FLINT

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

Volume 7, Issue 4 May 2017

What’s Up With the Flint River? By: Christopher Frye

If you’ve recently found yourself on the north end of downtown Flint, along East Boulevard Drive where it serves as the exit from the Post Office and a back entrance to UM-Flint, you have undoubtedly noticed a great deal of activity and wondered What’s up with the Flint River? It’s a story over a century in the making. In 1871, long before natural gas became the fuel of homes, gas for these purposes was manufactured in burning in an enclosed oven with an oxygen weak stored in flexible rubber storage tanks that rose and was in them. From there, the gas was sent through streetlights for its various uses.

choice to cook, heat and even light a process using coal, oil and wood atmosphere. The resultant gas was fell depending upon how much gas pipelines to homes, businesses and

A byproduct of the process was a substance called coal tar which leached into the Flint River during the gas manufacturing process. Fortunately, the Hamilton Dam just downstream from the old plant, prevented the coal tar from travelling any further downstream and damaging the river downstream. The MGP, (Manufactured Gas Plant) was located on the east side of the Flint River, roughly between the current locations of the Post Office and the UM Recreation Center. Consumers Power, the forerunner to Consumers Energy, purchased the plant in the early 1920’s to meet the gas needs of customers in Flint. As natural gas pipelines rapidly came online in the early 20 th Century manufactured gas, particularly those in urban areas, quickly became obsolete and Consumers mothballed the plant in 1928, finally demolishing it some 30 years later. What you are witnessing now is the beginning stages of a clean-up process being funded by Consumers Energy to clean up and restore the Flint River from the 5th Avenue bridge downstream to the Hamilton Dam. The trees along the river were the first victims of this river “remediation,” necessary because the river’s banks need to be restored as well. Over the course of the Summer and early Fall the river will be dredged, the soil excavated will be dewatered and disposed of in a certified landfill, and a clay “cap” will be laid on the river bottom covered by succeeding layers of sand and stone to prevent ground water seepage into the river and any erosion of the materials being carried downstream. Consumers is also going to build and pay for a new replacement for the existing pedestrian bridge across the river on the UM campus as well as replanting trees, grasses and native plants along the banks of the river in the affected area. The project is the first step in what is to be a $37-million-dollar effort to remove the Hamilton Dam and beautify and build 80 acres of parkland along the river through Downtown Flint, opening the river to kayaks, canoes and other watercraft with the ability to navigate from downtown all the way to Saginaw Bay. For more information, visit: www.eastblvdmgp.org

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

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

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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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Empowered Participation: What Cities (including Flint) Can do to Foster Meaningful Participation By Ashley E. Nickels Assistant Professor of Political Science Kent State University

To date, most of my work has focused on how local governments and states are becoming less participatory as a result of budget cuts and resource shortfalls. These fiscal pressures are compounded by popular movements that call for “less government” or “smaller government” in favor of public-private partnerships and the contracting of the public services to private entities, often compromising (or eliminating) time-consuming deliberative and participatory processes. My research has examined how community members respond when their voices are silenced or discredited by local and state leaders. In Flint, this included the elimination of citizen advisory councils and local ombudsman’s offices (among other things) under municipal takeover. When confronted with disproportionate policy burdens (perceived or actual), these community members sought out alternative forms of engagement. They organized coalitions of activists and community residents. They led recall petitions. They organized demonstrations, protests, and actions at the local, state, and national levels. When pathways for participation were eliminated, community activists found alternative means of making their voices heard. Should this be necessary? This is outside the scope of this article. But the message is important: people want to be involved and there should be mechanisms for meaningful engagement. What then is the alternative to this scenario? What might a program that fosters participation and raises up the voices of residents look like? There is a lot written about participatory governance in both theoretical and practical terms. Here, I will focus on a one practical model, participatory budgeting, that may be relevant in Flint, given the changes being proposed to the city’s Charter. Empowered Participatory Governance Governance is defined as the processes and institutions that shape public decision-making. Participatory governance emphasizes the importance of citizen input in shaping public decision-making and thus promotes enhanced opportunities for citizen (or resident) involvement. However, opportunities for participation, it has long been argued, are not enough. Participation needs to be paired with power in order to fully realize the benefits. Archon Fung of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government has referred to this as “empowered participation.” 2

