“We will never stop fighting for justice”: leaders comment at water crisis fifth anniversary
Here are comments compiled from Dan Kildee, Mayor Karen Weaver, Jim Ananich, and Sheldon Neeley, provided by each of their offices: Statement by Congressman Dan Kildee on Fifth Anniversary of the Flint Water Crisis FLINT—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy...
Big Flint River cleanup Saturday at 17 sites; volunteers still welcome
Hundreds of volunteers are expected to join the Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) and their partners at sites across Genesee and Lapeer Counties 9 a.m.to noon tomorrow--Saturday April 27--for the Flint River and Community Clean Up, Volunteers are still needed for...
Flint financial advisor also helps bluebirds feather their nests
By Patsy Isenberg Bob Wright is not only a financial advisor at Complete Wealth Advisors in Flint, but also a bluebird protector, sustainer, and instructor. He began his avian pursuit seven years ago in his own backyard on Potter Road when he happened to see one of...
White privilege through white eyes at Tendaji Talk: “Use it to end injustice”
By Harold C. Ford “If your white privilege and class privilege protects you, then you have an obligation to use that privilege to take stands that work to end the injustice that grants that privilege in the first place.” — Ayelet Waldman, Israeli-American novelist...
New skateboard park plan for Swartz Creek Golf Course announced by Flint’s “SK810” group
By Jeffery L. Carey Jr. Under threat of rain, more than 75 people were in attendance April 20 for the announcement of plans to build a new skate park for the city of Flint. The announcement came during this year’s Easter egg hunt and skateboard jam at the existing...
Town Hall Forum: to “restore the public trust” voters have to get involved
By Paul Rozycki Perhaps the most important highlight one could draw from the "Restore the Public Trust" Town Hall, held at the Flint Public Library Tuesday night, was emphasized by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Of the 100 precincts in Michigan with the...
Four candidates file for Flint’s first mayoral election under new charter
Editor's note: This story has been updated to note that Tonya Burns, one of the original group who filed by the deadline, was found not to have the 600 valid signatures required. See below for further detail. By Paul Rozycki Flint’s first mayoral election under its...
International and U.S. residents invited to socialize, mingle at May 2 coffee hour
The International Center of Greater Flint (ICGF) has scheduled an "international coffee hour" for international and U.S. residents to socialize and mingle. The free event, open to the community, is set for 5-7 p.m. May 2 at Totem Books, 620 W. Court St. More...
“Graffiti artist at heart” Charles Boike bringing street art vitality to Flint
By Jan Worth-Nelson Charles Boike long ago gave up his "life of crime" in the name of art. But Boike, 36, who has been described as an "urban graffiti artist at heart," definitely has not given up his life of art. Now a practicing attorney with a wife and baby...
Human rights journalist Edwin Black speaks on “Israel and International Law” at MCC Tuesday April 16
Mott Community College presents “Israel And International Law - The Historical Underpinnings,” a lecture by New York Times bestselling author Edwin Black, 7 p.m. April 16 at Mott’s Regional Technology Center auditorium. Black, a historian and human rights journalist,...
Three spring initiatives start April 15 to “replant Genesee County” by conservation district
The Genesee Conservation District announces its spring initiatives to replant Genesee County. The annual Reforestation Event, a tree sale and show, is 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. April 15 at Genesee County Habitat for Humanity, 101 Burton St. A Native Plant workshop begins at 1...
Pottery, glass, painting, more: Time to register for summer classes at the FIA
Registration for Flint Institute of Art summer art school opens 9 a.m. Tuesday April 16, with classes for ages 5 and up, including pottery, glass, painting, photography, weaving, animation, theatre arts, and drawing. Participants may register online or in person at...
Easter Egg Hunt, skateboard competition, possible park announcements scheduled for April 20
By Jeffery L. Carey, Jr. A free Easter egg hunt and skateboarding jam to raise awareness and promote a possible new skatepark is set for 12 noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Flint’s local skatepark inside the Swartz Creek Golf Course, 1902 Hammerberg Rd. Sponsored...
Durant-Tuuri-Mott students make blankets for homeless
By Harold C. Ford Students at Flint’s Durant-Tuuri-Mott (DTM) Elementary are making blankets for Flint-area homeless during their lunch periods at school. Some 25 students in third through sixth grades will deliver six blankets to the North End Soup Kitchen on Global...
Review: The Rep’s “Glass Menagerie” honorably recreates the classic’s poignant memory-scape
By Patsy Isenberg “The play is memory. Being a memory play, it is dimly lighted, it is sentimental, it is not realistic. In memory everything seems to happen to music. That explains the fiddle in the wings. I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it....
East Village Magazine – April 2019
The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here: East Village Magazine - April - 2019
“Without the resurgence of neighborhoods, all else will crumble,” leader notes at end of grassroots workshop series
By Jan Worth-Nelson After sessions in February and March on leadership, funding strategies, blight, reuse of vacant lots, and promoting health through environmental design, the "Neighbors Changing Flint" series concluded March 27 with a focus on advocacy, campaign...
“Youth Arts: Unlocked” taking art to where the kids are: GFAC show opens April 12
By Teddy Robertson “A lot of the point of these workshops is to take these programs where the kids are,” says Casey Hamann. Hamann and fellow artist Corinne Nuzum appear to be doing just that, expanding programs outward from their renamed “Youth Arts: Unlocked” (YAU)...
This Month in the Village: April features hockey documentary, tea party, black holes
Compiled by Meghan Christian “This Month” highlights a selection of events available to our readers—It is not an exhaustive list, rather a sampling of opportunities in the city. To submit events for May, email your event to Managing Editor Meghan Christian at...
Where will Flint middle school students be in August? After dodges and feints from FCS, Baker campus seems likely
By Harold C. Ford “When parents are looking at where to send their kids (to school), there’s an awful lot of faith involved in the sense that, you may not have any money, but you’re investing your kid in a school district. It’s the job of the school district, the...
Village Life: In LA or Flint, tai chi yields gifts of challenge, elation, peace
By Teddy Robertson “Breathe from the diaphragm,” says Beverly, my tai chi instructor. “Clear your mind; try to go slowly,” she reminds us before we begin. We never go slowly enough. We stand in two rows in a large room, the dining hall in a senior center. Some wear...
Commentary: Roads, schools, water, taxes–a short tour of Gov. Whitmer’ $60 billion budget
By Paul Rozycki In March Governor Gretchen Whitmer began a tour of the state to defend and explain her first budget proposal to the public. She’s already been to Grand Rapids, Detroit, Dearborn, Jackson, Port Huron and Adrian, and plans are to continue the statewide...
Avoid trouble before it starts, church safety expert advises Resiliency Summit audience
By Patsy Isenberg A sign of the times, after mass shootings in Charlottesville, Pittsburgh and Christchurch New Zealand, is increasing concern about the safety of faith-based places of worship. That fear was reflected and acknowledged at last week’s 3rd Annual...
Good news, bad news: Summit panel shares results of one-on-one resident data
By Patsy Isenberg Flint residents are feeling somewhat better about the city's recovery from the water crisis than in the challenging days when it first started in 2014, according to a panel of city officials at last week's 3rd Annual Resiliency and Environmental...
“Scary and exciting time”: Local news media in an age of transition
By Harold C. Ford “Journalism is the only profession explicitly protected by the U.S. Constitution, because journalists are supposed to be the check and balance on government. We’re supposed to be holding those in power accountable.” --Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! A...
