FLINT, MI--Communities First Inc. was recently awarded a $5,000 grant to engage the Flint community in conversations around the cultural, social, historical, and environmental impact that the Great Lakes have on Michigan residents.
Communities First was one of 15 organizations to receive the grant, awarded by The Michigan Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“This grant allows us to combine aspects of our popular Culture Shock and Green Life programs to offer a unique experience for Flint families. We are excited to receive this grant and look forward to the dialogue this project will create,” said Glenn Wilson, Communities First Inc. CEO and president.
Communities First's Green Life program will use the funds to facilitate three different community conversations about the topic of Michigan water and shorelines. The conversations will explore the personal connections minority or underserved Flint residents may or may not feel with the "Third Coast" and the importance of Michigan's coastline to the entire state and its residents.
An introductory conversation will be held on Saturday, July 21, and will include an overview of Michigan being the Third Coast, residents’ connection to water, and information on the other two experiences Communities First will host.
One will involve a trip to west Michigan and discussion of the importance of water in sand dune preservation. The other experience will be a trip to Bay City, with the trip focusing on deepening the understanding of how the Great Lakes play a role in Michigan’s history.
Due to limited availability, residents will be selected based on their availability to commit to all three conversations. The events are free and open to families. Children's activities included.
For more information on these events, please email
[email protected] or go to
communitiesfirstinc.org. Those interested in participating can pre-register at
tinyurl.com/cfithirdcoast.
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