There are two key important elements to empowered participatory governance: deliberation and the allocation of power and authority to citizens. Deliberative democracy emphasizes collective decision-making. Under this framework, groups of people from the general public, sometimes referred to as “minipublics”, come together to examine a pressing issue, identify their collective interests and, develop collective solutions. While the process sounds collaborative on its face, it also means being willing to tackle and work through difficult dialogues that are often divisive. Communication is intended to be noncoercive and reflective. Also important to making participatory governance empowered is the allocation of decision-making authority to citizens/residents. This is important because all-too-often requirements for public participation relies on disseminating information to the public, rather than giving residents authority to make decisions. Sherry Arnstein, in her now famous 1969 article, coined the term, “ladder of citizen participation” to highlight how much power citizens actually hold. Her model proposes eight “rungs,” moving from the rubber stamping of ideas (what she considers nonparticipation) to citizen control. In Flint, citizen advisory boards, commissions, and committees have all fallen somewhere along this continuum: some simply rubber stamping the decisions of others and others conferred with authority to make public decisions. Empowered Participation and Participatory Budgeting As Flint residents review the proposed changes to the city’s Charter, I wish to present one possible model for empowered participatory governance that fits within the proposed changes to the charter: participatory budgeting (PB). According to Josh Lerner, co-founder and executive director of the Participatory Budgeting Project, “participatory budgeting gives people real power over real money to make the decisions that affect their lives.” PB is a “democratic innovation;” in which institutions (local governments, schools, and housing authorities) have been (re)designed to increase public participation in public decision making processes by giving residents authority to deliberate and decide on how public funds will be spent. PB originated in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1989. In 2009, Chicago’s 49th ward became the first jurisdiction in the United States to implement participatory budgeting. There are also PB programs in New York City, NY and Vallejo, CA. PB has since spread to more than 1,500 sites and institutions world-wide. In 2015, more than 70,000 people voted in PB programs, spending $50 million, in the U.S. and Canada alone. See: Empowered, page 3

Empowered

PB programs vary considerably. In Vallejo, California, after emerging from municipal bankruptcy, the city adopted a city-wide PB program, allocating $6.7million from a voter-approved sales tax to fund 25 program since 2012. In Vallejo, all residents, regardless of past convictions or citizenship status, aged 16 and up can participate. Boston’s program is youth focused, earmarking $1 million each year for residents aged 12 to 25 to spend on public improvements. PB programs generally follow four steps, according to Isaac Jabola-Carolus of City University of New York: 

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Community members brainstorm how the money could be spent at neighborhood assemblies or online; Volunteers, or delegates, from the community then offer to transform ideas into possible projects. They deliberate and work with technical experts to identify which proposals will make the greatest community impact and then develop a list of feasible proposals; These proposals are then put to a public vote; The proposals that receive the most votes are then funded from the designated public funds.

Under PB, Estelle Taylor, a PB participant, noted: “You actually vote for where the money is going to be spent, instead of allowing them to decide where to spend the money.” And, the Participatory Budgeting Project argues, “validat[es] every voice in the city.” Benefits of Empowered Participatory Governance and PB In their justification for the changed to the proposed Charter, the commissioners wrote: “When we first began the charter revision process we enumerated a number of principals [sic] that we would pursue with our changes: Government Accountability, Government Transparency, Public Involvement in Government, and Effective Government. These changes all reflect those values.” There are numerous purported benefits to PB that align closely with goals intended for the new Charter, including: 1. Greater accountability of local elected officials and public servants. PB, according to JabolaCarolus, shifts budget priorities to better address the needs of poor and marginalized communities. 2. Improved transparency, particularly of budgetary decision making; 3. Enhanced citizen participation in public decision making. PB not only empowers residents to allocate and oversee public funds, it also reduces the barriers to traditional forms of political engagement, including voting in local elections. Fosters a democratic culture of decision making that strengthens social ties among community members and enhances trust among residents and public officials.

