 2nd Tuesday, 5:30, Haskell Community Center

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King Avenue PLUS, 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m., Neighborhood Engagement Hub

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Metawaneenee Hills Neighborhood Asso., 3rd Tuesday, 5:45 p.m., Salem Lutheran Church, 2610 M. L. King

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Glendale Hills Neighborhood Association, third Thursday, 6:30 p.m. , Court Street Church of God, 2920 W. Court

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Ballenger Highway Association, 2nd Thursday, 6 pm

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Potter Longway Neighborhood Asso., 3rd Monday, 7 pm, Eastwood Church

Carma Lewis, President Flint Neighborhoods United

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WHY FURNACE AND DUCT CLEANING IS NECESSARY If you have never had your ducts cleaned in the Winter months, dust mites, pet dander, bacteria and influenza viruses all can live in the warm, dark registers of your homes.

Masthead on newspaper Genesee Towers needs to leave our identity! We are running a short design contest with April issue of newspaper printing all options – change by May? It’s okay to submit ideas and search for the artist. Send ideas to [email protected] or [email protected] by March 1.

This is why some families cannot get rid of colds, flu and allergies! The bacteria lives in your registers where it can thrive due to the warmth and darkness there. When you have them cleaned, disinfected and deodorized every few years, it eliminates and lessens the risk of getting sick through the Winter. In the warmer months, for those with central air conditioning, your main and duct systems are clean and clear and ready to continue keeping the dust and bacteria out of your home. For a free, over the phone estimate, see this ad and call Triple J Furnace and Duct Cleaning.

Free Community Newspaper…Read, write, advertise, distribute! More info? 810 348-5332

Flint-Our Community, Our Voice dimensions & ad rates Full Page is 11.25h x 10.25w Format is generally 3 columns per page approximately 400 words per column Column is 11.25h x 3.25w ½ page 5.75h x 10.25w (horiz) or 11.25h x 5.125w (vert) ¼ page 5.75h x 5.0w 2 columns wide ⅛ page 5.75h x 2.5w 1 column wide

Camera ready copy/art is preferred. Photo 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 camera photos, especially if the photo is to be enlarged. For additional information contact Neighborhood Engagement Hub, (810) 785-5340 or [email protected]. Letters, email and telephone: FLINT-Our Community, Our Voice, 3216 M.L. King Ave., Flint, MI 48505. (810) 785-5340. Email: [email protected]. Checks: Flint Neighborhoods United, 3216 M. L. King Ave., Flint, Mi. 48505 4

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By: Anthony Flores What would you say to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. if you could talk to him today? If I could talk to Dr. King today I would say, “Hi” and then I would shake his hand.

TALKING WITH THE AUTHOR….. Interviews with authors reveal they have vision and focus when they write, and there is history behind their abilities. Also, there is history behind the content of their compositions which presents a specific message to the consumer. Dr. Marsay Wells-Strozier has written a number of books inspired by her desire to connect with her audience of readers. October 2015, Dr. Wells-Strozier, published her first in a series of Language Arts (LA) educational books entitled: Keira & Me. Marketed to youth enrolled in K-6th grade, lower readers in Adult Basic Education programs (ABE), and adult immigrants enrolled in English As a Second Language programs (ESL), Keira & Me was designed to help students learn specific parts of speech that are critical in the development in writing and speaking American Standard English. The first book; “Keira & Me: Homonyms and Homophone” involves the adventures of Keira, a nine-year-old girl and her endangered species animal friends (Sally Court Club) as they explore the meaning of homonyms and homophones in the classroom. Taught by schoolroom teacher Ms. Marsay, Keira and her friends find fun and humor as they develop these new Language Arts skills, which can be confusing to students. In addition, readers learn the basic fundamentals of correct spelling, sentence structure, and geography. Dr. Wells-Strozier began her writing career as a co-author of several books in the early 2000’s, while completing her doctorate in Education Administration for Teaching and Learning Leadership (Ed.D.) She states,” My prior writing experience taught me the importance of producing a body of knowledge that is well written, professionally edited no matter how many times it takes to get it right, and the ability to work with others from various cultures”. Dr. Wells-Strozier was inspired to write her first titled book, after working with an adult learner at the adult education center (CHEA Adult Skill Center) who struggled with homonyms and homophone during a class writing assignment. “I created Keira & Me not only for the educational need, but also the need to inspire children of color to learn by having main charters that look like them”, states Dr. Strozier. “Most books which feature people of color are found in LA literature books and not LA books which teach us how to spell, organize words, sentence structures, and the ability to speak English correctly which is vital for employment and college enrollment/success. States have now established LA educational standards for youth through Common Core State Standards for English LA. Even for adult enrolled in ABE and GED programs, LA standards have been created though Michigan’s Adult Education Curriculum Framework for Adults Education. As an educator, creating Keira & Me is my effort to help prepare students for college as well as life.” Dr. Wells-Strozier grew up in Flint on Sally Court Street. “Keira & Me: Homonyms and Homophone” the book also feature endangered species animals who are members of the Sally Court Club. Five of the animals are named after her childhood friends from Sally Ct., and the remaining three are named after family members. When asked for suggestions to aspiring writers she replied, “Write something meaningful, edifying and useful to others.” She also emphasized the importance of hiring a good editor. “Keira & Me: Homonyms & Homophones” can be purchased through Barnes & Nobles, Amazon Books, Kindle Book, and at www. keiraandme.info. Currently, available in English and Spanish. The Arabic publication soon to be released in late 2017.

