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2 Commentary Will a cool spring give us a hot summer? By Paul Rozycki EastMagazine Village After a fairly mild winter, spring has been Gov. Brian Calley might give him a challenge. Vol. LV No. 6 June 2017 rather cool, gray, and rainy. However, But Calley’s ties to Gov. Snyder might be a for - what’s been true for the weather may not be midable barrier while the Founder Gary P. Custer true for this summer’s political outlook. remains a major issue. Dr. Jim Hines has also More than a few political issues offer the formally announced his candidacy. Among Editor Jan Worth-Nelson prospect of being very hot. others who are also mentioned as possible Managing Editor Meghan Christian Republican candidates are Secretary Copy Editor Danielle Ward On the national level of State Ruth Johnson, former U.S. Rep. Reporters Nic Custer Candice Miller, and state Sen. Colbeck. Harold C. Ford On the national scene, President Trump’s While most analysts give Whitmer and Aubrey McClain Megan Ockert firing of FBI director James Comey, growing Schuette the inside track to the nomination, Columnists Jan Worth-Nelson rumors of a possible Russian involvement in it’s worth remembering that recent years Teddy Robertson the 2016 campaign, and the apparent release of have been very good for outside challengers. Paul Rozycki classified information to Russian diplomats, The victories of Barack Obama in 2008, Business Manager Casey Custer have led to demands for special prosecutors, in 2010, and Donald Trump in Éminence Grise Ted Nelson congressional investigations, and even 2016, have shown that voters are more than Photographer Edwin D. Custer impeachment threats — all in the first four willing to turn from the obvious frontrunners Poet Grayce Scholt months of the Trump and pick an unlikely nominee. administration. We will Distribution Staff see if President Trump’s Hot water for Flint? Director: Edwin D. Custer. Staff: Kim Bargy, Jane visits to Saudi Arabia, Bingham, Helen & Jacob Blumner, Connor Coyne & Ruby Coyne, Casey & Nic Custer, Emma Davis, Israel, and Rome But the hottest part of the political sum - Emily Doerr, Marabeth Foreman, Andrea Garrett, changed the picture now mer may be reserved for voters in Flint. Charlie & Linda & Patrick & Terrance & Christan that he’s back. Even after At the moment, it seems that Mayor Karen & Jillianne Goldsberry, Ingrid Halling & Bob Thomas, Robert Jewell, Andrew Keast, Carol shaking hands with the leaders of three of the Weaver’s decision to stay with the Great Lakes Larzelere Kellermann, Stephen Kellermann, Jo world’s major religions, all those investigations Water Authority (GLWA) is likely to be the Larzelere, Bill & Carol Leix, Mary LeRoy, Alan & and committees are still waiting for him. next step in resolving the Flint water crisis. But Julie Lynch, Aron Mccormick, Ron & Mary making that decision stick won’t be easy. Meeker, Robert & Nancy Meszko, Mary & Jeff Mintline, John Moliassa, Mike Neithercut, Ted Governor’s race in Michigan Several members of the city council, after Nelson, Edith & John Pendell, Dave & Becky reviewing the contract with GLWA, have Pettengill, Krystal Royer, Mike Spleet, and Karen On the state level, the election for governor expressed serious doubts about the wisdom of Wilkinson. is still a year and a half away and candidates are staying with water, instead of managing Board of Trustees lining up in both parties to replace the term-lim - our own system via the Karegnondi Pipeline. A • Jane M. Bingham • Edwin D. Custer ited Rick Snyder. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee’s deci - meeting to explain and discuss the issue last • Bella Kritz • Jack D. Minore sion to forgo the governor’s race and remain in month turned into a shouting match, resulting • Robert R. Thomas the U.S. House seems to leave field open to ex- in several arrests. Whatever the final decision, • Jan Worth-Nelson, ex officio state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer. However, with it won’t be stress-free and it could get very hot. 720 E. Second St. Kildee out of the guber - One of the highlights of Mayor Weaver’s Flint, Mich. 48503 natorial contest, trial attor - administration has been the “Fast Start” pro - (810) 233-7459 neys Geoffrey Fieger and gram where some 18,000 homes are expected Web Site: eastvillagemagazine.org Mark Bernstein might to have their lead pipes E-mail: [email protected] emerge as serious com - replaced in the next three Layout by Ted Nelson. Printing by Riegle Press petitors. In addition, busi - years. One problem has Inc., 1282 N. Gale Rd., Davison, Mich. 48423. The East Village Magazine is a program of the nessman Shri Thanedar, emerged. About 22 per - Village Information Center Inc., a nonprofit corpo - Detroit Health Director Abdul El-Sayed, Xerox cent of the homes sched - ration. We welcome