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Flint Community Players-9 to 5 The Musical, May 4, 5, 6, 12, 13 at 7:30PM, May 7 & 14 at 2:30PM. Info at www.flintcommunityplayers.com

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Flint Youth Theater – Fri. May 12, 2-3pm, Sat., May 13, 7pm, The Cat in the Hat

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Whiting – FSO May Classical Concert, Sat., May 13, 7:30pm

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Crossroads Village-Vintage in the Village, May 20, 10am-4pm. Info & tickets: www.geneseecountyparks.org/VintageinTheVillage

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FIM -Sat., May 20, 2pm - Spring Concert – Dr. Quincy Dobbs and local high school musicians, $15 – BOGO at the door

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Crossroads Village-Honoring American Veterans, May 27-29. Free admission for active duty military personnel & veterans including 1 guest admission

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FIM - Sat., May 27, 2pm - Piano Studio Recital, Free to public

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Crossroads Village-Kaleidoscope Day, June 3. FREE Family Fun Day, Free Admission to Village only

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Millville Launch to Norway Lake Rd., Sat., June 3, 10am-2pm, Saturday Paddle w/Sierra Club/6Rivers, 3 hour paddle on the Flint River, Pre-registration required by 6/1/17, go to http:// flintriver.org/blog/calendar for more information.

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Crossroads Village-Fiber Festival, June 10, Alpacas, rabbits & sheep. Shearing, spinning, weaving, felting, wool dying and more.

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Flint Institute of Arts - Events, movies, exhibitions, classes – throughout the week. Call (810) 234-1695 or check website (flintarts.org ) for times and cost.

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Sloan/Longway – check their website - http://sloanlongway.org or call (810) 237-3450 for costs, hours and events.

Block Club, Neighborhood Association and Crime Watch Meetings             

Neighborhood Restoration Coalition, (Tuesdays) – alternate 10 a.m. & 6:00 pm, Mini-station Circle Drive Neighborhood Association, (1st Thursday,) every month. Friends of Max Brandon Park, 5:00pm (1st Thursday), Neighborhood Engagement Hub Flint Neighborhoods United, 9 a.m. to 11, (1st Saturday,) Woodside Church, 1509 E. Court Street King Avenue Plus, 6:00 pm, (2nd Monday), Neighborhood Engagement Hub Metawanenee Hills Neighborhood Association, (3rd Tuesday,) 5:45 p.. Salem Lutheran Church, 2610 M. L. King May 15, Flint Our Community Our Voice articles and ads due to: [email protected] Glendale Hills Neighborhood Association, (3rd Thursday,) 6:30pm, @ Court Street Church of God, 2920 W. Court Ballenger Square Community Assoc., (1st Saturday,) Noon, New Baptist Church New Community Block Club, (2nd & 4th Thursday,) 12-2pm, New Community Baptist Civic Park Neighborhood Association, (2nd Tuesday,) 5:30pm, Haskell Community Center Ballenger Highway Association, (2nd Thursday,) 6pm Potter-Longway Neighborhood Association, (3rd Monday), 7pm, Eastwood Church

There seems to be great potential in models of Empowered Participatory Governance, such as PB. I see this democratic innovation as having great promise for cities, including Flint, to (re) open pathways for empowered participation. If interested in PB, I encourage you to check out the following resources: 3

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Isaac Jabola-Carolus: www.scholarsstrategynetwork.org/ scholar/ isaac-jabola-carolus Archon Fung & Ash Center http:// ash.harvard.edu/democratic-governance Josh Lerner & Participatory Budgeting Project: https://www.participatorybudgeting.org/

*Some forms of participatory governance are not limited to citizens. For example, many participatory budgeting programs call for all residents ages 16 and over to participate.

No Questions, It Works Great! By Sandra E.

So often we hear of miraculous health improvements using natural products. If you are like many, you find it hard to believe. The usual response is, "I will believe it when I see it". Last spring the Friends of Max Brandon Park, Genesee Conservation District, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service planted 2,500 flowering plants, trees, and shrubs near the wetland in Max Brandon Park. Establishing a wetland takes time, patience, and some work which is ongoing this year. Check out the variety of beautiful flowers as they begin to bloom! The Friends of Max Brandon Park invite the community to participate in volunteer opportunities and to join us at our meetings. The Friends meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 5pm at the Neighborhood Engagement Hub.

