Honor, dignity, humility, service, respect. These are a few words that come to mind after meeting with Rico Phillips, a longtime Flint firefighter who recently brought home the NHL Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award. The award recognizes an individual who, through the game of hockey, has positively inspired his or her community, culture or society. Willie O’Ree is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, known best for being the first black player in the National Hockey League and for his community service. “He broke the color barrier,” says Phillips. “Today, he is known as the Jackie Robinson of hockey.”

Health Alliance Plan (HAP) invites Flint-area residents to the HAP Health & Fun Fair on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 10am-2pm. The fair will take place at the HAP Flint Grounds, 2050 S. Linden Road (the southwest corner of Linden and Corunna roads). More than 40 mid-Michigan community partners will be onsite to share information about available resources for kids, families and seniors.

Blood donations are at an all-time low with so many people traveling and vacationing during the summer months. In order to fill the need for more donors, Financial Plus Credit Union is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a community blood drive event. The blood drive will take place Friday, July 26 from 10am-3:45pm at the Financial Plus Main office at G-3381 Van Slyke Road in Flint.

The Flint Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was chartered in 1918 by the National NAACP Board of Directors and since then, has been a positive force for the advancement of civil rights in our county. Past presidents of the organization include: Dr. Jesse Leonidas Leach (who went on to head the State Branch), Henry Gipson (publisher of “The Bronze Reporter”), Harold Hayden, Edgar Holt and John Harvey. A pioneer in the advancement of Civil Rights, C. Frederick Robinson, was one of its many esteemed members. The branch positively affected race relations in Flint and beyond since its inception and continues to do so today. It has sent representatives to march in Selma, AL, organized protests to secure open housing and Civil Rights for minorities in Flint, and has sent representatives throughout the U.S. in the push to vote after the Civil Rights act of 1957.

Hundreds of volunteers are expected to join the Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) and their partners at sites across Genesee and Lapeer Counties on April 27 from 9-12pm. Traditionally referred to as the Flint River and Community Clean Up, the annual Stewardship Day brings the community together to make a big impact on the Flint River and its watershed. Volunteers are still needed.