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...
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...
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...
UAW members keep up vigils on the picket line as strike grinds on
By Jan Worth-Nelson Amidst continual honks from passersby in bright sun, United Auto Workers strikers on the picket line at the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant on Van Slyke Road said Friday they have “no clue” how long they’ll be there and are worried, but also committed to what they hope will be greater parity on two matters: the status of temporary workers and threatened cuts to health care benefits. Some also...
In the midst of celebration, one mural protest raises questions about public art
By Jan Worth-Nelson While Flint residents for the most part seem to be enjoying the appearance over the last year of dozens of murals produced through the Flint Public Art Project (FPAP), work has stopped on one wall in Carriage Town because of a protest from its neighbors. The dispute, between the congregation of Woodside Church and the FPAP, appears to be raising questions about the role of “public” in “public...
Review: Flint Writers Fest displays depth, diversity of Flint talent
By Harold C. Ford ‘Writing is the painting of the voice.” …Voltaire The latest iteration of a local festival that elevates the literary arts displayed the depth and diversity of Flint-based writers Sept. 13-14. This year, its third, the event premiered a new name, date, location, and talent. Formerly the Flint Literary Festival, the Flint Festival of Writers featured a program of talented Flint writers at the Ferris Wheel building...
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