Real Stories, Real People: Flintside relaunches its ‘On the Ground’ series

FLINT, Michigan — Flintside has officially launched its ‘On the Ground‘ series. Unlike in prior years, the series will develop over the next two years, including downtown Flint and its surrounding areas. The ‘On the Ground’ series amplifies community voices, increases civic engagement, and brings greater visibility to neighborhood change-makers and local efforts through news articles, photography, listening sessions, and attending neighborhood meetings and events.

‘On the Ground’ highlights residents leading improvements and driving transformation at the grassroots level. Flintside will center stories of entrepreneurship, youth voices, lived experience, blight reduction, local events, and neighborhood revitalization through this initiative.

The series strongly emphasizes uplifting, authentic, community-led narratives that often go underreported or unseen in mainstream coverage. In addition to producing articles and visual stories, Flintside’s editorial team will actively reengage with the Civic Park, Ballenger Highway, Brownell-Holmes, Eastside Franklin Park, and Sarvis Park neighborhoods.

Flintside members will attend community events, participate in public forums, and host listening sessions where residents can share their concerns, ideas, and priorities for news coverage.

Each story within the series will serve as an entry point for larger conversations about growth, resilience, and equity in Flint. The coverage will include profiles of community leaders, small business owners, youth initiatives, beautification projects, and civic efforts.

Managing Editor Tia Scott and Project Editor Xzavier V. Simon will lead the editorial direction of the series. Together, they bring deep familiarity with Flint’s neighborhoods and experience in community-centered journalism. Anthony Summers and Bryce Mata will contribute to the series, whose articles and photography will add depth, character, and context to the featured stories.

This hyperlocal journalism initiative is supported by the Ruth Mott Foundation, whose support of this series reflects its broader mission of empowering Flint residents and supporting neighborhood-based initiatives.

The foundation’s investment enables Flintside to expand its capacity for consistent, dedicated coverage of Flint, reinforcing the role of local journalism as a partner in community progress.

Similarly, this initiative continues Flintside’s core mission and is an evolution in how neighborhood-centered journalism can operate. ‘On the Ground’ will serve as a platform for reflection, inspiration, and dialogue through intentional engagement, immersive reporting, and collaboration with residents.

Readers can expect to see regular features that include:

• In-depth profiles of residents making a difference in their neighborhoods.
• Updates on community clean-up and beautification efforts.
• Stories that amplify youth perspectives and creative projects.
• Business spotlights focused on local entrepreneurship and growth.
• Coverage of events, forums, and civic discussions across Flint.
• Visual storytelling that captures the spirit and daily life of Flint’s neighborhoods.

Throughout the project, ‘On the Ground’ will explore the issues most relevant to Flint residents while highlighting the creative solutions and efforts that those living there have led.

The series encourages local participation in the storytelling process through listening sessions, aiming to foster stronger connections between journalists and the community. From proposing story ideas to contributing personal perspectives, these sessions will help shape future ‘On the Ground’ coverage.

As the series unfolds over the next two years, Flintside invites all Flint residents to participate by reading, sharing, contributing, and helping guide the storytelling journey from the ground up. The publication is committed to making this series a living, evolving collaboration with the neighborhoods it covers.

Learn more and follow the series as we publish stories weekly. To share a story idea or get involved, email Project Editor Xzavier V. Simon at: xzavier@flintside.com.