Karen About Flint

June 1, 2019

Flint Jackson Park Youth Baseball League Kick-Off

By Webmaster | Events, Family, Sports | No Comments

Flint Eagles Nest Academy will host Jackson Park Youth Baseball League, Play Ball Event. This event is a kick-off to the youth baseball program and will take place June 1, 2019, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at 5005 Cloverlawn Drive, Flint, MI 48504.

The Play Ball Event will start with an open pitch from the City of Flint’s Mayor, Dr. Karen Weaver. Players in the league will be a mixture of boys and girls, ages 4-12 years of age.

This event is open to the public and is of no cost to attendees.

For more information, contact Sean Croudy at (810) 449-6380 or Ronnie Russell, at (810) 877-9911.

May 10, 2019

Mayor Weaver’s Beautification Initiative 2019

By Webmaster | Community, Economic Development, Events, Family, Flint, Quality of Life | No Comments

Overview

On Saturday, April 8, 2017, Mayor, Dr. Karen W. Weaver, unveiled the Mayor’s Beautification Initiative (MBI). MBI has two critical components, both designed to promote community beautification and recognize Flint residents who are taking care of their property in spite of the water crisis and other financial challenges facing the City of Flint.

1. Encourage local stakeholder organizations – businesses, churches, fraternal, civic groups and others – to adopt the areas around their properties (this year the City will adopt Pierson Road from Dort Highway to Clio Road). This includes, but is not limited to, picking up litter, mowing the grass, painting benches, planting flowers, etc., to improve the overall perception of Flint for residents and visitors.

2. Recognize Flint residents for taking care of their property. Nomination forms are due to the Mayor’s Office on or before July 15, 2019 at 5 p.m., to recognize the beautification efforts of Flint residents.

Beautification Initiative:

Who can participate? Participation in the 2019 Mayor’s Beautification Awards is exclusive. Participation is limited to residents in the city of Flint. If you receive a tax bill from the City of Flint you are eligible to participate.

Judges: An anonymous group of residents will be selected to serve as judges for the 2019 Major’s Beautification Awards. Judges will include, but are not limited to, residents with beautification experience and those who understand the importance of recognizing the contribution of others.

Kickoff: The kickoff for the Mayor’s Beautification Awards will begin today, May 9, 2019. All nominations must be submitted by Friday, July 15, 2019.

Awards: Awards will be presented to participants in all nine wards of the city of Flint and multiple awards will be presented in every ward. The award categories will consist of:

Attractive Home:

o The lawn is mowed and edged

o The shrubs and trees are trimmed

o The overall presence of the home complements the neighborhood or block

Admirable Home:

o All of the criteria for Attractive Block are met

o There are flowers or plants visible from the curb

Adorable Home:

o All of the criteria for Admirable Landscape are met

o The concrete (sidewalk and/or driveway) is in good shape

o The overall yard has a clear theme

o This home represents a model home and should be highlighted

Award Presentation: Awards will be presented at the Mayor’s 2019 State of the City Address. A picture and a short description of the awardees will be presented during the Mayor’s address.

How to Nominate: You can nominate a home or block for an award by completing and submitting the Mayor’s 2019 Beautification Initiative Nomination form. Nominations must be submitted in person or emailed by July 15, 2019 for consideration. Contact Schuyler Davis atsdavis@cityofflint.com and (810) 237-2025 for more information on how to nominate and to deliver nomination forms and pictures.

Pierson Road Street Adoption

On Thursday, May 30, the City will be partnering with residents, businesses, churches, and other stakeholders to adopt Pierson Road as a cleanup site. The goal is to clean and beautify this major street on May 30, but also throughout the year so that it:

• Is free of all trash and debris

• Features grass that is mowed and edged

• Possess trees and shrubs that are trimmed

• Showcase flowers, especially perennials that will bloom year after year without replanting

• Is connected by sidewalks that are in good repair and are free of snow and ice

• Features holiday decorations, especially lights in the month of December

Volunteers are encouraged to bring own tools: mowers, rakes, shovels, hoes if you have them. Bags and gloves will be provide, as well as limited tools. Also: bring your families/neighbors, etc!