Well, as I testified in the last edition of the paper, I have personally experienced health benefits using castor oil and now have a corroborator. A lady of advanced age, over 60 years old, has benefitted. She suffers from deforming arthritis in her knees along with stiffness in her knees for more than a year. When she rose from a seated position the stiffness caused pain and periodic limp. After using castor oil she reported improvement with 2 days. Now she is able to rise from a seated position and move easily immediately. Her method – she pours the oil in her palms and applies it liberally to her knees after her bath. She rubs and messages the oil into the skin like with any other skin lotion. Though the oil is thick she says she is able to dress within minutes without damaging her clothes. In her research she also found a turmeric or ginger and castor oil tonic purported to reduce inflammation throughout the body. She is also contemplating the use of castor oil with olive oil to cure a problem she has with thinning hair.

Looking for Your Input By: Jane Richardson

Some months ago, Flint Neighborhoods United members discussed a possible role for FNU in improving our City Council and its ability to govern. We proposed that we prepare a script that all of our groups might use to speak during the public comment period. In April, we agreed that each of us would take this script and the idea back to our organizations for more input. Your comments can be submitted to Chris Frye at [email protected]. Proposed City Council Script My name is _________________________ and I am a Flint resident at ________________ “I want to speak to Council Members and the residents participating at this Council meeting. Our Council meetings are often affected by disrespect for one another and the opinions of others. This is a public space in the "eye" of both Flint and the world. You as our chosen leaders - and we as your constituents - must work well together. I'm here this evening to ask all of us to respect one another - and the government process - that Flint needs from us as we work to turn our city around and care for one another. Thank you for your service as leaders and to the residents and City staff present tonight for your commitment to Flint.”

Discussion for how to use or if we should: 

Report back to your organization that FNU has prepared an idea to improve the ability of our council to govern – and a way to help change the negative and often humiliating way that the meetings go. Provide a copy of the script for discussion. Report out at next FNU meeting on their responses and ideas. See: Council, Page 9 4

If she tries the total body tonic she promises to share the results, and when her bangs hang in her eyes she may share her name. Information about Internet sites for castor oil use can be found in the February/March edition of this newspaper, available at [email protected] or by searching the web. As always, if you decide to try these suggestions, be sure to check with your physician first and please share any successes so we can all benefit. *

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JAMES RICHARDSON, JR. NAMED JUDGE MARABLE STUDENT OF THE YEAR By: Herman Marable

67th District-Flint Division, Judge Herman Marable, Jr. and his Citizens Advisory Committee announced that James Richardson, Jr. of Flint has been selected as the Judge Marable Student of the Year for the 2015-2016 school year. James, 16, is currently a junior at Grand Blanc High School. James was honored in a ceremony in Judge Marable's courtroom in Flint March 17 where he received a $500.00 award, trophy, and certificate. His name has been engraved on a plaque on permanent display and was unveiled during the ceremony. James intends to pursue a degree in criminal justice and ultimately become a Prosecuting Attorney. He is a member of the Grand Blanc High School varsity basketball team, a participant in the Upward Bound program at Mott College, and he does volunteer work with several faith-based organizations, as well as the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, area nursing homes and back-to-school rallies. The Judge Marable Student of the Month/Year program was established in 2004 by Judge Marable and his Citizens Advisory Committee to encourage Genesee County high school students to focus on academic achievement and career goals. Each month during the school year (September-June) a 10th grade student is recognized and awarded a $75.00 prize, trophy, and certificate based on the completion of an application and essay about their career goals. Last year, the committee selected its 100th Judge Marable Student of the Month. Tenth grade students who are city of Flint or Genesee County residents, or who attend public, charter, or private schools located in Genesee County are eligible to apply for the Judge Marable Student of the Month/ Year Award.

Swayze Court Apartments is Complete! By: Essence Wilson

WHAT’S ZAGSTER? By: Amy McMillen, Parks Director

Mother Nature is trying to hang on to winter, so it might not always feel like it. but warm weather is right around the corner! That means it’s time to take to the trails and participate in one of our favorite activities not always possible in snowy and icy conditions – biking. On the first day of spring, our Zagster station, part of the Flint Bike Share system, re-opened! Our station is directly behind the Genesee County Parks Administration Building (5045 Stanley Rd, Flint, MI, 48506). Since June of 2016, when Genesee County parks installed the very first Zagtser bike share station in Genesee County, the Flint Bike Share program has grown to include four stations in our area. You can now easily bike to and from, and everywhere in between, the Genesee County Parks Administration Office to any one of the other Zagster stations within the city if Flint. Find stations at the Flint Cultural Center, the University Pavilion and the University of Michigan Flint Recreation Center. Take advantage of our great area trails including the Flint River Trail which is part of the statewide Iron Belle Trail system. Be sure to check out our website before your ride to download trail maps. A simple registration, with a credit card, on the Zagster website or mobile app- Zagster.com/Flint – will get you rolling. You must be 18 or older to ride and the first half hour is always free with each additional hour costing $2. A day pass can be purchased for $10 or a three day pass for $20. If you have any trouble getting started, you can come ask our front desk staff for help between the hours of 8am and 5pm Monday – Friday. Get ready to get out and get pedaling and explore the more than 11,000 acres of recreational opportunities, right around the corner in your Genesee County Parks.

