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“Meaning Train” author Carrie Cunningham appearing Saturday at Totem

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“Meaning Train” author Carrie Cunningham appearing Saturday at Totem

By Jan Worth-Nelson Carrie Cunningham, author of a new book exploring ” how ideas of nonviolence and love might save the world” will appear at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23,  at Totem Books, 620 W. Court St., Flint. Meaning Train: Essays on Religion and Politics was published by Archway Publishing this autumn. Cunningham, of Grosse Pointe Farms, graduated from Harvard College where she studied American and African history.  She identifies herself as a progressive Christian writer. She states the book “counters the divisive...

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City of Flint Communications Director Raymer says document about device found at City Hall was “not a press release”

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City of Flint Communications Director Raymer says document about device found at City Hall was “not a press release”

By Melodee Mabbitt City of Flint Communications Director Marjory Raymer sent multiple text messages to East Village Magazine (EVM) since Tuesday night’s publication of a story on Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s allegations that an “electronic surveillance device” was found in the mayor’s office at Flint City Hall. Neeley defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver Nov. 5 by 205 votes and was sworn in Nov. 11. At 9:27 p.m. last night, EVM received the following text from Raymer: “To clarify. That is not a press release that I am sending but I got a...

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Neeley alleges, and city press release asserts, “electronic surveillance device” found in mayor’s office

Posted by on 6:24 PM in Analysis, Features, Local News | Comments Off on Neeley alleges, and city press release asserts, “electronic surveillance device” found in mayor’s office

Neeley alleges, and city press release asserts, “electronic surveillance device” found in mayor’s office

By Melodee Mabbitt  Newly elected Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley insinuated Nov. 16 that someone in the outgoing administration of former Mayor Karen Weaver left a bug in the mayor’s office, and the mayor’s office today gave East Village Magazine a press release on letterhead marked “Flint Police Department” stating a device had been found. Neeley appeared on a WFLT 1420 AM radio show at 10 a.m. Nov. 16, where he stated that “in having the office swept, there was one electronic surveillance device left in the office.”  The mayor...

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School board to meet on deficit elimination plan, school closings Tuesday, Nov. 19

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School board to meet on deficit elimination plan, school closings Tuesday, Nov. 19

By Harold C. Ford The Board of Education of the Flint Community Schools (FCS) will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Southwestern Classical Academy, 1420 W. 12th St., to consider a controversial deficit elimination plan.  The plan is expected to result in the closure of several buildings in the financially besieged district. Four schools—Eisenhower Elementary, Pierce Elementary, Scott School (now Accelerated Learning Academy), and Flint Junior High School (at the site of  the now-closed Northwestern High School)—are...

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Poet Laureate Semaj Brown launches literacy project in compelling UM – Flint performance

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Poet Laureate Semaj Brown launches literacy project in compelling UM – Flint performance

By Patsy Isenberg “Say Her Name.” Semaj Brown. Flint’s first-ever poet laureate, made that powerful line one of her central refrains at a performance, discussion and launch of a literacy initiative at the University of Michigan – Flint’s  Kiva Auditorium Nov. 13. Brown had received a proclamation from then-Mayor Karen Weaver announcing her as Flint’s first poet laureate Sept. 27 after a performance at the Flint Public Library. The UM event, sponsored by the UM-Flint English Department, was hosted by linguistics professor Erica...

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Galloway elected Flint city council president, Mays vice president

Posted by on 7:31 PM in Analysis, Local News | Comments Off on Galloway elected Flint city council president, Mays vice president

Galloway elected Flint city council president, Mays vice president

By Luther Houle Following Mayor Neeley’s swearing-in at City Hall, Flint City Council held its own election at 5 p.m. Monday Nov. 11  to decide who would lead council meetings in the coming year. Seventh Ward Councilperson Monica Galloway was elected president, with First Ward Councilperson Eric Mays chosen vice president.  He also will head up the Finance Committee. The process took up most of the uncharacteristically short meeting, which adjourned before 8 p.m. How the votes played out Starting with the Special Affairs Committee meeting...

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Mott Foundation to invest $1 million in Flint neighborhoods: deadline Nov. 30

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Mott Foundation to invest $1 million in Flint neighborhoods: deadline Nov. 30

By Harold C. Ford On the heels of a recently released 24-page Focus on Flint report, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has announced the availability of $1 million in grants for projects to improve Flint neighborhoods. “Residents told us a focus on neighborhoods is their top priority,” said Mott President and CEO Ridgway White in a press release,  “and they want to see improvements to address safety and blight.” White rolled out the initiative at the Mott Community College Event Center Nov. 9. Ideas are being accepted through Nov. 30 in the...

