To kids in a local Flint neighborhood, Vincent Smith, who wears sweats and a t-shirt bearing a #Eating logo, looks like a regular guy trying to rake and clean up a plot of land on Cottage Grove Avenue. Until they start talking to him – and learn that he’s no “regular guy.”
Raise It Up! Youth Arts & Awareness is an award-winning organization that promotes youth engagement, expression, and empowerment through performance, literary arts, and social justice activism. In 2009, Raise It Up! was officially launched through a grant by the Ruth Mott Foundation and operates under the sponsorship of the United Way of Genesee County.
The 45th Annual William C. Byrd International Young Artist Competition took place on March 5, showcasing the best in string musicians. Twenty-five contestants auditioned, and five finalists were selected by three judges to perform in the evening program. The winner of the Competition is Xiao Wang, a violinist from China who is currently studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.
Owner of the John Wentworth Group RE/MAX Platinum™, John is a successful realtor in Fenton with $90 million in sales last year. He began his real estate career on his own when the market had tanked, and has grown the business to include a team of five salaried staff and six agents. He lives in Fenton with his wife, Jennifer, and three children. John says that the key to his success is staying humble and focusing on people, not money. He shared more about his life with My City.
Something very exciting and unique is happening at Mott Middle College in Flint. Two passionate teachers had a simultaneous epiphany that led to the formation of a puppet-making class at the school, and the creation of Fly-Town Puppet Theatre. Mott Middle College is a non-traditional high school, operated by the Genesee Intermediate School District. It opened in 1991 on the campus of Mott Community College and specializes in overlapping an Associate’s Degree with a general education high school diploma.
Today, Friday, April 1, 2016 a press conference was held to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect. The community initiative, Paint Our Town Blue, takes place at the Genesee County Circuit Court at 900 Saginaw Street in Flint. At this press conference, community leaders such as the Honorable Duncan Beagle and Genesee County Sheriff, Robert Pickell, spoke out about these issues that are affecting the community.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease associated with the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells deep in the brain. As the nerve cells die, the amount of dopamine in the brain is decreased. Because dopamine helps regulate the body’s movement, the loss of dopamine leads to decreased mobility.
The Flint drinking water contamination has been a community disaster like few others, creating immediate and future challenges for families. Many are asking, “What can I do to help? How can I stand with Flint?” In the year of its 40th anniversary, Crim Fitness Foundation is redoubling its efforts to create opportunities for all residents to lead healthy lives.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” This age-old quote addresses the daily need for fiber-rich foods to keep our colons healthy and get things moving!
Staying active and healthy is a priority for many – and what better way to do that than walking, running and biking in your own community! About 18 months ago, a group of outdoor enthusiasts in the Southern Genesee County area took on the task of bringing outdoor trails to their communities. From that idea, the LAFF (Linden, Argentine, Fenton and Lake Fenton) Pathways Coalition was formed. According to Victor Lukasavitz, a member of the Coalition, the goal is to realize their vision of the development, funding and construction of non-motorized trails and pathways to connect their communities. The committee consists of 11 members. “They got involved because they have a desire to create a healthy, active community,” says Lukasavitz. “Linden was the first to give their support and Fenton City immediately followed.”
Katie Watts always loved art and design. “I thought I wanted to be a graphic designer,” says, the mother of seven and wife to husband, Shawn. “But that profession didn’t pan out.” Instead, she listened to her mother’s advice, followed in her footsteps and enrolled in nursing school. “After graduating, she immediately began working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where she’s been ever since – that was 13 years ago.
