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...
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...
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,...
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...
“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 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...
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