FLINT, Michigan—Flint Public Art Project is bringing the third of this summer’s four neighborhood art parades to Civic Park on July 25 offering the neighborhood a chance to enjoy some music, games, art, unity, and a half-mile trek. 

The event starts at 5 p.m. with a gathering at the Civic Park Centennial Pavilion, located just across the street from Joy Tabernacle Church. Marchers will receive a blank flag to decorate with their own individual identifiers, celebrating self-representation. Each individually decorated flag will be showcased within the actual, which will be led by a local drumline team. 

“There’s so many strong voices out there that overpower the community members,” said  Joseph Schipani, executive director of the Flint Public Art Project. “And some of them feel like they don’t have a voice...this is just one way for them to represent and have a voice.” 

There will also be a resource fair at Centennial Pavilion featuring United Way, Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County, Elga Bank, and Consumers Energy as well as Detroit DJ Brenda Lopez. 

Attendees will also be able to see the recently completed mural at Joy Tabernacle, part of the Flint Public Art Project initiative to create 100 Flint murals by fall 2020. 

Related Story: Bringing down walls through murals: Flint painting highlights truth, racial healing

The art parade is made possible through a partnership with Walmart and Michigan State Police. Schipani hopes this event will help acquaint people with some unfamiliar spaces in Civic Park. The art parade serves as a display of unity that brings people from all walks of life together, he said. 

The final neighborhood art parade is set for 5 to 8 p.m. August 29 at the Latinx Tech Center.

For more information, visit the Facebook Event page. https://www.facebook.com/events/352961858672694/