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“Unity is strength, division is weakness,” Flint’s new mayor asserts at swearing-in

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“Unity is strength, division is weakness,”  Flint’s new mayor asserts at swearing-in

By Tom Travis Despite a snowstorm barreling down outside, it was standing room only in the 440-seat Council Chamber room on the third floor of City Hall Monday for the swearing in of Flint’s new mayor, Sheldon Neeley. The audience was a “who’s who” of politicians, entrepreneurs, business leaders, ministers, activists, city leaders. The crowd depicted the ethnic diversity and broad spectrum of the Flint community. Three rousing familiar gospel songs were offered by musicians from the community. Hands lifted and people stood,  many...

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Village Life: Remembering a Flint walk when far away–my secret of self-care

Posted by on 11:33 PM in Analysis, Features, Local News, Village Life | Comments Off on Village Life: Remembering a Flint walk when far away–my secret of self-care

Village Life:  Remembering a Flint walk when far away–my secret of self-care

By Jan Worth-Nelson I swear, by the time I stride onto the south end of Kensington, just a few hundred yards from my house, the endorphins already are kicking in.  My breathing evens out, and there’s often a cardinal or two darting around in the brush bending over Gilkey Creek. I don’t know what most of those plants are—mostly “weeds,” I guess, but I don’t care.  They’re green and they’re wild and they belong there as much as I do. And I love the sun-yellow signs tucked along the creek, installed by neighbors of the winding little waterway—no...

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Let’s “come together and move on as one,” outgoing Mayor Weaver exhorts in open letter to the city

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Let’s “come together and move on as one,”  outgoing Mayor Weaver exhorts in open letter to the city

The following arrived today from Mayor Karen Weaver, defeated by 205 votes Tuesday by State Rep. Sheldon Neeley.  It was sent by her public information officer, Candice Mushatt. Dear Residents: The last four years of my life have been some of the best. I had an opportunity to serve as Mayor of the greatest city in the world. When I stepped into office we were in a crisis, we needed answers we weren’t getting and we needed help that was seemingly never going to come.  Throughout these last few years, we have been able to move from crisis to...

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Flint city council already battling over leadership; vote for new president set for Monday Nov. 11

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Flint city council already battling over leadership; vote for new president set for Monday Nov. 11

By Tom Travis Just a few hours after the noon swearing in of Mayor-elect Sheldon Neeley in City Hall Monday, the Flint City Council (FCC) will meet. City Clerk Inez Brown will begin that meeting, at 5 p.m. in council chambers.   The first order of business will be a vote on council leadership for the year 2019-2020. Back-and-forth campaigning breaks out At the Wednesday, Nov. 6,  bi-monthly FCC committee meeting, First Ward Councilperson Eric Mays was one of the first to speak and began a a dialogue about the upcoming leadership vote. The...

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Neeley resigns as state rep, effective Monday, to become Flint’s new mayor

Posted by on 4:08 PM in Features | Comments Off on Neeley resigns as state rep, effective Monday, to become Flint’s new mayor

Neeley resigns as state rep, effective Monday,  to become Flint’s new mayor

The following press release just landed from the office of state Rep. Sheldon Neeley, Flint’s mayor-elect:  “FLINT — On Monday, state Rep. Sheldon Neeley will officially resign his seat in the state House of Representatives and be sworn into his next chapter of public service as Mayor of the city of Flint. Neeley served as the state representative of the 34th House District for five years. “When I came to Lansing, my city was in the middle of one of the worst public health and confidence crises our state has ever faced. Abandoned...

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Kuungana concert features international dancers, drummers 8 p.m. Saturday

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Kuungana concert features international dancers, drummers 8 p.m. Saturday

A concert performed by a team of international dancers and drummers is set for 8 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 9) at the University of Michigan – Flint Theatre.  The performance is part of a two-day “Kuungana Drum and Dance Conference” featuring the Kankouran African Dance Company based in Maryland, a group which aspires to “preserve and promote traditional West African culture through education and entertainment.” The conference also has offered workshops at the Masonic Temple and highlighted the accomplishments of WOW...

