UM-Flint Government & Community Relations

University of Michigan-Flint was a sponsor of the Boy Scouts annual Boy Scout Bistro event with proceeds going to the Urban Scouting program. Congratulations to the Boy Scouts on a great event!

The University of Michigan-Flint was pleased to sponsor The Young Professional Leader of the Year Award for The Art of Achievement Awards hosted by the Flint Genesee Group. Congratulations to all the nominees and to our winner, Tauzzari Robinson, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Flint. A well-deserved honor!

The University of Michigan-Flint was happy to be a sponsor for the Arab American Heritage Council’s 24th Annual Ensure the Legacy Dinner. Congratulations Devin Bathish and the Arab American Heritage Council for a great event!

Congratulations to the University of Michigan-Flint Student Government on its inaugural UM-Flint Homecoming Parade. We are proud of you and you should be proud of your fantastic work!!!!

Check out our Student Body President Levi Todd and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Christopher Giordano as they talk about our UM-Flint Homecoming!
Come out and celebrate a FANTASTIC TIME with UM-Flint for our parade on Friday!
https://www.abc12.com/2021/10/27/university-michigan-flint-prepares-first-wolverine-homecoming/?fbclid=IwAR1-oTeEgQ76L7wU9YWveFPe2VJArQ25-aOIacH5mJzsX3yY8mcUC4Vypz8

The University of Michigan-Flint prepares for first Wolverine Homecoming The University of Michigan-Flint is holding it’s first ever Wolverine Homecoming events that kick off on Thursday!

Have your say on the future of Riverbank Park and Chevy Commons in the City of Flint! Join us for a virtual public engagement session to discuss the rejuvenation of the riverfront through the creation of recreational opportunities, park improvements, property redevelopment, enhanced connectivity, ecosystem restoration and improved stormwater and flood control. Email [email protected] to signup.

The University of Michigan-Flint was pleased to welcome City of Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Jay Lin, Consular Officer of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Chicago, Ms. Huichun Jo Chang, Director of the Taipei Cultural Center of New York, and The Michigan Taiwanese American Organization (MITAI) for the US premier showing of a Warner Brothers feature film, 聽見歌再唱Listen before you sing. The film is part of the 2021 Taiwan Bunun Indigenous Music & Film Festival, October 13-27.

The University of Michigan-Flint is saddened to hear of the passing of the Honorable Dale Kildee.

Born in Flint, Kildee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952 from the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and a teaching certificate in 1955 from the University of Detroit Mercy. He taught at the University of Detroit High School from 1954 to 1956 and at Flint Central High School from 1956 to 1964. Kildee studied political science and history at the University of Peshawar in Pakistan under a Rotary Foundation Fellowship, and earned a Master of Arts degree in education in 1961 from U-M.

His political career began with his 1964 election to the state House of Representatives, where he served until 1974. He was elected to the state Senate in 1974 and the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976. After 36 years in Congress, he chose not to run for reelection in Michigan's 5th Congressional District in 2012.

Kildee was a loyal friend to the University of Michigan, especially UM-Flint. Many students gained valuable experience as interns, and he also secured federal funding for important initiatives, including a 2008 Department of Health and Human Services grant that helped train UM-Flint students for health professions. Additionally, many of his Congressional papers and artifacts are housed in the UM-Flint library. For his efforts, he received an honorary degree from UM-Flint in 2013 and the Dale Edward Kildee Education scholarship was created in his honor.

(Portions from UM-Flint News, 2013-2014)

The University of Michigan-Flint was excited to welcome the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Susan Corbin, Deputy Director for Labor and Economic Opportunities for Employment and Training Stephanie Beckhorn, and Brandy Johnson from the Office of Sixty by 30 for a tour of our awesome campus. We enjoyed you coming to our campus. Let's make this an annual thing!

The University of Michigan-Flint is pleased to be a sponsor of Flint’s annual Peace Day in beautiful Willson Park. “May all be happy, May all be healthy, May all enjoy prosperity; May none suffer.”

So, it’s been a pretty good day for University of Michigan-Flint:

Gov. Whitmer Announces Grant for U-M Flint to Support Over 300 Jobs and $10.4 Million in Investment in Flint

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Whitmer announced that the U.S. Secretary of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, to construct the university’s new College of Innovation and Technology. This EDA grant, to be matched with $4.9 million in local funds, is expected to create 126 jobs, retain 175 jobs, and generate $10.4 million in private investment.

“We are grateful to Secretary Raimondo and the Biden Administration for investing in University of Michigan-Flint's College of Innovation and Technology,” said Governor Whitmer. “This grant will help us usher in a new era of prosperity by supporting over 300 good-paying jobs and generating $10.4 million in private investment.”

“The University of Michigan-Flint is a pillar of excellence in the community and continues to offer residents access to a college degree as an investment in their future,” said Mayor Sheldon Neeley. “This grant to build the College of Innovation and Technology will create jobs and strengthens UM-Flint as a higher institution committed to student success. The City of Flint looks forward to supporting this work and our continued partnership to get residents back to work and back to school.”

