Charles Weaver, a fifth-grade teacher at Westwood Heights Elementary School in Mt. Morris Township, recently published his first book, Elvis and the Talent Show, which is based on a true story about Elvis Presley entering a talent show when he was a young boy. Published by Fulton Books, it was released in March and while based on a true story, this fiction-based children’s book is enjoyed by young and old alike.
Justin and Alexis Black are founders of Redefining Normal and the company’s initiative, ROSE (Rising Over Societal Expectations) Empowerment Group. Both Alexis and Justin faced adversity early in life. Alexis, a Flint native, entered the foster care system at age 13 and Justin, who is from Detroit, at age nine. The couple is now using their life experiences to help others and have co-authored an award-winning book, Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing. The couple recently took time to answer some questions about their companies, the book and the inspiration behind them.
In 1980, Judge Anthony J. Mansour organized the Arab American Heritage Council (AAHC) with the purpose of preserving Arab history and educating non-Arabs about Arab culture. Since then, the AAHC has expanded their services to include immigration services, civic engagement, culture celebration, student support through scholarships and internships, and community enhancement. Current Executive Director, Devin Bathish, is proud to continue and enhance the organization’s presence in the city. “Since its beginning, the AAHC has been an organization dedicated to Flint’s Arab community,” he explains. “It was and still is the only non-religious Arab organization in the city that is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of our heritage, as well as to support and unite all Arab-Americans in Greater Flint.”
Elga Credit Union opened its new location in Grand Blanc at 6019 Grand Pointe Blvd. in Grand Blanc Township. This will be the 14th location according to an Elga press release. The full service branch will features four state-of-the-art ATM machines offering extended hours for service.
Dr. Michelle Rosynsky, current YWCA Greater Flint CEO, has a dream. It started years back, when she was a member of the YWCA GF board of directors. Then, she imagined a place in Flint that would act as a hub for women to get together, support one another, learn valuable life skills and more; now, her dream is nearing reality. “We are in the process of acquiring the remaining funding needed to construct and implement the Women’s Empowerment Center at the YWCA,” says Rosynsky. “The YWCA’s mission is eliminating racism and empowering women and the new facility will help us to fulfill that mission. We have been supporting women since the YWCA Greater Flint was founded in 1908 and now, we are continuing to fulfill our mission in a new and exciting way.”
On April 1, Mott Community College will present author and award-winning journalist John Quiñones as the first lecturer of the 2021 Ballenger Eminent Persons Lecture Series.
How were you affected by the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd? While some buried their heads in the sand and took to the streets to protest, the partners of Community Roots went to the drawing board. The partners – Sylvester Jones, Jr., Patrick McNeal, Willie Smith, Jr., and Todd Womack – committed to using this time to catalyze change in their hometown of Flint and Genesee County.
After spending the last 20 years working tirelessly as Bishop Airport’s Chief of Public Safety, Chief Christopher Miller was ready for retirement. It was time to relax and enjoy life. “I had worked professionally non-stop for almost 39 years,” he says. “I was ready to slow down, do some traveling with my wife, Kimberly.” When Mayor Sheldon Neeley gave him a call out of the blue, he didn’t know what to expect. “He congratulated me on my retirement and told me that the city would be holding a Martin Luther King Day celebration honoring five people with the City of Flint Lifetime Achievement Award and a key to the city,” Miller recalls. “When he told me that I would be one of them, I was humbled. I had no idea. He told me that it was the highest award a citizen can be given and I am deeply honored to receive it.” At the ceremony, Miller spoke about his life in law enforcement and the people who got him there. “I didn’t do this all by myself. A lot of people helped get me to this point and I owe a lot to them,” he says. “It started with God, my mother and my father. They instilled good moral values and taught me how to communicate with and respect others the right way. Those lessons kept me out of trouble growing up.”
Since the city’s beginning, African Americans have been an important part of Flint’s growth. They have made and continue to make significant contributions to the advancement of civil rights, education, culture, arts and the community as a whole for every citizen, regardless of color or national origin. In honor of Black History Month, My City Magazine would like to honor some of the many African American leaders and trailblazers, past and present, who have worked for the betterment of the city and its people.
In the Scouting organization, becoming an Eagle Scout is the highest honor and quite an accomplishment. In October 2020, Breanna Nicole Trecha of Fenton Township obtained the rank of Female Eagle Scout. She is the first female in Genesee County to have gained the title and one of ten in the State of Michigan. The door opened for females to join Boy Scouts in February 2019.
Craig Coney has always held Flint and its citizens close to his heart. Throughout his life, the city was there to support him spiritually, socially and financially. He has lived his entire life here and owes a lot to the mentors and institutions that helped keep him on the right path. The thought of leaving the city has never crossed his mind. “The Flint community has always been good to me,” he says. “It made me who I am. My family was here and I always wanted to be close to them.”
“Our mission is to promote connectivity and empowerment to female leaders, founders and entrepreneurs,” says Flint’s Future is Female Co-Founder, Rachel Johnson. “One of our goals is to encourage a new generation of females to get involved in their community and its organizations. You can be a decisionmaker at the table.”