material from readers, but all sub - executive Bill Cobbs, and Kentiel White, health uled for new pipes already missions become the property of the publication and if care worker, are also in the running for the have copper pipes and published will be edited to conform to the editorial style and policies of the publication. All inquiries about the Democratic nomination. don’t need replacement. The city records are so publication should be mailed to East Village Magazine , For the Republicans, two names are leading old and inaccurate that contractors can’t be sure Village Information Cen ter, 720 E. Second St., Flint, the pack. Attorney General Bill Schuette has where they need to replace the old lead and gal - Mich. 48503. Distribution is the second Saturday of each month. Display advertising rates are $34 a col - long been considered the most likely nominee. vanized pipes and where they don’t. umn-inch plus any other costs. Unclassified ads are Even without a formal declaration, he has been Recent lawsuits have raised questions about $2.50 a printed line or part of a printed line. Rates sub - running for governor for much of his career. Lt. (Continued on Page 11.) ject to change without notice. The deadline for adver - tising is 10 days before each pub li cation date. © 2017 East Village Magazine Cover: Empty Bowls fundraiser workshop for Eastern Michigan Food Bank

3 Photograph by Edwin D. Custer

Photo of the Month: Good place to start over Water woes worsened by politics: KWA Chief By Jan Worth-Nelson Attempting to explain the city’s probable Under the proposal, Flint will sign a 30- events surrounding it. For many years, Flint move to stay on “Detroit water” for the next 30 year contract with the GLWA, with KWA as received Lake Huron water supplied out of years, Genesee County Drain Commissioner the “emergency backup source.” The Detroit — formerly the Detroit Water and Jeff Wright, who also is CEO of the GLWA will have access to the raw untreat - Sewage Department (DWSD), reorganized Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA), said ed water from the KWA but can only resell and renamed a year ago as the GLWA. what might once have been options for the city it within the city limits, he said. However, Flint was paying the highest rates in have been made less viable by “emotional Crucial to the agreement is a compli - the system, based in part on a rate structure damage” and politics. cated financial arrangement through determined by its distance from the source. Wright offered his views at the May which the GLWA will pick up a $7 mil - Before the arrival of the city’s emergency meeting of the College Cultural lion/year bond payment to the KWA that managers, in 2010, former Mayor Dayne Neighborhood Association. had been part of an original agreement Walling and others first convened the KWA. He was there to review the proposal to with the city and the KWA. In succeeding years, a move to build the keep Flint on water from the Great Lakes As Wright put it, “If this comes to pipeline was deemed by Rowe Engineering Water Authority (GLWA), a hotly contested fruition, basically the contracts between to be the least expensive option for Flint’s plan that means the Karegnondi Pipeline will the county and the city will be something water supply, when compared to continuing play a much reduced role in supplying water of history; all contracts with the city from with Detroit or refurbishing Flint’s water to the city, although in a partnership with its now on will be with the GLWA.” treatment plant. The pipeline was scheduled former competitor — the GLWA. In the face of numerous questions from to be completed this year. Residents can submit questions and residents about the effect of the GLWA pro - “The whole concept of the KWA,” comments about the proposals via email posal on individual water rates, Wright said Wright said, “was that you guys [Flint res - at [email protected]. he did not know how to answer, with many idents] were being taken advantage of and Wright’s full PowerPoint presentation factors still in the works. we were going to give you an alternative.” is available at karegnondi.com. One exasperated resident, hardware store He said he had always tried to act in sup - Flint Mayor recently owner Sally Kagerer, noting that she believes port of the city’s self-determination. extended the review time for the proposal to access to water will increasingly be “precious,” “When Flint jointed the KWA, the state June 12, at which point the Flint City Council asserted, “Detroit will control us from here on tried to get me to accept a contract that was is scheduled to vote. in — whatever they say goes. We have no con - only signed by the State of Michigan,” Discussions about the plan have been trol over our rates or our economic future.” Wright said. “I stood up and said this is not contentious, with one town hall on the sub - Use of the Karegnondi pipeline had been in happening until the city council votes up or ject resulting in rancorous interchanges from the works for years before the water crisis hit, down on joining this.” the residents and six arrests. and played a role in the complicated series of (Continued on Page 5.) 