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This Month in the Village: November features

Posted by on 12:01 AM in Features, Local News, Special Events | Comments Off on This Month in the Village: November features

“This Month” highlights a selection of events available to our readers—beginning after our publication date of Nov. 5. It is not an exhaustive list, rather a sampling of opportunities in the city. To submit events for our December issue, email your event to us by Nov. 24 to pisenber@gmail.com....

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East Village Magazine – November 2019

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East Village Magazine – November 2019

The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here:

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Commentary: A top 10 “to do” list for Mayor-Elect Sheldon Neeley

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Commentary:  A top 10 “to do” list for Mayor-Elect Sheldon Neeley

By Paul Rozycki Sheldon Neeley has been elected mayor in a close contest, defeating incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver by 205 votes. But as soon as the celebrations and victory parties are done, the hard work begins. Whoever had won the election, the challenges for Flint would remain the same.  What follows is a top ten “To Do” list for Mayor Neeley as he begins his term as Flint’s new mayor. The water crisis Clearly Flint needs to bring our water crisis to a conclusion. It seems like we are getting closer to getting all the pipes replaced, and...

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Education Beat: School board mulls water system, promotions, residency flap, attrition and retention concerns

Posted by on 3:58 PM in Analysis, Local News | Comments Off on Education Beat: School board mulls water system, promotions, residency flap, attrition and retention concerns

Education Beat:  School board mulls water system, promotions, residency flap, attrition and retention concerns

By Harold C. Ford The month of October was filled with consequential developments and decisions for Flint’s public schools at the Oct. 9 (Committee of the Whole) and Oct. 16 (Regular Board Meeting) board of education meetings. It included the introduction of “smart water stations”, the launch of a new partnership with the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB), controversy about a board member’s residency status, adoption of a new policy for student promotion-retention, the continuing search by paraprofessionals for a new contract, and...

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Neeley ousts Weaver in tight mayor’s race; library funding sweeps in with 2-1 support

Posted by on 12:27 PM in Analysis, Features, Local News | Comments Off on Neeley ousts Weaver in tight mayor’s race; library funding sweeps in with 2-1 support

Neeley ousts Weaver in tight mayor’s race;  library funding sweeps in with 2-1 support

By Paul Rozycki This year nearly everyone expected a close race to elect the Flint mayor, and that’s what they got.  After a hard fought campaign, State Rep. Sheldon Neeley emerged as the victor with just over 50 percent of the vote, edging out incumbent mayor Karen Weaver by 205 votes, 7082 to 6877. At her election night gathering, Weaver said she has not conceded, and “hasn’t ruled out a recount.” Countywide, including all elections, it was a turnout of 13 percent, 23,349 of 176,795 registered voters, with all 70 precincts reported in....

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No scandal: Kerry Washington, Secretary of State Benson deliver GOTV message to Flint Neighborhoods United

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No scandal:  Kerry Washington,  Secretary of State Benson deliver GOTV message to Flint Neighborhoods United

By Luther Houle Flint Neighborhoods United (FNU) members were surprised at the end of this month’s meeting by a chance to meet “Scandal” actress Kerry Washington as she visited Flint in a “Get Out The Vote”  effort. Washington arrived at the Flint Public Library with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson at about 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 while FNU members were just wrapping up for the day. About 45 of Flint’s neighborhood organizers, city officials, and  active citizens were there. Benson said she came to...

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Review: Absurdist “The Chairs” delivers much more than nothingness

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Review:  Absurdist “The Chairs” delivers much more than nothingness

By Patsy Isenberg “The Chairs” opened at Flint Repertory Theatre’s Bower Black Box Friday Nov. 1 to a sold-out house. Artistic Director Michael Lluberes could be seen helping late arrivals search for seats.  [The production continues next weekend through Sunday, Nov. 10–details below.] It’s a good bet that most of the audience expected a simple comedy about an elderly couple’s conversation. It turns out there was much more to this play than that. Plays at The Rep usually do sell a lot of tickets, but this time the popularity of “The...

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FIA’s First Frost Fair welcomes holiday shoppers for 14th year

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FIA’s First Frost Fair welcomes holiday shoppers for 14th year

By Paul Rozycki Living up to its name, the Flint Institute of Arts held its 14th annual First Frost Arts and Fine Crafts Fair, on Saturday and Sunday Nov. 2 and 3.  As the title suggests, the event took place at about the same time as the first hard frost hit the Flint area.  The event is normally held on the first weekend of November. Though the event had been scaled down from earlier years, more than 20 artists filled the booths in Isabel Hall at the FIA, and welcomed a busy flow of shoppers on both days. Most artists said sales were good,...

