Athena McKay was in a quandary. While working as a Flint community liaison with Michigan State University, she and other members of the Flint Eats Project steering committee agreed with MSU researcher, Dr. Joshua Introne, that the Flint Eats App they were developing would be best owned and operated by a non-profit organization in Flint. The trouble was, they couldn’t find an organization with the necessary resources and skills. So, they did the only thing they could think of: they started their own. The steering committee became the board of directors for Flint Innovative Solutions (FIS), a 501c3 non-profit. McKay was named executive director with Kathy Roberts as acting board president. “We started out of necessity,” says McKay. “We needed an organization to handle developing and implementing the Flint Eats App, and everything else expanded from there.”

It was a sad occasion for the city of Flint. St. Michael Catholic Church, Genesee County’s oldest Catholic church, permanently closed its doors in December 2020. “It was such a significant church,” says Father Tom Firestone, who has been Pastor of the City (St. Michael’s, St. Matthew’s and St. John Vianney churches) since 2015. “I’m sad. I tried so hard to keep it open. It was the Mother Church of the region dating back to 1843. It was the only Catholic parish in the city of Flint for 67 years.”

John Rhymes, Founder of the Institute of R.H.Y.M.E.S. has been a mentor for many years, making a positive impact on Flint’s young people. Founded in 2002, the nonprofit organization sees the value in everyone. “We want to be a catalyst for positive change,” he says. “Our goal is to equip the future generation with tools and resources to be productive and effective in life.” R.H.Y.M.E.S. stands for Reaching and Helping Young Minorities Excel and Succeed.

The Flint Central Church of the Nazarene has spent the year joyfully celebrating its 100th anniversary! And according to Chief Pastor Rob Prince, while celebrating the past is significant, the best days are ahead! “We are excited about our great past but we have an even better future,” says the pastor. While an official celebration of the milestone was postponed due to the pandemic, a three-day event filled with festivities is set to take place in May 2021.

Tucked away Downtown on Harrison St. stands the last icon of the vibrant days of Flint’s Floral Park neighborhood. Opened in 1921 by Magnus Clark as the Maple Leaf, Golden Leaf Club continues to be the city’s premier jazz haunt for enthusiasts, fans and musicians. It is the oldest African-American owned venue in Genesee County, second only to Idlewild (est. 1912) and tied with Detroit’s famous Paradise Valley clubs for Michigan’s earliest African-American jazz venue. Golden Leaf, however, is the only one still in operation and approaching its centennial anniversary. “We are still proud and still standing,” says current Owner/Maitre´d, Lottie Reid. “We’re still here and having a good time with good people. I think we all look good for 100!”

Flint’s Lydia Taylor named semifinalist in the sixth annual Breakthrough Global Challenge.

September is National Recovery Month — a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life.

YouthQuest, a no-cost after-school enrichment program operated by the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, celebrated its tenth anniversary in July. “This is a huge milestone!” exclaims Nefertari Jones, Program Director. “We are a mainstay and still going strong!”

This summer, Flint kindergarten teacher, Jessica Reed, received a makeover of her classroom at Northridge Academy. This fantastic surprise was all due to the generosity of a longtime family friend, Melanie Ralbusky, a former teacher who is now a designer.

Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village (SBEV), 4119 N. Saginaw St., Flint, is hosting a community forum for its upcoming Flint Sports Complex on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 3:30 to 5pm.

Greater Flint college students will return to class soon … what can they expect? Local institutions shared their thoughts with My City Magazine.