FLINT Our Community Our Voice is a community newspaper that provides information from and about residents and organizations across the city. A donation of at least $10 a month will help to insure that this vital resource remains to keep people informed and communities connected. Gifts identified as “newspaper” may be mailed to Flint Neighborhoods United at 3216 M. L. King Ave., Flint, Mi. 48505

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JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORS FOR HOT ENTERTAINMENT IN FEBRUARY! Not sure what to do on those cold, dark weekend nights in February? We have a great answer for at least two of them! Come to the Library on Saturday, February 18 at 6:30pm for a free jazz concert that will get your body and your soul moving. We’re featuring guest artist Gwen Pennyman-Hemphill, who is sure to warm you up with her smooth voice and fabulous band. This concert is open to anyone, of any age. Just follow the sounds to the Reading Room, and get comfortable. Bring some friends, and make a night of it at Flint Public Library! We are also welcoming Father’s Daze to the Library on Friday, February 24 at 6:30pm. This will be a sidesplitting and hilarious night of comedy, music and storytelling from three different fathers. Whether you’re a father or just someone who has spent time around kids, you’ll appreciate their humorous take on the joys and challenges of raising children. It’s clean fun for the whole family. You may ask, “Why does the Library put on a free shows like this?” That’s a really good question! Here’s why we do it. The Library is a place to build community. We want this to be a space where people from all over Flint can come to talk, listen, engage, discuss, and just be together. A jazz concert and comedy performance are perfect ways to help achieve those goals! So come on out to meet friends old and new, and spice up your weekends with some free entertainment you won’t find anywhere else. For more information about Library activities, please visit our website at www.fpl.info.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By: Damontae Montgomery The Dream His dream was freedom for all blacks, and I think his dream is still alive. If Dr. King was still alive I would say, “Thank your” for giving us freedom.

Garden Talk: Growing Beyond the Grocery Aisle

Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Neighborhood Engagement Hub 3216 M.L. King Ave- Flint

Workshops, 3pm-7pm Schedule: Soil Health 3:15pm and 5:15 pm Water in the Garden 3:45pm and 5:45pm R2- Resourcing and Repurposing 4:15pm and 6:15pm Sharing Circle Forum 4:30pm-5:00pm Demos- Garden Alternative Design-Palate teasers/recipes Displays- Community Partners Available March 1, Applications open Garden Starters Kits and Service Launching Neighborhood Ambassador Program For more information:

edibleflint.org – [email protected] - (810) 244-8547 7

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By: Sakai Adams What would you say to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr if you could talk to him today? If I saw Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr today, I would say, “Thank you for getting people together.” You had joy in your heart to get black and white people to go to the same schools. Instead of letting them go to different schools, like all black or all white schools.

