FLINT, Michigan—Local government representatives, organizational officials, Flint residents, and panelists featured in On the Ground coverage came together Saturday, Jan. 25 to discuss what the coverage over the centennial celebration meant to them and how no matter what, the historic neighborhood plans to work toward the future.

External dumping, demolitions, and community respect were major topics of discussion of the panel with Inez Round-tree Taylor—featured for despite being in her 80’s, she tirelessly works to assist her neighbors—expressing her rallying call for community beautification.

“My concern is about the blight and the neighbors cleaning up their own blight and the houses being torn down,” said Taylor.

Watch below to view the panel in full:
 

Hidden Park adopter Linn Aikens also echoed Taylor’s concern in regard to park cleanups. Though she recalled administering door-to-door warnings that helped to keep the Hidden Park clear of dumping from nearby neighbors. It was a possible breach of her safety but she was determined to not be afraid in her own neighborhood, said Aikens.

“I’ve been here all my life,” said Aikens. “I am not going to be scared of my neighborhood.”

In the open question and answer portion of the panel, audience members were able to respond with their own experiences of blight, solutions, and community-building.

“I’m hoping we can continue, with the help of Flintside and all the other help in the community to move this community forward,” said Councilman Maurice Davis. “We got a lot of challenges. We’re not there. But I’m hoping this here panel discussion today will start leading us in the direction we need to go.”
In the open question and answer portion of the panel, audience members were able to respond with their own experiences of blight, solutions, and community-building.

The panel is just one part of the of Flintside’s engagement of Civic Park neighborhood for the long term. During our six-month coverage, we began our journalism fellowship program where four residents worked on story projects based on their lived Civic Park experiences.

Related story: Flintside Launches Journalism Fellowship

Next month, Flintside will be releasing printed and digital copies of our Civic Park On the Ground coverage, one of which will be given to the Flint Public Library.

Moving forward we encourage those four contributors to continue writing and telling the story of Civic Park for our Flintside readers long after the book is in distribution.