Many of you have probably driven past the construction taking place on the corner of Court Street and Grand Traverse. The formerly blighted Swayze Apartment building was recently redeveloped by a Flint nonprofit called Communities First, Inc. The renovated building and newly constructed building on the site provide 36 affordable apartment units in the downtown Flint area. The $8.3 million project represents a major investment in the Grand Traverse District Neighborhood which helps to increase population density, stabilize the neighborhood and address a formerly blighted property. An official ribbon cutting event was held for project partners and residents of Swayze Court Apartments on Friday, March 31 and included speeches from many who played a role in the development project. Typically, the organization makes such events open to the public, but space was limited because the event had to be moved inside due to poor weather.

A Swayze resident, Jorain Hardman, was invited to share her story and talk about the change this housing option means for her. Formerly homeless and eight years sober, Jorain has struggled to find stable housing. She is greatly appreciative of the opportunities presented at Swayze Court Apartments and is involved in cooking classes, gardening workshops and looks forward to obtaining her GED. “This is more than a home, I have opportunities to better myself. Living here is life changing and I am so happy Communities First built this building,” said Hardman. The Swayze building has a rich history and beautiful architecture. Originally built in 1924 by William S. Ballenger, Sr., the apartment building was home to many General Motors executives, Flint business people and families. For more than 15 years, the building was closed and had fallen into a state of disrepair. Communities First, Inc. worked to preserve this important historic resource and was successful in getting the Swayze building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Construction on the formerly blighted structure began in August of 2015 and was completed in December 2016. 5

See: Swayze, Page 8

ASK KIA (For Sound Solutions)

Q: Kia, I recently had an encounter with a relative who accused me of something of which I was no guilty. When I called to apologize for becoming so angry that I disrespectfully hung up the phone; it only made matters worse by even more horrendous accusations of which I have no recollection even after much prayer and an intense search of my mind and heart. As a result, the gap between us widened instead of being closed. What should I do to close this gap and heal the wound between us? A: It appears your relative feels he/she is right about what they are accusing you. It also appears that you have made a genuine effort to resolve the issue. Your own emotions and actions are the only ones you can control by the power of God. I suggest you accept the things you cannot change, and ask God to reveal to you those things which He will give you direction and power to change. Even family relationships change, and are not always harmonious. Surrender it to God and ask His will to be done; then move on. Q: I have a neighbor who allows her dog to poop in my yard. It irritates me that she apparently does not think there’s anything wrong with this. How can I get her to see that this is not neighborly and is causing me stress? A: I suggest you calmly and friendly speak to your neighbor regarding your concern. You might even gift her with a “pooper scooper” and let her know that using it would alleviate the stress of your having to remove her pet’s waste. If that doesn’t work, again in a calm and friendly manner, let her know you are considering filing a formal complaint to the proper authorities.

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Info: www.nrdc.org/flint

The Potential of the Mayor’s Beautification Program by Sandra E

A study, published online in the journal titled Applied Geography, overlaid nine years of crime statistics in Flint with data from a Clean and Green program like Flint’s Land Bank program. This study showed investment in blight elimination and getting community buy-in pays off and is less expensive to sustain. Researching Flint’s Clean and Green program, Richard Sadler found that from 2005 through 2014, where community groups maintained vacant lots, violent crime, property crime and victimless crime appeared to decline. Based on those findings the mayor’s new initiative, titled Mayor’s 2017 Beautification Initiative, has potential to make a significant difference in the city. The Mayor’s Beautification Initiative is a monthly recognition program to recognize beautification efforts of Flint residents. People are asked to look for nominees based a on the following three categories: 

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Attractive Home: The lawn is mowed and edged: The shrubs and trees are trimmed; The overall presence of the home compliments the neighborhood or block Admirable Home; All the criteria for Attractive Home are met; There are flowers or plants visible from the curb Adorable Home; All of the criteria for Attractive and Admirable Home are met; The concrete (sidewalk and/or driveway) is in good shape; The overall yard has a clear theme; This home represents a model home and should be highlighted.