TAX ASSISTANCE The 2017 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) will begin assisting residents in February 2017. This program provides free income tax preparation for working families with low to moderate incomes along with free electronic filing through April 15th. There are various locations, days, and hours, to fit your schedule. The Genesee County Tax Assistance & Financial Services Coalition, in cooperation with the IRS, will have 5 VITA sites available in the Genesee County area through April 14th. The VITA sites help low and moderate income families file their 2016 income taxes and to benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); all at no cost to the client. Most of the VITA locations provide service by appointment only, while a number of Saturday sessions allow for walk in clients. The schedule below lists all site locations, hours, and if an appointment is needed, along with MTA Bus Routes. The Coalition has been serving residents of Genesee County since 2003. Residents can be assured that while each VITA site is staffed by volunteers, each preparer has gone through extensive training to assist their fellow citizens and is certified by the IRS. United Way of Genesee County, which is responsible for oversight of the program, is committed to continue bringing valuable tax dollars to area residents through program access and expansion. Tax Preparation Sites: Brennan Senior Center Tuesdays by Appointment Only 10:00am - 2:00pm February 14, 21, 28; March 7, 14, 21, 28 MTA Route 9 Lapeer Road 1301 Pingree Avenue, Flint Contact: 810.766.7238 Canaan Baptist Church 910 E. Gillespie (at Industrial Avenue) Flint Saturday Walk-In, 9 – 3; February 11, 18, 25; March 4 MTA Route 1 N. Saginaw Flint Public Library Saturday Walk-Ins 9 – 3 or until all slots are filled February 11, 18, 25; March 4, 11, 18, 25 Contact: 810.406.8507 MTA Route 6 Lewis/Selby Mott Community College, 1401 E. Cour t, Flint, Fr idays by Appointment only, 9:30 -1 February 24; March 3, 10, 24; April 7, 14 Contact: 810.232.6293 MTA Route 7 Franklin University of Michigan Flint Satur day Walk-In 9:30am - 3:00pm or until all slots are filled April 1, 8 1 Riverfront Building, Flint Contact 810.406.8507 MTA Route 1 N. Saginaw MTA Route 6, Lewis/Selby AARP Tax Assistance Sites Flint Hasselbring Community Center, 1002 W. Home Thursday, call 766-9516 Krapohl Senior Center, G-5472 Bicentennial Dr., Mt. Morris. Monday, call 785-2270 Burton Senior Center, 1410 S. Grand Traverse, Flint. Tuesday, call 744-0960 Documents to bring to the Tax-Aide Site: Last year’s tax return(s) Social Security cards or other official documents for yourself and every individual on your return SSA-1099 form showing the totlal Social Security beenfits paid to you for the year of or Form RRB-1099, Tier 1. Railroad Retirement benefits 1099 forms reporting interst (1099-INT), divideds 1099) proceedsd from sales (1099-B) as well as documentation showing the original purchase price of your sold assets 1099-R Form if you received a pension, annuity or IRA distribution 1099-MISC Forms Information about other forms of income State or local income tax refunds

Follow Flint Neighborhoods United on the web at www.flintneighborhoodsunited.org/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ FlintNeighborhoodsUnited

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By: Kevin Moore What would you say to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr if you could talk to him today? I will say Hi! Look at all the people the city is happy. My name is Kevin DJ Moore, I am in the 3rd Grade. Would you like to come to my house? He will say, “Yes.” We would have fun

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Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, sponsored locally by HAP, opened January 21 and will close on Saturday, May 21. Visitors to the exhibition are quickly drawn back in time to 1912 upon entrance, as each receives a replica boarding pass of an actual passenger aboard Titanic. They then begin their chronological journey through the life of the Titanic, moving through the ship’s construction, to life on board, to the ill-fated sinking and amazing artifact rescue efforts. They will marvel at the re-created rooms, and press their palms against an iceberg while learning of countless stories of heroism and humanity. In the Memorial Gallery, guests will take their boarding pass to the memorial wall and discover whether their passenger and traveling companions survived or perished. The Exhibition has been designed with a focus on the legendary RMS Titanic’s compelling human stories as best told through authentic artifacts and extensive room re-creations. Perfume from a maker who was traveling to New York to sell his samples, china etched with the logo of the elite White Star Line, even pieces of the Ship itself-- these and many other authentic objects offer haunting, emotional connections to lives abruptly ended or forever altered. Tickets to see Titanic: The A rtifact Exhibition are: $14 adults, $12 seniors (60+ ), $11 youth age 2-11, $5 members, free children 1 and under. Veterans/Military Families/Teachers: $7 adults. Call 810-237-3450 learn more about the exhibit, check out the frequently asked questions, discover extra programs, or buy tickets now. Tickets to the exhibition are timed so visitors are admitted every 15 minutes. Visitors should plan to spend 1.5-2 hours in the exhibit. Advance purchase is recommended online in advance of your visit, or call 810-237-3450. Sloan Museum is located at 1221 E. Kearsley Street, Flint, MI