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Flint Poet Laureate Semaj Brown to perform at UM-Flint Nov. 13

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Flint Poet Laureate Semaj Brown to perform at UM-Flint Nov. 13

By Jan Worth-Nelson Flint’s new poet laureate Semaj Brown will present a poetry and prose reading at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Kiva Auditorium at the University of Michigan – Flint. The event, sponsored by the UM – Flint English Department, is free and open to the public. Also part of the evening will be a discussion with UM-Flint linguistics professor Erica Britt, along with a book signing. Brown, a poet, author, scientist, educator and artist, was named Flint’s first poet laureate in September by proclamation of Mayor Karen Weaver.  In...

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After 640+ days, Flint hires new ombudsperson; EAB member quits over process

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After 640+ days, Flint hires new ombudsperson;  EAB member quits over process

By Melodee Mabbitt Two years after Flint voters elected to fill the position, the City of Flint has a new ombudsperson. Tané Dorsey starts the week of Nov. 4. Dorsey is a Flint native, a graduate of Flint Northern High School and the University of Michigan. She has years of experience as an Investigator in the U.S. Federal Court system and as the Chief Ombudsman Analyst for the State of Michigan. The Office of the Ombudsperson will be located in City Hall on the first floor next to the mayor’s office. Office hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m....

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Costume commentary on council carryings-on: “If they clown, I clown”

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Costume commentary on council carryings-on:  “If they clown, I clown”

By Tom Travis One Flint resident who frequently attends Flint City Council meetings finally had enough, quietly donning a costume with a pointed message at the Oct. 23 session. Here is how it happened: Twice a month the Flint City Council meets in committee sessions. There are several committees that meet through out the year including Grants, Legislative, Special Affairs, and Governmental Operations. One of the most significant and influential committees is the Finance Committee. Monica Galloway (7th Ward) has chaired this committee since...

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“We are in this fight with you,” Martin Luther King III tells Flint audience

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“We are in this fight with you,”  Martin Luther King III tells Flint audience

By Tom Travis and Robert Baumgart The nation needs to continue to hear about the Flint water crisis, Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., asserted during an appearance Friday, Oct. 26 at Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church in Flint. “Perhaps this is a crisis that could have been avoided,”  King said in response to questions from East Village Magazine at a press conference preceding the event. “It seems to me that someone has to be held accountable. I’m looking at it from afar and I...

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Ballenger statue unveiling highlights park celebration

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Ballenger statue unveiling highlights park celebration

By Paul Rozycki It may have been a chilly, blustery day, with a hint of rain in the air, but those who gathered at Ballenger Park for the “Ballenger Park Celebration” on Saturday Oct. 26, shared warm memories of their time there, and shared that warmth with William S. Ballenger III, the grandson of the man who created the park and has supported it for many decades. The event brought together several dozen friends, neighbors and supporters at Flint’s Ballenger Park to unveil a statue of William S. Ballenger Sr., who created a trust fund that...

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Mayor touts job growth, improved water quality in “come back story” State of the City address

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Mayor touts job growth, improved water quality in “come back story” State of the City address

By Tom Travis In the glistening lights of the new Capitol Theatre’s gleaming marquee, Flint residents filed into the city’s iconic performance venue Monday night for the annual mayor’s State of the City address. As Mayor Karen Weaver laid it out to a supportive, celebratory crowd,  the state of the city is improving and full of hopeful developments in water quality, pipeline replacement, public health, job growth, and opportunities for the city’s children. Capitol personnel reported an attendance of 400 in the 1600-seat amphitheater....

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Flint Public Art Project wraps up “a year full of murals”

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Flint Public Art Project wraps up “a year full of murals”

By Harold C. Ford “The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.”  — Neil Gaiman Cold weather that blew into the Flint area Saturday, Oct. 12 plummeted wind chill temperatures into the 30s and diminished public participation in a celebratory finale of the Free City Mural Festival. But cold temps did not dampen the feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment for the project’s chief organizer Joe Schipani. “It’s been a great year…a year full of murals,” beamed Schipani, executive director of the...