4 Wright said the Flint water treatment explained, the city and KWA authorities had ... Water plant, which had been planned as a key part envisioned a partnership between Flint and (Continued from Page 4.) of the city’s move to the KWA pipeline, is the rural counties east of the city. He noted “That is still my position,” he said. “It’s up to capable of treating not only lake water — as Sanilac County, already one of the partners the people of Flint, the Flint city council and had been expected using the KWA pipeline in the KWA, is the largest agricultural coun - administration, what they say, going forward. If — but even river water. Noting that 68 per - ty in the state — number two in asparagus they decide to stay with the KWA, fine. If not, I cent of all water served to people in the and number three in cranberries, he said. have to be sure KWA is not negatively affected.” country comes from rivers, Wright said from He said at present those products are In 2013, the Flint city council, with the sup - a technical standpoint it can be done. grown and picked here, then shipped to port of former Mayor Dayne Walling and then- However, he said, the catch is “the emo - Texas for packaging and then shipped back emergency manager Ed Kurtz, voted to buy 16 tional damage in Flint has been too hard.” to be sold. Instead, KWA planners had million gallons a day from the 77-mile-long Further, he said he does not believe Flint is hoped to create a processing and packing project connecting the city to Lake Huron capable of treating its own water because of industry in Flint. He said agricultural pro - water. The idea was that Flint would have more personnel issues — getting qualified staff in duction uses raw, untreated water and thus control over its water supply and save money. place. The day of his presentation, JoLisa would not need a processing plant. Within two weeks after that decision, how - McDay, the city’s water treatment plant man - ever, as is well known to students of the crisis, ager, had resigned. He noted the city pays 30- EVM Editor Jan Worth-Nelson can be Wright explained how Detroit notified the city 40 percent below the going rate for such posi - reached at [email protected]. that it would be taken off the DWSD within 12 tions, so could not get the high caliber of people months. Since the KWA pipeline wasn’t yet needed. “Couple that with the fact that Flint ready, state officials running the city opted to will be under the microscope for the next sev - use the Flint River as an interim supply source eral years by the EPA, the DEQ, the nonprofits, Pipes replaced so far in Flint: and resurrect Flint’s dormant water treatment the professors, the universities — the people 1,139 plant, which had not been used for 50 years. who do have the licenses to operate a facility Source: May 23 press release, City of Flint Thus began the city’s water troubles. like that are going to be leery,” he said. [Dayne Walling, in a recent interview with Asked if there was a way the county and Lead-tainted service lines at 253 Easr Village Magazine , stated that he and the city might work together for an arrangement homes have been replaced so far in Flint city council of the time had never consid - that would replace the GLWA proposal — for Phase 4 of the city’s FAST Start pro - ered using the Flint River as an interim water example, to expand use of the county water gram, which aims to replace pipes at source — that option, he asserted, was made by treatment facility to accommodate Flint’s 6,000 homes in 2017. That brings the the state.] needs and bring in money through the KWA total of residential pipe replacements Although he said everybody benefits pipeline — Wright said, “the parochialism and so far to 1,139. from the so-called “Grand Bargain” to politics between the county and the city are Mayor Karen Weaver said she hopes to resolve the city’s water source supply such that it would never happen.” have all of Flint’s lead-tainted service lines needs, Wright added since he was present - He said county officials likely would see — nearly 20,000 — replaced by 2020. ed with the proposal at a meeting in March, themselves as unfairly bailing out the city, Although the water quality has his job has been exclusively to make sure and city representatives would see the coun - been declared improved, residents still the KWA and Genesee County were not ty as compromising city control. are urged to drink only filtered water negatively affected. Before the water crisis hit, Wright and replace filters when needed.