Nomination forms are due by the end of the month and can be obtained from and returned to Schuyler Davis in the Mayor’s Office. See: Beautification, Page 10 7

Swayze

“It is our belief that everyone desires safe, quality affordable housing regardless of their past. By investing in those that may have experienced hard times, we can grow the number of productive members of society. The events and activities we are providing at Swayze help our residents to dream again, to achieve goals and to help others along the way.” said Glenn Wilson, President/CEO of Communities First, Inc. Apartments are available for individuals who are homeless or have disabilities as well as individuals who do not meet that criteria and are lower income. "It gives me great pride knowing that we were able to help preserve a building of great historical significance by returning it to its roots,” MSHDA Executive Director Earl Poleski said. “A project of this complexity would not have been possible without the help of federal funding sources, such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, historic tax credits and HOME funds. Because of this public-private partnership, after decades of abandonment, Swayze Court is once again adding to the unique character of Flint and providing homes to people who are looking for stability, opportunity and second chances.” If community members are interested in tours, they can email Communities First, Inc. at [email protected] to reserve a spot at an upcoming community tour!

Did You Think It Was Easy Preparing for Garden Distribution Day? 300 lbs of potatoes...re-bagged for your garden kit! See you May 17th!

Bloomin’ and Growin’ in the Neighborhoods! Flowers, herbs, vegetables & garden equipment for sale May 17, 11-6 This sale joins the edible flint pick-up of garden kits and dozens of demonstrations. Build a rain barrel? Learn about drying herbs? Take a look at raised beds and kitchen garden ideas… and more! Advance orders – forms at 3216 M L King or call 348-5332. 8

Haiku By: Sandra E.

Economy or Healthy future, people, world. Discussions? Really?!? Do You Haiku? Send submissions to: [email protected]

Another benefit of having a co-op owned by residents is that a portion of the profits are invested back in to the community. Anyone who shops at the market will know that a part of the money spent on groceries will recirculate into the North Flint economy.

North Flint Food Market Invests in Health and Welfare of Residents By: Ed Clarke

A Community Food Co-op is owned by residents, organizations, churches and businesses who make an investment in its development. Our community has the unique opportunity to be a part of a co-op through the North Flint Food Market. The location of the market will be in North Flint along the Pierson Road Corridor. A co-op is different from a traditional grocery story because it is owned by its members. Consumers purchase memberships to provide investment into the development of the store. Once completed, the North Flint Food Market will play a vital role in addressing the food desert that exists in the area. Everyone will have the ability to purchase food at the market when it opens, however only members will receive certain perks. When the market opens for business, residents will have access to healthy foods produced using sustainable agricultural practices. Shoppers will be able to purchase products from organic farms and from small-scale family producers. Investments made through memberships will be used to establish the market and anyone who becomes a member will receive access to special benefits once it opens. Some of the benefits of membership include the following items: 

Monthly member-only specials

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Discounts on larger bulk case purchases

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Special offers from business partners.

Anyone who is interested in becoming an investor must purchase a membership. The cost for individuals to join is $250 compared to churches, organizations and businesses who can join for $500. Memberships can be paid through installments starting as low as $25 a month. The member slogan “We Own It” demonstrates the true investment every membership makes into the Co -op. Besides the discounts offered to members, these investors have the ability to vote for the Board of Directors. Becoming an owner is also establishing a legacy that can be passed down from generation to generation. The North Flint Food Market will provide employment and job training opportunities for local residents. The goal will be to create careers not just jobs for residents who live in nearby neighborhoods. Individuals who work at the market will have advancement opportunities allowing them to establish longterm employment.