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Weaver, Neeley face off in their only mayoral debate

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Weaver, Neeley face off in their only mayoral debate

By Paul Rozycki With less than three weeks to go before the election, incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver and her challenger Rep. Sheldon Neeley, squared off in a debate on WJRT-TV12 on Thursday, Oct. 17. It was the only scheduled debate between the candidates, who are running to be Flint’s next mayor on Nov. 5. Moderated by anchors Angie Hendershot and Matt Franklin, the two candidates responded to each other, and to viewers’  questions, as each made their case to the voters of Flint. In a half-hour forum, they discussed the water crisis,...

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Analysis: Medicaid work requirements take effect Jan. 1: difficulties likely for the poor

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Analysis: Medicaid work requirements take effect Jan. 1:  difficulties likely for the poor

by Madeleine Graham A law establishing work requirements for about 270,000 Medicaid recipients in Michigan takes effect Jan. 1, 2020–sending state officials and recipients scrambling to understand how they will be affected. “At this time what we have to do is prepare to implement the law as it is written currently,” according to Bob Wheaton, public information officer of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDDHS). Letters notifying recipients who fall under the requirements started going out in September...

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Council fails to pass recreational pot ordinance; has till Nov. 1 to act

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Council fails to pass recreational pot ordinance;  has till Nov. 1 to act

By Luther Houle An uncharacteristic turnout of about 60 Flint residents appeared at the Oct. 14 City Council meeting to voice their opinions and observe the city’s legislative process. Their reason for coming: a proposed “opt-out” ordinance that would limit which businesses would be able to get recreational marijuana licenses. After a public hearing and council discussion, the ordinance failed to pass on a 4-4 split vote, with the city having until Nov. 1, a state deadline, to consider further action or cede to state rules. Why is action...

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Review: Spirited “Memphis the Musical” dancing up a storm through Oct. 19 at McCree

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Review:  Spirited “Memphis the Musical” dancing up a storm through Oct. 19 at McCree

By Patsy Isenberg The Tony Award winning musical, “Memphis,” at The New McCree Theatre, running through Saturday,  Oct. 19, has a huge cast of talented local singers, dancers, and actors and is directed by Cathye Johnson. The musical tries to take the audience back to the 50s. And it does, using music to illustrate the changes that started taking place at that time. The production has 22 actors listed in the playbill and several of them play multiple roles. “Memphis” is a spirited and eye-opening reminder of how things used to be. It’s...

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“A common sort of hunger,” competitive spirit motivate street art, muralists assert at FPAP panel

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“A common sort of hunger,” competitive spirit motivate street art, muralists assert at FPAP panel

By Patsy Isenberg Assessing public art such as the  dozens of murals that have sprung up in Flint over the past year, one of the artists involved in the Flint Public Art Project (FPAP) said Friday street art is “a vehicle for social change.” “This whole program proves that you can lift yourself up– people will come around and give you support and the sky’s the limit … the places that need it bring out the best experience,” according to Jerrod  Tobias, a muralist from Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Tobias was one of five artists...

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Humanity in Harmony festival returns Saturday Oct. 19

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Humanity in Harmony festival returns Saturday Oct. 19

By Jan Worth-Nelson The seventh annual Humanity in Harmony Music Festival featuring a quartet of four varied acts is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Flint Institute of Music’s MacArthur Recital Hall.  The event is sponsored by the Flint Jewish Federation. The festival also offers a free master class in jazz performance at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17  followed by a free Meg Okura concert at 7 p.m., as a part of The FIM’s “Music Around Town Series.” The week’s events are aligned with the Daniel Pearl World Music Days events...

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“Forget what you thought about Flint before,” mural artists declare at festival panel

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“Forget what you thought about Flint before,” mural artists declare at festival panel

By Jan Worth-Nelson A conversation about the Flint Public Art Project (FPAP) murals in Flint Wednesday night at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint (CFGF) was a celebration of the city as experienced by outside artists. It also was a conversation among the panelists, all of whom are gay, about the responsibility to create safe space for LGBTQA+ people, not co-opting a culture for profit, and acknowledging that speaking “out of privilege” sometimes leaves out other voices. Sometimes, in short, social justice activist and UM...

