Content note: This episode includes discussion of gun violence, homicide, and the loss of loved ones, including children, which may be distressing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of Philanthropy Speaks, we mark Gun Violence Awareness Month with a candid conversation about community safety in Flint and Genesee County. Host Moses Bingham, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, sits down with Dr. Kenyetta Dotson a...

What started with a handful of land banks you could count on one hand has grown into more than 350 across the country, reshaping neighborhoods and restoring communities from the ground up. In this episode of Philanthropy Speaks, host and Community Foundation of Greater Flint President and CEO Dan Kildee talks with Brian Larkin, director of the National Land Bank Network at the Center for Community Progress, and Christina Kelly, director of community impact at the Genesee County Land Bank Auth...

What started as a patch of lawn outside Davison High School has grown into a thriving outdoor classroom complete with a native pollinator garden, food garden, greenhouse, and small orchard, transforming how students connect with the natural world. In this Earth Day episode of Philanthropy Speaks, host Jen Farrington talks with fine arts instructor Ryan Kelsey and environmental science teacher Pam Ruggiero about the student-led outdoor learning space they've built over four years at Davison Hi...

What started with a $2,000 gift in 1985 has grown into over a million dollar fund transforming the lives of women and girls in Flint and Genesee County. In this episode of Philanthropy Speaks, host Becky Pettengill talks with Probate Judge Ariana Heath and nonprofit leader Brandee Cooke Brown about their work on the Flint Women and Girls Fund Advisory Committee at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. From funding youth sports programs and creative arts initiatives like Amplify He...

What does civic health look like in action? It starts with neighbors who know each other, trust each other, and show up. In this episode of Philanthropy Speaks, host Damon Ross talks with Patrick McNeal, Director of the North Flint Neighborhood Action Council and leader of Civic Flint, about grassroots civic engagement in Flint and Genesee County. Patrick shares how Civic Saturdays brings blue-collar leaders together to build relationships, strengthen neighborhood leadership, and turn small m...

We’re back with a new season of Philanthropy Speaks! In this season-opening episode, host Lydia Starrs from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint looks back on 10 years of the Flint Kids Fund and what it has meant for Flint families since it was created after the water crisis. Lydia is joined by Dr. Mona Hanna, pediatrician, public health advocate, founding donor of the Flint Kids Fund, and founder of Rx Kids, along with Dan Kildee, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater...

Discover how young leaders are shaping the future of Genesee County in this episode of Philanthropy Speaks. Host Dan Kildee, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, talks with Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) members Milana Kia and Elijah Lynch about the power of youth leadership, youth-led grantmaking, and community involvement. Milana and Elijah share how participating in YAC helps high school students identify community needs, make data-informed funding decisions, and...

Content Warning: This episode discusses topics related to domestic violence and sexual assault, which may be distressing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of Philanthropy Speaks, host Chakara Wheeler, Program Officer at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, sits down with DeAndra Larkin, CEO of YWCA Greater Flint, to recognize Week Without Violence and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Together, they discuss how YWCA Greater Flint is creating spaces of ...

What does it look like when a community pantry feels more like a neighbor’s living room? In this episode of Philanthropy Speaks, co-hosts Jennifer Farrington, Senior Program Officer and Damon Ross, Program Officer at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint sit down with Nate Jonker, Treasurer of the Clio Area Human Services Fund, to explore how the organization in northern Genesee County is tackling food insecurity, rural poverty, and access to basic needs with a fresh approach. The f...

This episode of Philanthropy Speaks marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Host Lynn Williams, Director of Equity & Community Engagement, sits down with Jessica Dixon, Community Advocacy and Peer Specialist at the Disability Network, for a conversation about the disability experience, ableism, intersectionality, and inclusion. Jessica discusses how the Disability Network ...