Our community has the chance to invest in the North Flint Food Market now. Work will begin on the site later this year with construction anticipated to take place in 2018. Updates are provided at public meetings where members and potential members learn about the project’s progress. These meetings are held at Eagle’s Nest Academy located directly across the street from the market’s future location. To learn about the next meeting visit the North Flint Food Market Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ NFFMKT/. If you are interested becoming an owner in the Food Co-op, memberships can be purchased through the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation. Membership forms are available for download on the website at www.northflintcorp.com. Cash or check payments can be sent to 1159 E. Foss Avenue, Flint, MI 48505. Online memberships will soon be available. Anyone with additional questions can call 810-7879019. *

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Be the Champion of Change In Your Community By: Symantha Foreman

Learn how to create healthy change in your community! Join the Safe & Active Genesee for Everyone coalition for dinner and discussion at the Champions for Change leadership training, an evening workshop featuring a panel discussion with local municipal leaders. The event designed for neighborhood groups and individuals who are interested in learning more about creating healthier neighborhoods through programs, design and policy change will take place 4:30pm to 7pm Tuesday, May 30 at Holmes STEM Academy. The workshop will feature discussions about Safe Routes to School, Complete Streets and how to get involved in community engagement and planning. Register at: crim.org/sage. In addition, May 17 will kick off the first of many weekly bike rides with the SAGE coalition. The group will lead FREE leisurely bike rides throughout the city of Flint. Interested in learning more? Visit us at: crim.org/sage. Safe & Active Genesee for Everyone is a Crim-led coalition that collaborates with local advocates, nonprofits, private and governmental organizations to promote the use of public spaces for inclusive safe, active and fun initiatives throughout Flint and Genesee County. 9

Upcoming SAGE events:  May 17 - Begin Weekly Bike Rides. 6:30pm Tenacity Brewing  May 19 - SAGE Meeting, 1-3PM  May 30 - Champions of Change: Creating Healthy Communities 4:30-7:30PM  June 3 - Outreach at the Kids Classic, Cultural Center  June 17 - Complete Streets Installation, University Avenue Corridor

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Design Our New Masthead By: Jane Richardson

When glancing at page 1 of this publication the first thing you may notice is a glaring error in the skyline of Flint. Genesee Towers needs to leave our identity! The Towers have been gone for over three years now and it’s time for them to leave our front page! We are running a short design contest with the July issue of this newspaper, printing all options submitted It’s okay to submit ideas and search for the artist. Dimensions: 10 w x 2 deep….you could include Flint Neighborhoods United in design. Submit your design to: [email protected], or [email protected] Council 

Ask your organization to plan to attend a council meeting each month and have at least 2 people make this statement during public comment. (It could be a plus for organization that become more informed of the work of the council and their councilperson sees their constituents present)

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All of us carry a script with us and use it both with our councilpersons and at council whenever there.

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Each organization send a Letter of request to our councilperson – signed by ……

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Other ideas….

Share your ideas and comments at the next Flint Neighborhoods United meeting on June 3, 9 a.m. at Woodside Church, 1509 E. Court Street. Flint Neighborhoods United discussed and chose to send a letter to City Council to urge that they always allow public comment early in the meeting.

Can a Game Like Minecraft Benefit Your Kids? In a word…yes! By: Julie Hordyk

Minecraft is one of the most popular computer games in the world right now. The game is set in a virtual land where users can create their own worlds and experiences, using building blocks, resources discovered on the site, and their own creativity. One of the big benefits to parents is that Minecraft teaches children valuable skills. Yes, it is a game, but hidden within that game are plenty of hard and soft skills that every child can use for lifelong success. So what are some educational benefits of Minecraft? Creativity. Think of Minecraft as a giant set of building blocks. Kids can literally build anything they can imagine, and then see how that creation affects different aspects of the game. Spatial reasoning. Players learn how to manipulate objects in space in a way that helps them create dynamic structures. Strategic thinking. Players must analyze their resources and goals, and plan out a path to reach them. Cost-benefit analysis. Although they may not realize it, kids are learning when to save vs. spend, and other key budgeting and financial skills that are so important later in life. Patience: It takes a while to assemble the resources you need, so instant gratification isn't an option. Kids learn to save and work towards a goal. Perseverance. Sometimes things don’t work right the first time. Kids can learn how to recognize where they made mistakes and try again. Teamwork. Kids can play with others from around the world. They can team up and learn how to work cooperatively to make amazing things. (Just make sure you implement online safety guards for your kids if they share with others.) Your kids might need a little parental coaching to recognize these skills, but they will definitely be learning them. Note that many of these skills help develop “executive function” in a child…the ability to organize and act upon information. That’s something employers look for in job-seekers! Bring your teen or ‘tween to the Library for some great Minecraft fun! Check the calendar at www.fpl.info or call 810.249.2569 to register. Beautification

The Mayor's Beautification Initiative nomination forms along with information are located at the Mayor's Office front Desk. This information can also be emailed to residences. Contact Schuyler Davis, Executive Assistant to the City Admin.at [email protected], or call (810) 237-2023.