“It’s an honor to be selected as a Andrew Custer awarded Fulbright Fulbright Fellow,” Custer said. “I am told it By Jan Worth-Nelson is a life-altering experience.” Andrew Custer, 27, a Universidad Escuela de Aministraticion de Custer studied Spanish at Michigan State, Michigan State University Negocios — a school of business adminis - taught English to international students, and has graduate from Flint, has tration — according to the official announce - traveled to Peru, where he also taught English. received a Fulbright U.S. ment from the Fulbright program. He says learning a second language has had Student Program award to In addition, Custer, who has been teaching numerous benefits, professionally and personally. Colombia from the U.S. secondary ESL in Houston for the past two “Spanish allows me to see or explain the Department of State and years and speaks fluent Spanish, said he expects world in a different way,” he said. “Language the J. William Fulbright to be engaged in the community and to bring shapes the way I think, and having this second Foreign Scholarship “mutual understanding between our cultures.” language takes away some limits. It allows me Andrew Custer Board. He said his decision to apply to to be more creative. And it sounds cool.” Custer, a graduate of The Valley School, Colombia specifically had something to do Custer is one of more than 1,900 U.S. citi - is the nephew of EVM’s late founder and with being from Flint. zens who will conduct research, teach English publisher Gary Custer and son of Casey and “I chose Colombia for work in the first and provide expertise abroad in the 2017- Edwin Custer, EVM’s longtime photogra - place because the majority of what is known 2018 year through the Fulbright program, pher and distribution director. of the country by foreigners is negative according to a Fulbright press release. He will be in Colombia from July 2017 to stereotypes. Flint often gets painted a certain May 2018 as part of a program to support the way as well. I want to learn about the place to EVM Editor Jan Worth-Nelson can be teaching of English as a lecturer at La get a more accurate picture,” he said. reached at [email protected]. 5 Glory days in rearview mirror for Flint high school sports By Harold C. Ford Loss of population: New administration lays plans for resurrection At the top of nearly everyone’s list is a loss of population. A city that once bustled with a Ed. note: space limitations mean that population of 200,000 has fallen below100,000. much of this story could not appear in the Economic stress, crime, the water crisis, and EVM hard copy. Thus, what you read here other forces are likely to extend Flint’s depopu - are excerpts. For the whole analysis, lation trend into the future. please go to eastvillagemagazine.org. Loss of students led to the closures of Flint Central in 2009 and Flint Northern in 2014. Decades of Flint high school athletic According to Tawwab, Flint school officials excellence was branded into the nation’s plan to consolidate and move all high school sports persona when four “Flintstones” led students to a single campus at the old Flint Michigan State University’s basketball pro - Central site by the year 2020. Flint Schools’ gram to national prominence, culminating student population, which peaked at nearly in a collegiate championship in 2000. Bilal Tawwab 47,000 in 1970, has now fallen to about 5,000. Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, Charlie Duncan Beagle, Judge of the Genesee “Yes, absolutely,” was the response of Bell, and Antonio Smith were, among other County Circuit Court; Jamie Foster, newly- Flint Athletic Director Jamie Foster to the things, the products of a Flint public school sys - appointed Flint Schools athletic director; notion that immeasurable athletic talent tem that embraced its student athletes, as if Norm Bryant, principal founder of the was moving to the suburbs. “Right now family, from elementary to high school. Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame; we just want to work with what we have. Dramatic changes are in the air: Flint Courtney Hawkins, Beecher Schools athletic It’d be nice not to lose any more. We officials have already announced that the director; Mike Maienbrook, director of com - would like to stop the hemorrhaging,” he athletic programs at Northwestern and munity athletics, Flint Schools; Mike said. Southwestern will be combined for the Williams, Flint teacher, Beecher boys basket - 2017-2018 school year. Jamie Foster, ball coach; and John McGarry, Atwood Poverty and its effects: newly appointed Flint Schools athletic Stadium director and United Way Youth director, said, “Now we’re working our Recreation Initiative. Norm Bryant, who starred in football and way down to one high school. We’re two For full accounts of these interviews, track at Flint Northern in the late 1950s, is con - high schools right now with one athletic please go to eastvillagemagazine.org. program.” As a result, Flint Schools will Here are some excerpts: have a pick of the best facilities at their From 1930 to 1995, Flint’s four public high two campuses, plus Atwood Stadium. schools — Northern, Central, Southwestern, Varsity track and field and football contests and Northwestern — produced athletic teams are likely to be held at the “North Campus” that captured 47 state championships. (Northwestern) while softball and baseball are Northern