ASK KIA (For Sound solutions) Q. Kia, I am having a hard time dealing with the state of our country, and the fact that without question the most unqualified, and undeserving person in the universe has been elected to the highest position in the world. I find myself feeling depressed and helpless to cope with it. What can I do to decrease my anger and anxiety over this horrible situation that our nation is facing? I am truly frustrated. A. You did not indicate whether or not you are a Christian, and so I will assume that you are. If that is so, I suggest that you surrender your cares and concerns to God and trust that He is in full control no matter who is in the White House. I further suggest that you try reducing the time that you spend watching the news. Replace it with things that you enjoy doing, and concentrate on accepting the things you can’t change, changing the things you can, and spending time with people you enjoy being around. I invite you to let me know how my suggestion works for you. Q. I saw a man abusing the woman he was with, and I didn’t know what to do. They were walking down the street, she was crying, and he was pushing, shoving, cursing, and threatening to beat her up. Kia, I was afraid to say anything, but I wanted so much to help her. What could I have done without putting myself at risk?

A. It would not have been a good idea for you to physically intervene, which could have escalated the situation. You could, however, have called 911 and reported what was certainly a volatile situation with the possibility of physical and even fatal harm to a person. Remember, we are in fact, our brother’s keeper, and to take appropriate action in such situations is simply being a responsible and concerned citizen.

WEST FLINT DOINGS -Bill Hammond

On Flint's West Side change has come and the Neighborhood is learning how to do things in new ways. While virtually every area of the City has seen change in their communities over the past decade the West Side saw slower changes than some areas. But the difference in how the community looks is very apparent when one of the City's busiest commercial corridors runs through your neighborhood. This is the case in the area known as the West Flint Community Watch. This area is basically the neighborhood that is between Glendale Hills and Woodcroft Estates. Corunna Rd. runs right through the middle of it. There have been several fires in vacant commercial structures which pose a danger to the residents, especially the children! The West Flint Community Watch group has decided to do something about it. You will know the work of this group by the flower planters that they have maintained for years along Corunna Rd. These have helped to give the area some identifying features as well as provide beauty in the area. Now they are seeking funding to take down some of these burned out buildings. They are working towards a grant from Habitat for Humanity to begin this work. We wish much success to this new endeavor of this group! If you would like to help they meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 PM at Grace Lutheran Church, 2526 Corunna Rd. (at Farnum Ave.). You can contact Cheryl Christoff at (810) 239-9259 for more information. There is another group that is working in this same area but in another capacity. On Stocker Ave. in the block South of Corunna stands a red brick Church that is doing a lot these days to help residents, particularly with Water Relief efforts. 2 different congregations share the building and share some ministries as well. One congregation is the First Church of the Brethren (COB) and they are long time members of the community. The other is N.O.W. Ministries (No One Without) and they have just celebrated their 10th Anniversary. Now has been running a food pantry for a few years now and when this water crisis began they were looking to see how they could help. Some of the Brethren group were involved in water efforts elsewhere in the City. NOW approached the COB about doing water distribution from the Stocker Ave bldg. The COB folks asked if they couldn't join in and thus a new Ministry was begun. They've been distributing water ever since. When summer approached the COB had a volunteer 3 days a week who worked hard at getting to know the community and residents. Soon they had put together a grant request to get some help. 3 young folks began to work with the water distribution. There was soon recognition that nutrition was important to the needs of the area and so the two groups put together a plan to provide lunches for the children in the neighborhood. There was also dinner provided on Tuesday Evenings by the COB. 9

While this was all happening the neighborhood was responding to the COB's volunteer, Scot Miller, and soon a new group was formed to work on joint issues with the community such as a vacant house that needed to be boarded. This group began calling itself Stocker Strong. It was decided that a Block Party was needed to help lift everyone's spirits! So a big party was planned. The event turned out to be a huge success the highlight of which was a Fire Truck that came and had the kids climbing all over it and then showering everyone with its water cannon spraying water high into the air!! If you would like to get more info or get involved with this group contact Pastor Janice with NOW at: (810) 239-7977 or Mary with the COB at: (810) 234-5092.

