Flint is a city with a complicated and dynamic history. Before the middle of the 20th Century, Vehicle City experienced a golden age filled with the economic prosperity of the working class because of the booming auto industry. However, as the century progressed the auto industry began to deteriorate and with it, so did Flint. In the wake of a failing industry, those who could afford to leave sought work elsewhere and those who couldn’t were left with the burden of a crumbling economy.
Today, there are people from the Flint community who are working diligently to revitalize the area. One exemplary program is through Communities First Inc., a Flint based non-profit dedicated to building “healthy, vibrant communities through economic development, affordable housing and innovative programming.”
This CFI program called MAD (Making A Difference) Flint is an 8-week initiative dedicated to providing participants with a first-hand community enrichment experience. Through the MAD program this summer, four high school students from the Flint community worked to develop various projects aimed at providing financial literacy for Flint residents. Kendi Perdue, Myracle Hunter, Briana Crofton, and Antonio Ferguson are high school juniors, but they did not think it was too early to make a real difference.
These students not only learned about financial literacy during the program, but they refined the curriculum and created a financial literacy board game called “Reality.” This game allows players to simulate the process of “trying to make it” in the real world. It challenges players with pivotal decisions such as choosing whether to attend college, go to trade school, or start working straight out of high school. During the game, players experience a multitude of unexpected events that are out of their control, such as getting in a car accident or winning big on an investment. The purpose of Reality is to teach people the importance of financial literacy and the weight of various realistic decisions.
In late August the MAD Flint team also helped organize one of the popular “Movies Under the Stars” events that CFI is known for. While these events are usually in the open air on a grassy lawn, the COVID pandemic transformed the event into a drive-in movie. Each car had their own parking space with the necessary social distancing to keep all participants safe. The MAD Flint team created an activity booklet and packed 500 goodie bags for movie attendees. A large pizza was also given to each car to enjoy during the movie. The entire event was free and tickets were offered on a first-come, first-served basis on the Communities First social media sites.
The students in the MAD Flint program are highly ambitious with their sights set on future careers. Kendi plans to become a pediatrician, and Antonio wants to become a Video Game Developer. Briana and Myracle both want to become Obstetrician/Gynecologists. The program offered each of them the opportunity to meet over Zoom with professionals in their respective career choices, who are themselves either current or former Flint residents. “I have to keep going and striving for what I want in life,” Kendi says.
MAD Flint Summer 2020 was a major success. Myracle reflects on what she learned, “I learned how to save my money and the importance of credit.” Financial literacy becomes more important every day and those at CFI believe that it can be a powerful tool in revitalizing a community. With this tool, Flint’s younger generation will have the power to shape their community into what it deserves to be.
Communities First, Inc., is a non-profit Community Development Corporation founded in 2010. The priorities of CFI are affordable housing, economic development, green programs and quality of life programs. CFI is focused on the communities of Flint Detroit and Saginaw. CFI created the MAD Detroit Service program to empower people and build community. The program can used to empower youth or engage a community minded group of individuals. In addition to the service project the participants are exposed to volunteer activities, team building and leadership programs as well as Culture Shock programs. More information about Communities First, Inc. can be found at http://www.communitiesfirstinc.org.