FLINT, Michigan — Under the blazing summer sun with clear skies, the heart of Flint’s north side pulsed with music, laughter, and the scent of good food. Civic Park’s Urban Renaissance Center hosted an early Juneteenth celebration that drew people from all walks of life — young kids running around, elders lounging in chairs, and vendors lined up on display — into a shared space of celebration and community empowerment.

It was the tangible result of months of planning by one of Flint’s top music artists and community organizers, G-S Tha DreaM, who has shifted from solely creating and producing music to building platforms that empower others.

“Originally, I came to the [Urban Renaissance Center] because I wanted to help artists who were new to music or just wanted to figure out if they had musical talent,” G-S shared in a candid conversation during the event. “[But] before I knew it, they saw how helpful I was in one thing, and then they started being like, ‘Oh, okay, he handled his, he cleaned his plate. Let me give him some more food.’ All of this is volunteer work.”

From guiding young artists in the studio to mentoring teens onsite and coordinating event logistics, G-S wore every hat imaginable — literally and figuratively. “I got on the fedora, fitted, a bucket hat, I got a snapback,” he laughed. “I’m doing everything, man.”

Xzavier Simon | FlintsideA local poet shares a piece on what it means to be a Black woman at URC's Juneteenth event on June 8, 2025.The energy of the event was infectious as attendees browsed around, visiting vendor booths that offered local goods and provided resources on health, small businesses, and education, weaving support into the day’s rhythm. All the while, hip-hop and spoken word performances took center stage, hosted and introduced by author and poet Jerimiah Whitehead.

More than just a party, the event stood as proof that Flint’s grassroots visionaries are transforming their neighborhoods. “If I’m gonna keep saying I represent Flint as a community, I want to also bring Flint together,” G-S said. “So these people who I’m saying I rep for can get in the same spaces as each other, shake hands, and be a community.”

As sweat glistened and children played in the bounce house and swingset, the atmosphere carried both joy and purpose. G-S acknowledged how faith has played a role in his transformation: “I feel like God’s been playing a bigger part of my life recently, and things are really starting to come together, and I might be the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”

This transformation is reflected in how he now views his platform. “I always wanted people that I could kind of look at, or people that could help me get to the next level. So at this point in my life, I’m all about just eliminating barriers for those people who got the passion, but they don’t necessarily have the resources.”

Xzavier Simon | FlintsideChildren play on the slide and swingset at the Juneteenth festival on June 8, 2025.Eliminating barriers and stepping into a new era of his life, our conversation shifted to the future of G-S’s move into community activism and event planning. Next month, on July 18th, he’ll host a charity event benefitting those in recovery at Odyssey House. It’s part of a broader vision for a new nonprofit he’s building with his partner, Jordan.

“Sometimes philanthropy isn’t just money. It’s your resources, your time, your talent,” he explained. “We just trying to think of ways that we can give back to the community without making it seem like we [are] trying to get people for money.”

The upcoming event will feature performances, a shared meal, and community love, all infused with the same intentionality as the Juneteenth event. As G-S put it, “We want to make a nonprofit [and] spitball it into bigger and better events.”

Still, G-S’s roots come from the arena of music, where moments of life that don’t always feel good are woven into lyrical gold. When asked what he’d say to those who’ve followed his journey from day one, his message was heartfelt: “I just want y’all to know that I appreciate y’all from the bottom of my heart. Keep rocking, and this gonna be the year we elevate for sure”.

And on this hot celebratory day on the north side, elevation was already in motion.