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF ‘ONE MEMBER’ Shared by the Genesee County Landlords’ Association Ten little members standing in a line; one disliked the President and then there were nine. Nine ambitious members offered to work late; one forgot her promise, then there were eight. Eight creative members had ideas as good as heaven; one lost enthusiasm then there were seven. Seven loyal members got into a fix; they quarreled over programs and then there were six. One dropped out and then there were five. Four cheerful members who never disagree, till one complained of meetings, then there were three. Two Longley members, our rhyme is nearly done. One joined a bridge club, and then there was one. One faithful member was feeling rather blue, met with a neighbor, and then there were two. Two earnest members each enrolled one more, doubling their numbers; then there were four. Four determined members just couldn’t wait till each won another, and then there were eight! Eight excided members signed up sixteen more; in another six verses, there will be a thousand twentyfour! Author Unknown.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By: Tytianna Smith Do you think Dr. King’s Dream is Still Alive? Yes, I think Dr. Martin Luther King’s Dream is still alive today. His dream was that white and black people would get together. They would like him and they would have a good life.

FLINT INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS ASSOCIATION By: Kate Cole

he Flint International Friends Association is a nonprofit organization. The group hosts conversational English and American culture classes for international students, immigrants and their families. Meeting regularly at the UM-Flint, the group also assists students with transportation and help them navigate the legal and health care systems. Recently, we asked the students to write their first impressions of America. Their responses were heart-warming and we would like to share them with the broader community. This month the words come from Americans are helpful! A woman from China wrote: America is very different from what I had imagined. There are few skyscrapers here and people rest on the weekend no matter how many important things they have not been done yet. But I LOVE people here. They say, “How are you?” to strangers like me. They come to ask if I need help when I look lost on the road. They are very patient when they notice I’m struggling or saying something. Also, I like Walmart. I can buy almost everything there. I like people smiling all that time. That makes me happy! Americans are patient! A Chinese immigrant from Alaska: The first impression of America was that people are very patient. I arrived at Seattle airport after 13 hours trip. Everyone lined up and waited to get out of customs. Everyone was very quiet and principled. After we came out of customs, I saw there was many passengers in the airport. But the airport was still very quiet and neat. Finally, I found my airplane gate to transfer to Alaska. We were told our plane was covered by ice and we had to wait for the workers to thaw the ice from the plane so that we could fly off. We were waiting 4 hours in the airplane—but still no sounds, no complaints….American people are very patient! Congratulations Glenn! Communities First, Inc. President/CEO Glenn Wilson was named as one of Michigan Chronicles’ 40 under 40 for 2017. The Michigan Chronicle recognizes AfricanAmerican professionals who have excelled in their professions, personal lives and community sectors. Chris Frye –from Lorrie Knighten with great gratitude…..loyal and great support - always fills in the gaps that all of us need! Barbara Culp, our thanks for shar ing a dr eam for King Avenue’s future that is inspiring many Jamie-Lee Venable – hard-working leader!

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE After two years of planning, the final South Flint Community plan was submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development on January 17, 2017. The final plan is available for viewing on the Imagine Flint website and via the link posted on Facebook. In addition to housing redevelopment, implementation of the South Flint Community Plan will be within several of the six initiative areas outlined within the plan. Initiative areas include Jobs and Workforce, Education and Personal Development, Support Services to Enhance Programming, Neighborhood Enhancement, Neighborhood Security, and Neighborhood Access. The City and Flint Housing Commission would like to thank the community for the time they put into this planning process. This community celebration was meant to be held in early January 2017 but was canceled due to inclement weather. The celebration was rescheduled and takes place February 7, 2017 at 5:30pm. The community is strongly encouraged to join staff and partners at the Brennan Center. The housing development team, Norstar Development was present on February 7th to talk about implementation of the Housing plan. The changes proposed in the plan are all community driven. The next several years of implementation will thus be community driven as well. The City and FHC will be seeking strong community partners to ensure the projects and housing redevelopment are completed in collaboration with neighborhood residents. Please contact Kristin Stevenson if you have any questions about implementation or meetings or the plan in general. She can be reached via email at [email protected] or phone at (810) 766-7426 x2065.