“Thank you to the U.S. Economic Development Administration for their support for a new College of Innovation and Technology building at UM-Flint,” said University of Michigan-Flint Chancellor Deba Dutta. “This catalytic investment in support of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology development will serve as the entryway for industry and community partners to advance economic growth in the region. We are grateful to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and other UM-Flint partners for their generous financial support of this transformational project. Our industry partners have been instrumental in the success of this proposal, and we continue to benefit from their shared vision and collaboration as we help prepare the Flint region and the state of Michigan with a workforce for Industry 4.0.”

“Programs housed in the new building will help to build the regional talent pipeline by providing upskilling and reskilling programs in high demand areas such as cybersecurity, AI, mobility and other emerging technology areas. The facility will help grow university training and research expertise, expand problem-solving capacity of graduates and validate market-ready innovation.” said University of Michigan-Flint Chancellor Deba Dutta.

“The pandemic exposed the need for economic diversification and resiliency in many regions across the United States,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment on the University of Michigan-Flint campus will fuel innovation and entrepreneurship and ensure our nation recovers from the pandemic and builds back stronger.”

“This catalytic investment in Flint, Michigan, will connect industry partners with the university to spark job creation,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project will provide for the construction of the new 17,000-square foot Innovation and Technology Center, a one-stop business gateway for training and research, innovation and job recruitment.”

This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, provides a wide range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov) The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

U.S. Economic Development Administration U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.5 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Tech-Based Business Growth in Bloomington, Indiana

The Office of Government and Community Relations continues to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. While most monthlong recognitions occur at the beginning of the month, National Hispanic Heritage Month occurs in the middle of the month. Curious why? So were we. Check out the answer here:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/15/us/hispanic-heritage-month-why-celebrate-2021/index.html

Why Hispanic Heritage Month starts in the middle of September National Hispanic Heritage Month begins Wednesday and will run through October 15, giving the United States an opportunity to recognize and celebrate members of our communities and their ancestors who hail from Mexico, parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America and Spain.

Today, September 28th, is National Voter Registration Day!

For those of you who are registered to vote, congratulations! For those of you who need to register to vote, here's a short video from Michigan's Bureau of Elections on how to register to vote in Michigan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4nZKG7H35s&t=2s

If you are registered, and you're a student, know your rights. Here are a few Frequently Asked Questions from the Michigan Secretary of State's Office regarding students voting while in college: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_93658_102162-538201--,00.html

Feel free to outreach to the Office of Government and Community Relations if you have any questions. Your vote does indeed make a difference!

Voter registration in Michigan Michigan Elections Director Jonathan Brater gives an overview of voter registration in Michigan.

University of Michigan-Flint Government and Community Relations is saddened by the loss of former Michigan legislator and University of Michigan-Flint alumnus, the Honorable Jack Minore. Mr. Minore was a teacher and a strong Flint public servant on Flint City Council many years before he joined the legislature in 1998. He was a champion for labor, fair housing, and higher education. Mr. Minore died at the age of 82. We thank him for his service to our community. He will be missed.

In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month we are highlighting local spaces, faces, and places you should know. Today, meet Dr. Samantha Cardenas. Dr. Cardenas is pursuing her Master's of Public Health, Health Education at UM-Flint, and is the Program Coordinator for both Beyond Rhetoric: Confronting and Combating Racism in Genesee County, and Keep Genesee County Beautiful.
She says, "Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it is a time to highlight the great accomplishments of Hispanics across the nation. It is a celebration that focuses on the gifts and skills we provide to all areas of our communities. Being recognized in public platforms during this month allows younger generations to dream to be the best in whichever field they choose to explore."

It was a busy weekend for University of Michigan-Flint in the community. We were happy to be a sponsor for the Voices for Children Advocacy Center Superhero Run on Saturday and then partnered with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Zeta Beta Omega Chapter for its College Fair on Sunday. What a fun time!

On this Constitution Day, let us not forget the following Preamble of our Constitution…

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Are you curious how scholars have interpreted the Preamble and what have been the debates about it? Check it out here: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/preamble-ic/interps/37

Interpretation: The Preamble | The National Constitution Center We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for th...

The University of Michigan-Flint was pleased to partner with the Flint and Genesee Group for its September member Luncheon on Cybersecurity. Professors Suleyman Uludag and Phil Power shared how cyber attacks happen and how small businesses can protect themselves.

The University of Michigan-Flint was pleased to welcome Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist to our campus on his Thriving Cities 2.0 tour. "The university is a staunch partner in the Thriving Cities effort," said Sonja Feist-Price, UM-Flint Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. "We are united in this collaborative effort to provide cities like Flint the ongoing opportunity to enhance the quality of life in our community and the opportunity for our students and citizens."

