When it comes to youth violence and crime, a number of studies confirm that afterschool programs are a great deterrent. In light of such evidence, there has been a conscious effort by many Genesee County schools to offer something for youth to do after school, especially those who are considered at high risk of participating

Once upon a September, on a quiet lane in North Flint, there was a clubhouse. Not a stuffy clubhouse for the wealthy, but the dream clubhouse of any child, containing a whole room just for arts and crafts, a big gymnasium, a reading room stuffed with literature for bookworms, a game room, a cafeteria, even

Last year, the public became hip to the nationwide Little Free Library movement, which began also to make headway in Flint. Starting with Chris and Sarah Reed of Flint, and growing to just over a half dozen locations throughout Genesee County in only one year’s time, Genesee County Little Free Libraries gives neighbors and passersby

For nearly a century, countless individuals have walked into Berston Field House of Flint with high aspirations, and dozens of these aspirants have seen their dreams come true. Thus, Berston has operated as a proving ground for Flint’s top-notch athletes. Berston Field House is more than just an athletic complex, however: it is truly a

Four years ago, an idea sprouted in the mind of Terry McLean. McLean works with the Michigan State University Genesee County Extension in Flint. Hitherto 2009, she had worked in horticulture, but then decided to step into urban gardening, something she was very familiar with and also longed to do. McLean says that in hindsight,

I was seven when I first discovered the magic of books. My mom, frustrated by my apathy for reading, tried as a last resort a Nancy Drew detective novel and told me that I must not skip to the end to solve the mystery. Her plan succeeded beyond even her wildest hopes: in the years

“This is our city. It is our town, and this is how we are going to turn it around. Plant the seeds and watch them grow for our community and economy, our destiny and family.” These are the opening lyrics of a rap song written by Flint high school students. The song was used as

On June 29, Downtown Flint’s Flat Lot provided space for the Stop the Silence 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. Stop the Silence, an event promoting cooperation between Flint youth and local police authorities, was started with collaborative effort between the City of Flint Police Department, Flint Township Police, Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, Mott Community

Craig Wolcott, a resident of Flint’s cultural area, is on a mission. He wants all Flint residents to live in safe, beautiful neighborhoods. To make that mission become a reality, he and members of other neighborhood groups banded together last year to form Flint Neighborhoods United. Once a month, captains, presidents and representatives from block