Particular details on event – register at city hall in back parking lot by dome auditorium at 8:00. Cleanup from 9-12. A community celebration from 12:30-1:30 will be held on the back (?) lawn of city hall

To commit to cleaning-up and maintaining one block along Pierson Rd and ancillary streets, please call (810) 237-2090 or e-mail lcrawford@cityofflint.com

May 3, 2019

Flint Fire Department to Offer Summer Camp for Youth

By Webmaster | Community, Events, Family, Safety | No Comments

Starting in June, the City of Flint Fire Department will offer the first ever “Camp Fire” Summer Youth Camp for girls and boys ages 12-17 years old that reside in Flint and surrounding communities.

“My goal this summer, for all youth, all over the city of Flint, is to make sure that they are involved in an activity that is both fun and educational,” said Flint Mayor, Dr. Karen Weaver. “It is never too early to introduce a child to a possible career pathway for them to consider and if nothing else, teach them at an early age to respect the heroic work that firefighters do.”

“Camp Fire” a two week program aimed at providing girls and boys with a comprehensive, intensive overview of the firefighting profession. The program is very physical, hands-on and intense. Girls and boys will have the opportunity to do things that they may never have done before. Cadets will gain a confidence and inner strength that comes through accomplishment and success, free of charge to participants.

“Our mission is to provide young girls and boys a safe environment to gain strength and knowledge while building confidence and leadership skills,” said Fire Chief Raymond Barton. “We will accomplish our mission by bringing in the best instructors and staff that we can, and by continuously evaluating and updating the program to meet the needs of the cadets and to reflect current NFPA safety and training standards.”

Another goal of the summer camp is to improve academic performance, school attendance, and address behavioral concerns.

“It is our hope that the long-term effect of the program will improve academic performance, school attendance, graduation rates and attitudes,” said Deputy Fire Chief, Carrie Edwards. “We believe that showing youth what they are capable of helps them recognize and unleash their potential, which can change the trajectory of their life.”

Participants can sign up for the program by visiting the city of Flint website and downloading an application.

April 26, 2019

Mayor Karen Weaver Named as 2nd Vice President of African American Mayors Association

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The African American Mayors Association announced that Flint Mayor Dr. Karen W. Weaver has been voted in as 2nd Vice President of the organization. Mayor Weaver has been a member of the AAMA since 2016 and served on the advisory board for one year before being voted in as 2nd VP.

“It truly is an honor to have been voted as 2nd Vice President by fellow Mayors from across this great nation. It says a lot about their confidence in my ability to lead,” said Mayor Weaver. “The AAMA rallied around the city of Flint during the height of the water crisis and has been by our side ever since.”

The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) was launched on May 1, 2014 in Washington D.C. by a dynamic group of black mayors led by Sacramento, CA Mayor Kevin Johnson. AAMA was founded on the principles of transparency and accountability. The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization exclusively representing African-American mayors in the United States. AAMA exists to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the African American Mayors Association includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.

Mayor Weaver went on to state that, “The AAMA really is an important organization, it offers Mayors who lead predominantly urban communities an opportunity to come together and support one another. It gives a voice to the pockets of our country that are often disenfranchised and discounted. I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as the 2nd Vice President and give back to an organization that does so much for so many around the country.”

April 25, 2019

Flint Mayor Dr. Karen W. Weaver Writes Open Letter to Residents on the Fifth Anniversary of the Water Crisis

By Webmaster | Accountability, Community, Leadership, Quality of Life | No Comments

Dear Residents:

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the Flint Water Crisis. I write this as not only the Mayor of this strong city but also, as a fellow resident, who was affected by this environmental injustice. We have had plenty of time to question and wonder why human life, more specifically our lives, could be held at such a low regard. We have gone through every emotion possible when something like this happens; the anger, the confusion, the devastation, the fear of the unknown, are all things we’ve felt as a collective.