On Your Mark. Get Set. GO BLUE! The Michigan Mile, sponsored by The University of Michigan-Flint for a decade, is an exciting race in Flint that takes runners by our beautiful Block M! Congratulations to our Michigan Mile Winner Jamie Phelan Calderon!

The University of Michigan-Flint is a proud sponsor of the HAP Crim Festival of Races’ Michigan Mile. Thank you to the Crim Fitness Foundation team members Joe Dimambro, Crim Race Director; Brandon Morgan, Crim Development Director; and Crim Executive Director Lauren Holaly-Zembo for creating a fantastic experience! Also, a HUGE thank you to our UM-Flint Family for participating!

The University of Michigan-Flint is excited to be a sponsor for the Crim Training Program and the Michigan Mile this Saturday. As two long-standing pillars of the community, it is only appropriate we partner on this weekend of fun!
We’re curious. Have you competed in a Crim Race? Share your favorite Crim Picture or memory below. Here’s a photo of Chancellor Dutta at his first Crim race in 2019 with another of our favorite partners, Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea from Mott Community College.

It has been a busy few months for University of Michigan-Flint and UM-Flint Government & Community Relations. From partnering with Michigan Works! Association and City of Flint to help Workforce Development, to hosting Senator Peters’ Infrastructure Roundtable to celebrating the new renovation of Crim Plaza with the Crim Fitness Foundation, we are excited to be a part of great things happening in Flint!

Happy 810 Day! We’re celebrating 8 AMAZING Faces and Places tied to the University of Michigan-Flint. Our final two places … and a bonus, can be found right here on our campus. The newest spot is the Harrison Street Parking Ramp. The ramp’s mural, painted by Isiah Lattimore, is a tribute to UM-Flint graduates. You can walk right around the corner to Willson Park to reflect, have some lunch or listen to great music. It is known for its Ghandi statue. Finally, we can’t forget our signature Block M. Make sure you check all of them out!

Happy 810 Day! We're celebrating 8 AMAZING Faces and Places tied to the University of Michigan-Flint. Meet our awesome leadership team of Chancellor Deba Dutta and Provost Sonja Feist-Price. After a tour of the Big Ten Dr. Dutta joined UM-Flint as its eighth chancellor in August 2019. During his tenure, he has championed educational innovation, community partnership and will bring online the College of Innovation and Technology this Fall. Dr. Feist-Price joined UM-Flint in August 2020. She joined UM-Flint by way of the University of Kentucky where she was the Vice President for Institutional Diversity and a Professor in the College of Education. She is a strong leader who advocates for first-generation college students.

Happy 810 Day! We're celebrating 8 AMAZING Faces and Places tied to University of Michigan-Flint. A notable view on Saginaw Street is the dome on our University Pavilion or, as we call it, UPAV. It's more than just a great place for food!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B726SQ0K8HE

UM-Flint University Pavilion Tour University Pavilion (UPAV) houses Undergraduate Admissions, Registrar, Financial Aid, and Academic Advising & Career Center, the UM-Flint Bookstore, and a se...

Happy 810 Day! We're celebrating 8 AMAZING Faces and Places tied to the University of Michigan-Flint. Meet Lottie Ferguson. Lottie is the Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Flint. She entered UM-Flint at 16 as her parents wanted her close to home at such a young age. "I was upset about it, but in hindsight, it was the best decision. The relationships built there have benefitted me tremendously." As a Business Administration major, her time at UM-Flint had many memories including meeting her husband Kyle while both were students involved in UM-Flint's student government. They will celebrate 20 years of marriage this year.

Happy 810 Day! We're celebrating 8 AMAZING Faces and Places tied to University of Michigan-Flint. Check out the Murchie Science Building. The building was named for one of our founding faculty members William R. Murchie. The MSB houses science classrooms and laboratories for chemistry, biology, physics, math, engineering, and computer science. Here's a secret - there's also a cadaver lab for students going into the medical field. It's recently had a facelift. Check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLT9fdAwSfc&t=15s

Murchie Science Building Expansion Check out the new wing of the Murchie Science Building. This expansion is the gateway to innovation, creativity and collaboration.

Happy 810 Day! We're celebrating 8 AMAZING Faces and Places tied to the University of Michigan-Flint . Meet UM-Flint Alumus A. Boh Ruffin. This Flintstone, who is currently living in New York, was a physics major who is now the Senior Research Manager for Laser Processing Research at Corning Incorporated. "UM-Flint nurtured my curiosity for the physical sciences. My physics and math professors gave me the tools to develop my own insights and encouraged me to probe beyond the topics covered in textbooks. The fundamentals I learned while an undergrad I presently apply in my career as an optical physicist."

Join UM-Flint Government & Community Relations on July 29th for our second installment of our Community Mpact series featuring Jashell Mitchell, Manager of Player Engagement for the NFL. To register, go to www.go.umflint.edu/Mpact.

The University of Michigan-Flint was a proud sponsor of the City of Flint’s Juneteenth Celebration. Here are a few pictures from the day.