WOMEN OF A NEW TRIBE EXHIBITION OPENS Saturday, January 21 marked the 10th annual Community Gala at Flint Institute of Arts. The event served as the opening of a unique exhibition called Women of a New Tribe. Planning began more than three years ago to bring artist Jerry Taliaferro to Flint. Women of a New Tribe celebrates the physical and spiritual beauty of the African American woman. The exhibition is special because the artist photographs local subjects in the style of 1930s Hollywood glamour. To prepare, nominations were taken in January and February 2016 for Flint women to participate in the project. The Community Gala committee was looking for women who 1) have a positive impact on individuals; 2) help those around them in the neighborhood; or 3) create positive change or further important issues in the community. More than 110 amazing women were nominated for the 50 spots available in the exhibition. Not wanting to be biased in any way, the committee decided to randomly draw 50 names from the submissions to determine who would be a part of the project. Ultimately, 49 were able to participate. The random selection process ensured a diverse cross section of the community with some well-known women and others that have great accomplishments behind the scenes. Those 49 beautiful women were photographed by Mr. Taliaferro in the summer of 2016. The artist was welcoming and entertaining, making the 10

subjects feel at ease very quickly. He took dozens of photographs in a variety of poses to capture the very essence of each woman. Mr. Taliaferro prefers black and white photography because he believes color can distract from the core beauty that we each possess. The opening gala was a resounding success. More than 400 people purchased tickets to hear a lecture from the artist, enjoy a strolling dinner and receive an exclusive preview of the exhibition. If by chance you missed the opening, the exhibition will remain until April 15, 2017 in the Hodge and Temporary galleries of Flint Institute of Arts. The amazing photography is like nothing you have ever seen and you are certain to see the portrait of a Flint woman that you know. The Flint Institute of Arts is open M-F from 12:00pm-5:00pm, Saturday from 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm-5:00pm. Admission is $7.00 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Special rates are available for students and senior citizens. Thanks to Huntington Bank, admission is free for every guest every Saturday of the year. Be sure to support this outstanding display of Flint's strong, beautiful and accomplished African American women before April 15!

Need a job? Want a Job? Employment Opportunities

Visit www.mitalent.org for more information on all these available job opportunities!

Other opportunities available: Secondary Science Teacher: Madison Academy is looking for a Secondary Science Teacher. Classes taught: Chemistry, Biology & Climatic Impact (Science Elective) Starting immediately ‘16-’17 school year. Candidate must possess a valid State of Michigan Teaching Certificate with an endorsement in the following areas of science:  DX Endor sement-Science or both of the following:  DA and CD Endor sement: Biology and Chemistr y Job Overview: We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible. It is a full-time teaching positions with benefits and a 401k matching program. The school runs on trimesters and teachers only teach four 80-minute classes per trimester and they all have an 80-minute planning per trimester. School Hours: 7:15am-2:45pm Teachers report: 6:45am-3:15pm

Please send resume and copy of teaching license to: Madison Academy High School, 3266 Genesee Road, Burton, MI 48519 Office: (810) 875-9050 Fax: (810) 877-6255 [email protected] Job Opportunities at non-profits. Visit: www.mnaonline.or g/jobs-list edible flint Garden Starters Training Coordinator: Full time, 40 hours/week position. Training Coordinator will support growth and development of edible flint while maintaining existing programming by collaboratively planning several annual edible flint events, coordinating the Garden Starters training series; supporting the edible flint Demonstration Garden; facilitating organizational support; implementing the Neighborhood Ambassadors garden mentor program; and securing resources. More info @ edibleflint.org (810) 244-8530 11

Other skills required and available by visiting: http://bit.ly/2boU0Q8 or contact Troopers Steve Kramer at [email protected], or Amy Belanger at [email protected], or call the Flint State Police Post at (810) 732-1111.

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