Flintside

06/05/2026

Who are the people stepping up to lead Flint?

As the mayoral primary approaches, we are sitting down with each candidate to learn about their roots, their connection to the city, and their vision for the future. The goal: helping you get to know the individuals asking to serve your community.

First up in our interview series is Micaiah Owens. A practicing municipal lawyer and resident of the Cultural Center neighborhood, Owens shares his background, his thoughts on community policing and city infrastructure, and why he believes Flint's greatest asset is the kindness of its people.

Read our full conversation with Owens at the link in the comments. 👇

06/05/2026

North, Downtown, or South? Specific ZIP codes or childhood landmarks?

For cartographer Alex B. Hill, mapping Flint is deeply personal, rooted in generations of family history tied to the auto plants, community schools, and Atwood Stadium. In the debut of the "Mapping Flint" series, Hill explores the intersection of geography, data, and human experience.

How do you reference where you are in the city? What places define your personal map of Flint?

Read his essay and explore the new series at the link in the comments. 👇

06/04/2026

C. S. Mott’s $20M investment aims to improve Flint parks through community and youth voice.

Read the full Flintside story - Link in FIRST COMMENT

06/04/2026

Flint native Randi Richardson documents the Flintstones who left and attended Ivy League schools.

Read the full Flintside story - bit.ly/4n22mxx

06/03/2026

Dr. Tanya Upthegrove Gregory reflects on learning, growth, and helping Flint bloom again.

Read the full Flintside story - bit.ly/3S342LD

06/03/2026

For many Flint residents, parks and playgrounds are more than places to pass the time.

They are gathering spaces, anchors for community events, and where children burn off energy, grandparents sit and watch, families reconnect, and community members cross paths in ways that don’t always happen elsewhere.

That is part of the vision behind the Mott Foundation's commitment of up to $20 million to improve playgrounds and parks throughout Flint.

✍🏾: Xzavier V. Simon
📸: Ryan Hobson

C. S. Mott’s $20M investment aims to improve Flint parks through community and youth voice.

06/03/2026

Meet the candidates seeking to lead Flint and learn where they stand on key city issues.

Read the full Flintside story - bit.ly/4o7abCG

06/02/2026

Cartographer Alex B. Hill shares information about Flint's watersheds and the impressive work underway.

Read the full Flintside story - bit.ly/4d3wLIe

06/02/2026

In the third installment of Vehicle City Voices: Black Women of Flint, Amina Smith spoke with Dr. Tanya Upthegrove Gregory, who reflects on learning, growth, and helping Flint bloom again.

“When I think about my role at the Ruth Mott Foundation, it is always really to help people think about learning as an invitation to grow instead of a forced mandate.” - Dr. Upthegrove Gregory

Dr. Tanya Upthegrove Gregory reflects on learning, growth, and helping Flint bloom again.

06/02/2026

This is the first of Flintside’s Mayoral Race Interview series. In June and July, Flintside will host conversations with the 4 candidates running for Flint mayor.

We’ll talk about local politics, ask what they love about Flint, how they’ll improve the city, and get to know each candidate and a bit of their story.

Our first is with Micaiah Owens.

✍🏼: Jalen Garrison

Meet the candidates seeking to lead Flint and learn where they stand on key city issues.