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William S. White, scion of C.S. Mott Foundation, dies at 82

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William S. White, scion of C.S. Mott Foundation, dies at 82

By Jan Worth-Nelson Much has already has been written,  and will be written in the coming days about the life and death today of William S. White, longtime executive at the top of the C.S. Mott Foundation, at 82.  He was the grandson-in-law who ran the multi-billion dollar foundation that has played a huge role in the fate and shape of the city of Flint–and his son, Ridgway White, is now C.E.O. and president. We offer just the perspective of East Village Magazine, which like many, many other efforts in Flint has benefited from Mott...

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East Village Magazine – October 2019

Posted by on 12:02 AM in Features | Comments Off on East Village Magazine – October 2019

East Village Magazine – October 2019

The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here: EVM_October 2019

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Zoning code update progress, small business grants featured at FNU

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Zoning code update progress, small business grants featured at FNU

By Luther Houle “You guys are definitely the heroes. You don’t get paid for this,” said Glenn Wilson Saturday morning Oct. 5 at the Flint Public Library. “A breakfast is just something to say thank you to you guys, and keep up the hard work!” Wilson, president of Communities First, Inc., a non-profit community development corporation, provided the Flint Neighborhoods United (FNU) monthly meeting with a full breakfast buffet.  Wilson recently cut the ribbon to the Coolidge Park Apartments, formerly Coolidge Elementary which he attended as a...

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“Free City” mural festival kicks off Tuesday for week-long street art extravaganza

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“Free City” mural festival kicks off Tuesday for week-long street art extravaganza

By Jan Worth-Nelson More than 20 artists from around the world are arriving in Flint this week, joining with a busy cadre of local muralists and Flint Public Art Project officials for a weeklong celebration of public art–the Free City Mural Festival at various locations downtown Tuesday through Saturday. Events include a kickoff party at the Ferris Wheel from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, an artists’ panel and reception at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, 7-8-30 p.m. Wednesday, a panel about street art 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at...

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Drive-through flu shots, water giveaway available Friday at Genesee Health Plan office

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Drive-through flu shots, water giveaway available Friday at Genesee Health Plan office

By Jan Worth-Nelson Area residents can get flu shots without even leaving their cars from 3-6 p.m. Friday at the Genesee Health Plan (GHP) office, 2171 S. Linden Rd., Flint. “Attendees can drive through one of our garage service bays, roll down their window and roll up their sleeve to receive their flu shot,” said GHP President and CEO Jim Milanowski. The event also features a host of other health-related services and a water giveaway, GHP officials said. The sixth annual event allows Genesee County residents a convenient way to receive...

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Commentary: Join us–become a First Amendment warrior

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Commentary:  Join us–become a First Amendment warrior

By Ted Nelson “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” –First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution In the September 2018 edition of East Village Magazine, a rare editorial proclaimed “The Free Press Is Not The Enemy Of The People.”  We made the argument that WE ARE THE PEOPLE.  The five freedoms...

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Review: “Daring Trader” captures profound role of Jacob Smith on how Flint became Flint

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Review:  “Daring Trader” captures profound role of Jacob Smith on how Flint became Flint

By Harold C. Ford “In the signing of the 1819 treaty by the Chippewa and Ottawa, (Jacob Smith) had earned himself several hundreds of dollars in payment from the government for his secret work, while also quietly sowing the seeds for his white children to each receive hundreds of acres of desirable property where white settlement would almost certainly take place and a town (Flint) would grow.” …from The Daring Trader, Jacob Smith in the Michigan Territory, 1802-1825, by Kim Crawford. Two-hundred years ago, a U.S. delegation led by...

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Access to health care gets assist from federal grant to Genesee Health Plan

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Access to health care gets assist from federal grant to Genesee Health Plan

By Jan Worth-Nelson The Genesee Health Plan (GHP),  a nonprofit health care organization that provides basic health services to uninsured Genesee County residents, has received a $92,988 federal grant to help people enroll in health care coverage. The one year grant, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will supply about a third of the costs of a $300,000 program called “Get it, Know it, Use it, Keep it,” designed to assist with outreach and education during and after enrollment for Medicare and Medicaid. Open...

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Mayor Karen Weaver: “We are better off now”

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Mayor Karen Weaver:  “We are better off now”

EVM interviewed both candidates in the Nov. 5 mayoral election:  incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver and Rep. Sheldon Neeley. We offer these stories for voters’ information and consideration.  The Neeley interview can be found here.  The city’s mayor will be chosen for a three-year term–Ed.  By Jan Worth-Nelson It’s mid-afternoon on a balmy Monday, the first day of autumn, and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver already is running behind. It’s been a demanding and emotional day. That morning, Weaver had stood next to her police chief, Tim...

