FLINT, Michigan — Since 2016, a monumental development has emerged from the Urban Renaissance Center (URC) in the Civic Park neighborhood where Flintside first began its ‘On The Ground’ series in 2019. The center has undergone significant renovations, including a green room, a podcast studio, and a recording studio.

Further enhancements include an event space and a full-service commercial kitchen in the basement. The center also integrated a hoop house for cultivating fruits and vegetables.

Founder and pastor Robert McCarthern of the URC presented the updated facility and disclosed upcoming projects. Notably, the Urban Renaissance Center, a faith-based nonprofit initiated by the Joy Tabernacle Church, aims to deliver social and community development services tailored to address the pressing needs within the Civic Park community.

“Many of us are locked into Flint, and Flint hasn’t seen beyond itself,” explains Pastor McCarthern. “Flint needs to embrace the world and particularly embrace their African culture. And we believe this will reduce violence. It will bring back that pride to neighborhoods. That village concept that I was raised in will be re-established.”

The Urban Renaissance Center members and local artists sit together in the podcast room on Aug. 8, 2024. (Jerimiah Whitehead | Flintside.com)The URC embodies the African philosophy of Ubuntu which emphasizes interconnectedness and mutual reliance.

“The Ubuntu philosophy is to walk past a person and recognize their humanity,” says Pastor McCathern. “It is because when I acknowledge their humanity, it makes me more human. When I detach from their humanity, I’m isolated. We’re no longer humanity. We’re just human, eloquently.” 

This ethos is evident in the way Trip, a recording artist, underlines the significance of making decisions that consider the well-being of others. His collaboration with the center reflects a shared vision for transformative change within the community.

“If I make a decision, I want to make sure the decision will help him, him, and him,” says Trip, pointing to other gentlemen around the room. “I don’t want to make a decision that will only help me and put everybody else in a bind. That’s why I’m on board with the pastor or everybody here with URC. I see the vision and what can be done, and it will only take a little time.”

The URC brought the Unbuntu concept into their community, and as a result, Michigan State University’s African American Social Department is collaborating with the center on an innovative project. The URC is aligning the old meat market on DuPont St. and Dayton Ave. corner into the Ubuntu Institute of Thought and Practice, hosting Michigan State University as an anchor tenant.

Impressively molded with aluminum foil stand pieces from their safari display on Aug. 8, 2024. (Jerimiah Whitehead | Flintside.com)The URC will also introduce the Igloo, an advanced virtual reality space designed to provide visitors with an immersive experience that makes them feel like they are actually in Africa. In October, team members will travel to Zimbabwe to collaborate with an agency there. The goal is to execute the proposed plan to create a fully immersive safari experience in Flint.

The Igloo will have an area where sculpted animals are significantly close to the actual size of the depicted animal. Amazingly, each sculpture is molded with aluminum foil by MT, an artist for over five decades who molded and painted each animal featured in their mobile safari and the Igloo.

The URC is currently engaging with young people with artistic abilities such as acting, news reporting, and musical gifts. This can be seen through their V2xV Studio, designed for sound recording, mixing, and audio and visual production.

Pictured on Aug. 8, 2024, is an alligator sculpted by "MT," a Flint-based artist. (Jerimiah Whitehead | Flintside.com) V2xV also offers opportunities for training and continued development of local talent in recording and engineering. In addition, the URC partnered with Bang Town Productions to offer a studio on-the-go summer boot camp experience.

The Urban Renaissance Center invites people all over Flint to utilize their facility. Those with projects solely for the community can use all equipment and services free of charge. For private usage, inquire within for reasonable pricing.

“There was a village in our community, and so we’re recreating that village,” said Pastor McCarthern.

Please visit their website for updates and contact information. Stay in the know by following them on Facebook and Instagram.