7th Ward Solidarity Walk
We departed from the lawn in front of Flint's City Hall at 2 PM on Sunday, June 9th, and concluded at the Imagine Flint Project Studio by 5:30 PM. In between, we visited several neighborhoods, including Downtown Flint, Fairfield Village, Southside, the College Cultural Neighborhood, and the Eastside. We went off-route several times, notably visiting Thread Lake park with Southside resident Barbara Griffith-Wilson. We also attended a party at the College Cultural Mini-Station, where residents talked about their neighborhood and why they love it. At the conclusion of the event we presented our written reflections to the master planning team.
Event Participants: Shawntae Harris, Steve Mintline, Andrew Morton, Barbara Griffith-Wilson, Sandra Robinson, as well as members of the College Cultural Neighborhood Association, and the City of Flint Master Planning Team
Supplemental Content: Desiree Duell designed a map for this event. (Click for larger view.)
Written reflections:
What do you feel connected to?
- I feel connected to my wife, daughter, and family. To the wind, things I can smell, things I can hear, things I can sense. My heart beat. The sky
- I feel most connected to the people and relationships I find important to me, especially the friends I have here in Flint. I also feel connected to Flint, especially the 7th Ward, given that the city has shaped me into who I am today.
- Most connected to... family, friends, job, neighborhood, history (of ...king), arts and writing, university
- I connect to my bed
- Things I feel connected to: I feel connected to my friends and family, Downtown Flint, the University of Michigan – Flint, and both of my jobs.
What do you feel connected to in Flint?
- In Flint I feel connected to whatever music I hear. Jazzfest. Blues on the lawn, the thumping bass of someone's car, the FSO, church singing, whatever. I hear it and I think, “I am in a community.”
- I connect most to people in Flint, and my neighborhood. Our people are our greatest resource and are an absolutely ... group. The College Cultural neighborhood has been here for 27 years and I'm certain where I go, I will hold the values. I have learned them close.
- Connect to in Flint? Friends / family, pride in this place, history of innovation, change, justice, creative community
- In Flint, I connect to the river
- Things I connect with in Flint: There are a lot of things I connect with in Flint. I am very attached to this city, in particular the downtown area. The cultural center is one of my favorite places in Flint. I also connect with Stepping Stone falls. I've spent a lot of time there writing, walking or even just sitting. I feel very connected to the University as well. My job at REACH Runaway Shelter is just outside of downtown and I've become very attached to it in a short amount of time.
What was something extraordinary you discovered on this walk, that you did not know about before?
- Today I saw: A beautiful but wild spot on Thread Lake, which could grow into a nature park. Clean up a lovely part of the city. School groups could go there.
- What was something extraordinary I noticed today. I noticed the amazing potential for Thread Lake Park to be turned into something special. I'd been to that area before but only had seen it as somewhere people come to dump trash, but it really could become a great place to enjoy.
- Extraordinary on the walk? We don't have to reinvent the wheel. Just figure out who is already out there, doing work, making things happen, and empower them to do more.
- Thread Lake was amazing.
- I had never seen Thread Lake before today, so that was a new experience for me. Also walking down Dort Highway and seeing all the closed business and abandoned buildings up close was very eye opening in a way I hadn't experienced just driving through. It was pretty depressing.
