Book Bans: What’s the real motive?
Mar22

Book Bans: What’s the real motive?

By Paul Rozycki “Controversial LGBTQ+ memoir the subject of heated Lapeer library meeting”   (MLive, March 17, 2023) That was the headline of a story about a recent Lapeer District Library Board meeting where a crowded room of local residents attacked and denounced the local library for placing the book “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe on its shelves. The controversy began when the Lapeer County prosecutor inquired...

Read More
Mindful Civic Leadership Program brings community and police together – a model for the nation
Mar15

Mindful Civic Leadership Program brings community and police together – a model for the nation

By Canisha Bell The Mindful Civic Leadership Program, designed to bring Black community members and police officers together to build mindfulness skills, launched a second run March 27. The next session will begin April 10. The program is part of the Mindful Flint Initiative, led by the Crim Fitness Foundation.  Theresa Roach, associate director of the Initiative, said the program aims to “build the skills of mindful leadership,...

Read More
Council approves new rules, adds support for repealing Emergency Manager law; Mays is ousted, again
Mar02

Council approves new rules, adds support for repealing Emergency Manager law; Mays is ousted, again

By Tom Travis This article has been updated to include a link to view and/or download the Rules Governing City Council meetings. – Editor Flint City Councilperson Eric Mays (Ward 1) was removed again for “disorderly conduct” from Monday’s council meeting.  Council President Allie Herkenroder (Ward 7) called out Mays for continuous incorrect use of the the parliamentary procedure (point of order and point of...

Read More
Village Life: “Where am I from?”   or   “Who are my people?” are questions worth exploring
Feb24

Village Life: “Where am I from?” or “Who are my people?” are questions worth exploring

By Tom Travis I’m writing this on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. Soon after Putin’s unprovoked invasion last year I reached out to some local Ukrainians for their reactions. I soon found out they all wanted to talk. They all wanted to share their unique stories and emotions about the impending doom of their beloved Ukraine. There was a deep emotional tie that emerged as I interviewed local...

Read More
Education Beat: Flint Ed Board badly divided on two “safety” issues — clear backpacks, legal reimbursement
Feb23

Education Beat: Flint Ed Board badly divided on two “safety” issues — clear backpacks, legal reimbursement

By Harold C. Ford “Enhancing safety measures, such as a clear backpack policy, should not need debate, nor should it take months to implement.” – Bruce Jordan, Michigan Education Association UniServ Director, reacting to a Flint Board of Education  vote rejecting a clear backpack policy “I think we’re basing this on emotions and not evidence-based research.” –Laura MacIntyre, Flint Board of Education trustee, during discussion of a...

Read More