We know that Flint is a city full of resilience, strength and spirit – but it also is a city faced with economic hardships, environmental crises and systemic disparities that present challenges. As a therapist, Albert Ujkaj, LMSW, Director of Behavioral Health at Hamilton Community Health Network has witnessed firsthand the impact these factors have had on his patients. He and the entire Hamilton Behavioral Health team work with patients of all ages daily to support and manage their emotional wellness.
Diante Lyles and E.J. Williams are eternally grateful for their decades-long friendship which began blossoming in elementary school through a shared passion for basketball.
“When we refresh others in giving, we refresh ourselves.” This is the motto of the Donations With Love Foundation (DWLF), a non-profit founded in 2015. “We are a diverse organization and we help everyone,” says Founder and CEO Darcele Cole-Robinson, PhD, LLMSW-C, a graduate of Flint Northern High School and University of Michigan-Flint. DWLF is part of the Genesee County Prevention Coalition, which creates partnerships to address substance use and mental health disorders impacting Genesee County youth and adults.
It’s time to fire up the grill or the smoker and enjoy some fun in the sun with some great food. May is National Barbecue Month and there are many ways to celebrate. You can host a backyard barbecue, try out new recipes or even make your own homemade sauce. You can also choose to visit one of the many local restaurants that serve up some yummy BBQ ribs, wings, brisket, chicken – it’s ALL good!
Offering more than 11,000 acres of woods, water and fun, Genesee County Parks is Michigan’s largest county park system! And this spring and summer, there are some fun and exciting things to do in the parks, according to Communications, Event & Brand Manager Jackie Domerese.
Beginning this month, Patrick Linihan has assumed the role as Director of Genesee County Parks. Formerly deputy director since October 2022, Linihan served as director of parks and recreation for Grand Blanc Township for two years, as well as several other key roles for the County parks. The Parks & Recreation Commission considered ten other applicants for the director position, citing Linihan’s extensive background with a variety of park systems. His appointment was approved at their meeting in late February 2024.
Under the gaze of Detroit boxing luminaries like five-division champ Thomas Hearns and legendary manager of world titlists Jackie Kallan, unbeaten junior middleweight prospect Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes made his way to the ring at Wayne State University’s Fieldhouse on February 20.
As we age, the journey from reading with a flashlight under the covers to holding menus at arm’s length to embracing bifocals – or even trifocals – suggests that changes in vision are an inevitable aspect of growing older. That was the journey Maura had experienced in her 68 years. She has worn glasses for the last 20 years or so, but before reaching her 40s never thought she would have vision problems.
Lance Johnson grew up around the mystique of Flint. A self-described history buff, the 23-year-old was enthralled with Genesee County’s past, especially Vehicle City. “I went to Atherton High School, which sits in an area with a rich history all its own,” he says. “I appreciated it for that, but that’s a different story.” The story he’s telling today is about Flint – it’s history and its contribution to the world. It’s about an institution. “It’s about Flint Central High School,” he says. “It was a jewel and one of the leading institutions in the state for a long time, just as all the Flint schools were at one time in the past.”
Doug Towler tried tuning out the chatter, even as it grew more deafening. The head coach of the Genesee County Generals – a cooperative team of players from Davison, Goodrich and Flushing high schools – Towler began this season a mere eight victories away from becoming Michigan’s all-time winningest high school hockey coach.
In January, the Michigan Association for Career and Technical Education named Vanita Wilson, MA, LPC Counseling & Career Professional of the Year. She was honored for her outstanding work as the counselor overseeing 1,800 students at Genesee Career Institute (GCI). A member of the Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) staff since 2016, Vanita earned a Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling at Spring Arbor University and received a Bachelor’s of Social Work from the University of Michigan – Flint.