SPRING Calendar Free and open to the public. 

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May 6: 3:30-5:30pm Minecraft Creative Challenge; May 10:Minecraft Challenge – Begin to Build! May 20: Minecraft Super Challenge (register at 249-2569) May 6, May 20 : 3:30-5:30pm Chess for Everyone! May 9: 4:30-6:30pm Teen Writer’s Workshop May 12: 10:30am Children’s Concert May 13: 2:00pm Children’s Craft – make a card and tissue paper flower for Mother’s Day May 13: 1:00-1:30pm TechStudiOH! Talk – how to download books with Overdrive May 20: 11am-1:00 pm Veterans Appreciation Day – free concert and oral history project May 20: 11:00am Children’s Digital Money Apps – Ipad apps for kids on the basics May 20: 2:00pm Family program – Build a Better Magic Show May 23: 5:00-5:30pm TechStudiOH! Talk – how to download music & magazines with Freegal and Zinio May 23: 4:30-6:30pm Teen Writer’s Workshop June 3: 1:00pm Author Tom Powers (former FPL librarian) book signing June 3: 2:00pm Children’s Craft – plant a flower and take it home to watch it grow! June 3: 3:30-5:30pm Chess for Everyone! June 6: 4:30-6:30pm Teen Writer’s Workshop June 6: 5:00-5:30pm TechStudiOH! Talk – online business and tech lessons from Lynda Library June 10: 11:00am Early bird sign-up for summer reading challenge! June 10: 2:00pm – Children’s Craft – make a paper Popsicle! June 13: 12:00pm Lunch on the Lawn with story time

Minecraft Schedule Minecraft 101: Begin to Build! Wednesday May 10, 4:30-6:00 Saturday June 3, 3:30-5:00 Come learn what all the fun is about! Flint Public Library is your new headquarters for Minecraft. Players of all skills levels welcome. Minecraft Creative Challenge Saturday May 6, 3:30-5:00 Wednesday May 24, 4:30-6:00pm Ready to pit your design skills against other builders and crafters? Compete to be the best in a series of exciting build challenges that will stretch your Minecraft muscle. Minecraft Survival Challenge Saturday May 20, 3:30-5:00 Saturday June 10, 3:30-5:00 It’s all-out war! See how long you can last in this free-for-all challenge, where it’s survive or be blown to bits by nasty creepers or your fellow adventurers. Online Calendar Our website calendar features the most current information about library programs. Please visit www.fpl.info for more information and a complete event listing.

How to Comment on Mayor’s Water Source Recommendation Mayor Weaver has recommended that the City of Flint return to the Great Lakes Water Authority (Detroit) for the long term as a solution to the lead problems in Flint’s water supply. The EPA has mandated a 30 day public comment period to express your stance on the issue. Email your comments and recommendations to:

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Need a job? Want a Job? Employment Opportunities

City of Flint Job Openings       

Director: Dept. of Public Works Utilities Instrumentation Trainee Receivables Enforcement Officer Trainee (Part-Time) Mechanical Inspector (Part-Time) Neighborhood Enforcement Officer II (Building Inspector) Plumbing and Mechanical Inspector Plumbing Inspector (Part-Time) Please submit applications online www.cityofflint.com

Full job descriptions and job postings can be viewed on website.

Job Openings Seasonal Jobs:   

Community Tool Shed Member (full time 40 hrs wk through Nov. 30) Community Tool Shed Associate Member, (20 hours week, May 10 to October 28) Program Assistant (25 hrs wk. May 1 to November 30).

Neighborhood Engagement Hub offers great jobs making it possible for neighbors and groups to care for vacant land in our community! Send or email a letter of interest and resume to Jim Richardson, Neighborhood Engagement Hub, 3216 M. L. King, Flint 48505 [email protected]

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

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Job Opportunities at non-profits. Visit: www.mnaonline.org/jobs-list

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