April 26, 2011 | Volume 106 | Edition 1B Local Affairs pg. 3
Budget Analysis pg. 5
Club Highlight pg. 6
Entertainment pg. 7
Eating Locally: Building Community Through Food
by Désirée White, Copy Editor
On Thursday, April 21, a forum was held at Mott Community College to discuss a new urban movement: community gardens. Three panelists discussed their roles in integrating the 170 existing community gardens into the city of Flint. The panelists were Erin Caudell of the Ruth Mott Foundation, Shantae Burke of the Genesee County Community Mental Health, and Dick Ramsdell, manager of the Flint Farmers’ Market. All three stressed the importance of locally grown food and the effects it could have on the health, economy, and growth of the city. According to the County Health Ratings, Genesee County sits in last place (out of 82) for health behaviors, such as smoking, obesity, and sexually transmitted infections, in Michigan. It is in 77th place for health outcomes (mortality and morbidity). Ms. Burke commented that a “person with mental health issues has only a 50% chance of survival” living in Flint. Ms. Caudell pointed out that there are only two major chain grocery stores within the city limits, which makes it difficult for those without proper transportation to have decent food access. On the other hand, Flint has numerous fast food restaurants, convenience, and liquor stores, which are the places many of the city’s citizens will go for food. One-third of the city is owned by the Land Bank or the city, making it available for development. Therefore, the community garden move-
ment is meant to “increase access to healthier and better food” and “grow together as a unit” by utilizing this land for the public good A particular organization that has cropped up to help with the movement is Edible Flint. The organization holds urban gardening training and other workshops to educate citizens who want to grow their own food and even sell it at local venues. Burke spoke about her experience with an extremely poor neighborhood that, while it was able to sell only about 10 percent of its crops, distributed the remainder to its residents. Other urban growers can sell their fresh produce at the market or to the many local restaurants. Ideally, this would educate citizens to make healthier eating choices, improving health, teach them how to prepare food for their families and help put some of the money for food back into the local economy.
Flint Music Venue Re-Opening
by Brian Mills
In the past, the Flint music scene has given birth to great bands such as Chiodos and The Swellers. These bands got their start on the stage of the Flint Local 432; a venue opened in the 1990s and closed down in the mid 2000s. With Flint’s downtown district growing, its time the venue opened back up and put on great shows once again. The C.S. Mott Foundation has awarded the venue $200,000 to get their doors back open. The grant will take care of everything from fixing old plumbing to installing heating and air conditioning in the 1930s building at 124 W. First Street. However, the grant will not cover the stage equipment. Lights, sound, and staging will have to be funded by other means. The early shows at the Local gave teens a place to hang out on the weekends in a safe environment. The venue is open to all ages, so this is one of the few clubs in Flint that will offer alcohol-free events. This feature of the venue may spark new interest in the downtown area to teens, bringing business to the local food
joints in the area. Step by step, downtown Flint can become a vibrant place for teens and adults alike. The Flint Local is a large step in this direction. There will be music for everyone, from alternative rock to punk to post-hardcore. The venue also plans on hosting a variety of events appealing to those not interested in the music scene. The owner, Joel Rash, hopes to bring theater, film, and dance to the genres of events. In addition to evening events, after school study programs are currently on the drawing board for the venue. The spread of events will definitely increase the draw to the downtown area. Joel Rash began by setting up rock shows in the basement of Capitol Theater on second street. Rash was never limited to hosting rock shows. He has worked closely with the city to improve the way people see Flint. From the downtown facade improvement program to giving teens a place to have fun and be safe, Joel has done it all.
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Along with community gardens, Mr. Ramsdell mentioned that Flint is “very well placed” to “raise a variety of fruits and vegetables yearround” with the establishment of hoop houses. A hoop house resembles a green house in that it extends the growing season, but it is less expensive to maintain and establish. One hoop house has already been built on Court Street, allowing the urban farmers to grow greens during the colder months. Caudell says more would go up, but there are numerous “challenges in policy and resources.” Other projects that indicate Flint’s potential include an orchard planted by Burke’s group at Fifth Avenue and Mason Street., a produce “dollar store” due to open in August, and the Flint Farmer’s Market, which is expanding its selection of produce grown and cultivated within the city limits.
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Flint Mayor to Speak at Kettering by Tom Gale, staff
Dayne Walling, the mayor of Flint, will be visiting Kettering University. He will be speaking on “Leadership and Ethics.” He is a former Rhodes Scholar, Truman scholar, local business owner, and is currently completing his Ph.D. He also taught a section of LS 489 here at Kettering. The session will be held on April 27 (4th Week Wednesday) at 12:20 in room 1-819 AB.