bested all area schools with 29 state likely to be held at the “South Campus” championship teams; Central won 7, (Southwestern). The baseball field has already Southwestern 6, Northwestern 5. been renovated, according to Foster. Sixty-five years, forty-seven team Flint Schools, with substantial input from championships for Flint public high students, has already chosen their new mas - schools. In the past 22 years since 1995, cot (Jaguars) and school colors (teal and the tally is zero. black). Those choices will be announced to The steady decline of Flint high school the public at the June 7 meeting of the Flint sports may have reached its lowest point Norm Bryant Board of Education. when the Northwestern girls basketball But whatever happens in the years to come, team was disbanded this past February cerned about the flight to the suburbs. “A lot of Flint’s glory days in high school sports appear partway through their 2016-2017 season. people couldn’t afford to leave the city … and to be clearly in the rearview mirror. This once-proud program that won three then what’s left?” he mused. “People can’t This article, based on extensive research MHSAA championships in 1983, 1984 leave; some of these, not all of them now, but and interviews with eight area sports afi - and 1995, was winless before disbanding. some of the people … they could care (less) cionados and school officials, aims to exam - They dropped games by scores of 77-13 whether their kid went to school or not,” he ine why. Further, with our sources EVM to Davison, 70-19 to Bay City Western, said. “You’ve still got people with interest in examined whether plans are under way to and 63-6 to Hamady. The girls’ basketball their kids but some of them just don’t care.” restore the viability and competitiveness of team at Flint Southwestern fared little bet - The 2016 report of the Michigan Civil the Flint public school athletic programs. ter as it finished with a winless record in Rights Commission about the Flint water cri - Interviews included conversations with the Saginaw Valley League South. sis asserted Flint residents “have been subject - Bilal Tawwab, Flint Schools superintendent; Among the reasons for the decline: (Continued on Page 7.)

6 recently upgraded football field. In 2013, parent households) is you’re all in it together ... Glory Beecher voters approved a $2.2 million bond and you’re all family,” he observed. “In many (Continued from Page 6.) proposal that funneled about half that amount urban communities there’s been such a break - ed to unprecedented harm and hardship, much for the new track and football field upgrade. of it caused by structural and systemic racism Hawkins is still waiting for that spike. that have corroded your city, your institutions, and your water pipes for generations.” Coaches: “Among those conditions were ‘redlin - ing’ practices in real estate and housing over Where are the modern-day versions of Bill decades that led to spirals of white flight and Frieder, Dorothy Kukulka, Leteia Hughley, barriers to black home ownership, employ - Norbert Badar, Stan Gooch, and Grover ment discrimination against blacks, the loss Cleveland who coached Flint high school ath - of revenue sharing, depletion of local letes to dozens of state championships? Most resources and a shrinking tax base due to fingers point in the direction of Beecher’s industry departures, the decline of neighbor - Hawkins and Williams when those in the know hood schools, and a consequent neglect over now look for the gold standard in Flint-area time of basic infrastructure.” coaches. Hawkins has led his Beecher football Thus, it’s not a stretch to conclude that the team to the MHSAA playoffs 10 of 12 years. same destructive forces that led to Flint’s water Williams has guided the Beecher boys basket - crisis have adversely impacted its school sys - ball team to the MHSAA Class C state cham - tem, including its athletic programs. pionship five of the last six years. In the Flint Judge Duncan Beagle area, Beecher’s 23 state championships is sec - Poverty and academics: ond only to Flint Northern. down in the family unit and I see it.” He is As a former high school official who was frustrated by the parade of absentee fathers Flint’s Foster plans to ramp up academic awarded the Jim Massar Service Award in and overburdened single-parent mothers in assistance for his Flint athletes with tutoring 1996 for “strong dedication,” Beagle knows his courtroom. “Some of them are outstanding and study tables. Beecher’s Hawkins agrees a good coach when he sees one. “Courtney mothers, but they’ve got so much on their with the interconnectedness of athletics and Hawkins knows what’s going on,” he assert - plate … that sometimes getting their kids to academics. “I view sports as the biggest carrot ed. “Beecher, until Courtney Hawkins practice or to sports is not a top priority.” in Beecher to get them to graduate,” he said. “I arrived, was not exactly a football power. know it should be academics first … (but) if When Courtney Hawkins arrived with his Distractions/Inhibitors: getting you to play on our team will get you to background — NFL, Beecher guy — it was do better in school, which gets you to walk almost like he was ‘God’ coming into this Finally, a potpourri of factors that distract across that stage, and take pictures with your community and he didn’t do that overnight, or inhibit youth participation