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Rep. Sheldon Neeley: “We should be further along”

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Rep. Sheldon Neeley:  “We should be further along”

EVM interviewed both candidates in the Nov. 5 mayoral election:  incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver and Rep. Sheldon Neeley. We offer these stories for voters’ information and consideration. The Weaver interview can be found here. The city’s mayor will be chosen for a three-year term–Ed. By Tom Travis Speaking with East Village Magazine on his birthday, Sept. 20, Flint mayoral candidate Sheldon Neeley offered insight about how he would conduct his administration if he wins the Nov. 5 election. He was pressed for time and was able...

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Village Life: No boundaries for fear–A tale of two Flints

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Village Life:  No boundaries for fear–A tale of two Flints

By Melodee Mabbitt On Halloween, I’ll have lived for 10 years in my house in the East Village, or what my mom referred to as “management’s neighborhood.” I recently tried to explain to someone in the neighborhood how different my life was before I came here, when I lived on Bennett Avenue and later on M. L. King. I tried to explain the first violent crime I’d witnessed, and then the next one. I don’t even know if I got them right. Was that the first one? The second? Wasn’t it in fact true that so much violence also took place before, between,...

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Commentary: Election 2019, Weaver, Neeley and the public library–How it’s different. Why it matters.

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Commentary:  Election 2019, Weaver, Neeley and the public library–How it’s different.  Why it matters.

By Paul Rozycki The campaign signs are popping up. The campaign flyers are in the mail. TV and social media ads are sure to be seen soon. The Flint mayoral campaign is underway. In less than a month Flint voters will elect their next mayor—the first general election under the new charter.  But the big questions is—How much do Flint voters care?  In the August primary only 12 percent of the voters turned out to give Mayor Karen Weaver and Rep. Sheldon Neeley the right to move on to the Nov. 5 election. Interviews with each of the...

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Poet, artist, teacher Semaj Brown named Flint’s first poet laureate

Posted by on 9:19 PM in Analysis, Features, Local News | Comments Off on Poet, artist, teacher Semaj Brown named Flint’s first poet laureate

Poet, artist, teacher Semaj Brown named Flint’s first poet laureate

By Jan Worth-Nelson Semaj Brown,  a poet, author, scientist, educator and artist,  was named Flint’s first poet laureate Friday night by proclamation of Mayor Karen Weaver. Brown, originally from Detroit,  arrived in Flint in 2003 after marrying family physician James Brown and has since become a devoted community activist and much-beloved spoken word performer What is a poet laureate?  See below — Ed. The honor was bestowed at the Flint Public Library in the mayor’s absence by Pamela Pugh, also a physician and the...

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City Council beat: Carriage town protest, pipeline funds, Flint Registry grant, pot proposal

Posted by on 10:56 PM in Analysis, Local News | Comments Off on City Council beat: Carriage town protest, pipeline funds, Flint Registry grant, pot proposal

City Council beat: Carriage town protest, pipeline funds, Flint Registry grant, pot proposal

By Luther Houle Well past sunset, the second monthly City Council meeting for September came to order at 8:15 p.m. Monday Sept. 23 after a three-hour Special Affairs Committee meeting. The Special Affairs Committee meeting is where the City Council decides which issues will be addressed during the subsequent council meeting. With tensions high and a thicker-than-average agenda to sort through, council members were challenged to call their meeting to order nearly three hours after its scheduled commencement time. Highlights from Monday’s City...

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Education Beat: Flint schools lose 60 educators, 833 years of experience in 2019

Posted by on 7:26 PM in Analysis, Features, Local News | Comments Off on Education Beat: Flint schools lose 60 educators, 833 years of experience in 2019

Education Beat:  Flint schools lose 60 educators, 833 years of experience in 2019

By Harold C. Ford What had been a steady stream of educators departing Flint Community Schools (FCS) in the first seven months of 2019, became a torrent in August and September.  According to FCS records posted at its website, the district lost 60 educators with 833 years of experience from January to September. FCS “Personnel Recommendations” revealed the following number of educator resignations and retirements and collective years of experience: FCS superintendent points finger at pay scale: Derrick Lopez, FCS Superintendent, read from a...

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