One thing is for certain, we were strong, revolutionary fighters for justice and equality before this and in going through this, our resilience and grit have only gotten stronger. As a result of this, the country got to see just how far we still have to go as it relates to not only dealing with racism and classism, but our crisis placed a huge spotlight on the need for newer infrastructure and stronger environmental protections.

We came together during one of the hardest times many of us have ever faced and we spoke out as one. Our grassroots groups, Pastors, faith communities, and everyday residents did not sit silently and accept what had taken place and as a result of the collective voice of Flint residents, the world stopped and paid attention. Just as we have changed the structure of systems before by using our voices, we are doing so now. The State of Michigan has changed the way that it addresses lead and copper because of us. The country is having a long overdue conversation and push toward change as it relates to infrastructure and water because of us.

We would not wish what happened to us on anyone, we took what happened to us and turned it into an opportunity to make sure that this would not happen on this level ever again anywhere in the country, and where there are other water and infrastructure related injustices, we take them with us as we speak out.

While we may not be completely through this crisis just yet, we are recovering and we are recovering in a way that only Flintstones can. Our voices caused national attention that brought resources here to replace the lead and galvanized service lines; with 21, 298 lines excavated, we are ahead of schedule and due to complete the replacement process by the fall. Our voices caused us to have economic opportunities leading to 2,000 jobs in our city. Our voices caused the philanthropic community to come to our aid, as a result, our children now have access to technology that they may not have gotten any other way. Our voices got the attention of the federal government, as a result, we have housing being built on both the north and the south end. We will continue to use those same voices to address our in home plumbing and fixtures needs, to continue addressing the mental health needs of ALL residents who were affected by this trauma. We will use our voices to continue on the path to being made whole.

On this day, the 5th anniversary of an avoidable traumatic experience, the flags at Flint City Hall will fly at half-staff. We will not forget what happened here, nor will we allow the country to forget.

I want to remind all of the residents of this great city that we are stronger together because of what we have been through. That we are moving forward and there is a spirit of hope in this city that we have been missing for quite some time. That hope is helping us to heal.

Your Fellow Flintstone and Mayor,
Dr. Karen W. Weaver

September 5, 2018

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HUD AWARDS $250,000 TO THE FLINT HOUSING COMMISSION FOR EMERGENCY AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS

By Webmaster | Community, Economic Development, Flint, Leadership, Quality of Life | No Comments

In an effort to keep public housing residents safe and secure, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding $5 million in grants to 22 public housing authorities including $250,000 to the Flint Housing Commission. The Flint Housing Commission will purchase security camera systems at River Park a 180 unit family development and Howard Estates a 95 unit family development to improve security and monitoring. The Flint Police Department will have the ability to view the cameras in real time through the CATT system.

“The families we support who live in public housing deserve to feel safe in their homes,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “HUD wants to ensure the safety and security of public housing residents and these grants offer neighborhoods and communities the tools they need to help keep their residents safe.”

“This will be an added measure of safety for residents who live in housing that have had major concerns with crime,” said Mayor Weaver. “We want every resident in the City of Flint to know that their life and personal safety matter.”

HUD’s Capital Fund Emergency Safety and Security Program supports public housing authorities as they address the safety of public housing residents. These grants may be used to install, repair, or replace capital needs items including security systems/surveillance cameras, fencing, lighting systems, emergency alarm systems, window bars, deadbolt locks and doors.

Chief of Police, Timothy Johnson stated, “This was something we were looking at doing around the City, so we are just grateful that this measure will be put in place. The cameras will link directly to Police intelligence, so we are able to see what is happening in real time.”

As the City of Flint Mayor, Karen Weaver has:

Public Safety Upgrades in the City of Flint under Karen Weaver