in high school mom and dad after graduation, then so be it. but so many people believed in (him).” athletics resulted from EVM’s conversations Who cares the order? Let’s get it done.” Bryant agrees that coaching is critical. with local sports aficionados. They include Beecher boys basketball coach Mike “Coaching means a lot,” he said. “Back at the competition for students’ time including jobs, Williams agrees: “Kids want to be successful, time that Guy Houston coached at Northern, he scholarship program commitments, family they want to be disciplined, they want to be had blacks, he had Polish, he had Romanians, obligations, and church activities. Beyond taught the right things,” he asserted. “We want to Hungarians, but he put them all on the team. He that, many students are not inclined to devote send them out as better, not just as players, but was the type of coach that if he went up to you the necessary time and resources to being an young men. My philosophy is the basketball and if he thought hittin’ you up upside the head athlete even if they can. court is no different than life; you got your would get the most out of you, he’d do it. But In short, the glory years of Flint’s yester - boundaries; you get outside of your boundaries, if he thought doing that to you would turn you year and its attendant Flintstones sports per - there’s a penalty. You can get knocked down and off, he wouldn’t do it. He knew how to get to sona are not likely to return. Restoration of you gotta get up. Ultimately, you’re going to be each one of his players.” respectability, though, is a realistic possibility judged not by … all the wins and losses; you’re given sufficient resources, effective planning, going to be judged by how you play the game.” Family Dysfunction: and capable leadership. “We’re not going to be some powerhouse,” cautions Foster. “We Facilities: Judge Beagle believes the breakdown of should be a little more competitive.” the family unit causes lower rates of partici - Flint Schools Superintendent Bilal “Probably for Beecher and Flint, the pation in athletics. Beagle has served on the Tawwab said, “We’re paying close attention biggest thing I see that’s the difference in the bench for 25 years. He is currently one of five to … the quality of our athletics program. decline are facilities,” he told EVM . “We Family Court judges in Genesee County. He We’re going to be very strategic and really have a lot of people migrating to Grand Blanc also presides over three specialty courts — a pull together our talent. Athletics are impor - because they have the best facilities, or Drug Court for neglectful parents, an tant to providing a quality education to kids Flushing, or Davison, or Hamady; Hamady Attendance Court for severely truant students, so we’re going to make the changes we need just built a gym,” Williams says. and ADAPT Court to improve efficiency of to make now. Stay tuned.” Hawkins hopes for an enrollment spike increased number of paternity cases. from students who might be drawn to the “I think the reason you’re more effective EVM staff writer Harold C. Ford can be newest track in Genesee County and the most out in Beecher (despite poverty and single- reached at [email protected]. 7 Flint Pride celebrates history, struggles of LGBTQ community By Meghan Christian

Since 2000, June has been recognized gave the LGBTQ community a place to as “Pride Month,” also National LGBTQ gather quietly together in peace. Most were History Month. In Flint, activists annual - still unable to be open with their sexual ori - ly join in the observance, both by offering entations, but the beginnings of safe spaces a hometown event and by reflecting on were monumental to the Flint LGBTQ the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and community, Retzloff said. transgender life here and nationally. But it took until 1975 for the first LGBTQ The Flint Pride festival will be held organization to be established in Flint. The from 2-8 p.m. Saturday, June 24 in organization was called Dignity and it was Riverbank Park. This seventh annual cele - established for gay Catholics, Retzloff said. bration, coordinated by the Flint Wellness While the group was not exclusive to men, Services, will include live music, food, the majority were men. A few years later in merchandise booths, children’s activities 1978, Moonrise was established, the first and educational information. Photo by Betty Leonard lesbian organization in Flint. A word about the acronyms. Local Melva Earhart and patrons at The State Bar, late 1950s During the 1980s, Redeemer Metropolitan activists note that what seems like an Community Church, originally on “alphabet soup” is continually changing as Thirteen were arrested and many hospitalized. Chevrolet near Welch, offered outreach and society’s understanding of gender identity While raids on establishments catering to services to the LGBTQ community. It is now evolves. Genevieve Field, part of the Equality LGBTQ people were not uncommon, resistance meeting again at the Unitarian Universalist Caucus of Flint, for example, said the added like that was, Retzloff said. Stonewall helped church on Ballenger, Retzloff said. “Q” refers to “queer” for some people and make the struggles of the LGBTQ community In the 1970s and 1980s, while Flint’s net - “questioning” for others. Some have recently visible, when it had been hidden. While Stonewall work of support for the city’s LGBTQ com - added an “A” to the acronym for “allies” or was one of the first events to put issues around the munity grew, there still were no laws passed “asexual.” Some, like Wellness, call for put - LGBTQ community in the foreground, he added, protecting the LGBTQ community. Finally, ting a “+” at the end to indicate inclusivity. it was not the beginning of LGBTQ life in in 1991, the city council unanimously passed Some, Field said, advocate using the word America and certainly not in Flint. a non-discrimination ordinance. “queer” to include all members of the commu - Retzloff has been studying the Flint The State Bar moved to its Dort Highway nity, because, as she put it, “it is a word, not an LGBTQ community since he attended UM- location in 1968 and closed in 2013. Earhart acronym,” and as a way to positively co-opt Flint in the 90s — where he was the co-edi - died in 1985, and her longtime partner, what was formerly a slur. For this story, EVM tor of The Michigan Times . After graduating Betty Leonard, died in 2013. has opted to use “LGBTQ” throughout. from Michigan State, he received his Ph.D. “Our contemporary LGBTQ world did not Organizers say Flint Pride is an occasion in history from Yale. spring out of nowhere,” Retzloff said. “It has a for the LGBTQ community to celebrate one In his research, Retzloff examined old history and it’s important to know that history another, to take a stand against violence and court cases, the earliest from 1938. Those because it’s important to know the kinds and discrimination and to honor the sacrifices court cases offer a glimpse into the dis - degree of oppression that people endured. It is made by those in earlier times. crimination and violence leveled back also important to know that they did endure; Contemporary LGBTQ life in Flint has then against the gay community. that there was resilience, there was a sense of evolved greatly since the last century, and now “A guy was cruising Willson Park and community and fun. Just because it was forced offers many more opportunities for the LGBTQ was arrested … and there’s at least a police to be invisible doesn’t mean it wasn’t there.” community, such as the report and some court transcript available,” Mark Blake, a transgender teen from activism of the Equality Retzloff said. “The judge asked the guy if he Grand Blanc, attended Flint’s Pride festi - Caucus and hangouts like wanted [the judge] to order him castrated if val last year and said he not only had fun, the Pachyderm Bar. Less that would solve his problem.” but also gained a sense of belonging. known, according to Tim For many of these cases, the charges were “I attended Flint’s Pride last year around Retzloff, a former Flint res - gross indecency and sometimes sodomy. If this time, and I felt at home. The LGBTQA+ ident and scholar of found guilty, a man could spend up to five community came together and created a Photo by Rick Yuille LGBTQ life, is the history years in prison. If not prison, many were sent to huge safe zone for us to express ourselves Tim Retzloff of that community in Flint a psychiatrist because homosexuality was still and receive little to no judgement. People in the last century. considered a mental illness up until 1973, when always associate Flint with negative things, Pride festivals are held during June to com - it finally was removed from the Diagnostic and but that was amazing,” said Blake. memorate the Stonewall Rebellion — a series Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Many members of the LGBTQ commu - of riots that occurred on June 28 and 29, 1969, It wasn’t until the late 1940s that a more pos - nity say Pride festivals are a way for LGBTQ in New York City. During a police raid of the itive sense of LGBTQ life began to emerge. In people to challenge the view that there are Stonewall Inn, a gay bar packed that night with 1948, Melva Earhart, a lesbian, opened The only two kinds of gender identity, and to revelers, the patrons fought back. Over that State Bar on Union Street. It was one of the first show that all expressions of love, regardless night and the next, violence spilled out into the bars to serve both straight and gay patrons. The of gender, are real and valid. street and surrounding neighborhood. State Bar, and bars and clubs that followed, (Continued on Page 9.)

8 ... Pride (Continued from Page 8.) “We grow up believing that straight rela - tionships are ‘normal.’ Many people of the LGBTQ community will admit that they did - n’t know that they had the option to love or transition to the opposite sex,” Blake said. “Being a part of the LGBTQA+ com - munity is not abnormal, but people of our community often feel alone and like their relationship is invalid. Pride is the perfect opportunity to show people that they are not alone by showing your pride for who you are and coming together to celebrate our community.”

EVM Managing Editor Meghan Christian can be reached at [email protected]. EVM Editor Jan Worth-Nelson contributed to this report. She can be reached at jan - [email protected].

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9 HIS ONTH IN THE ILLAGE “This Month” is a new ETVM feature Mhighlighting a selection of interestiVng events available to our readers — begin - ning after our publication date of June 8. It is not an exhaustive list, rather a sampling of opportunities in the city. Discover 30+ Historic Vehicles 30+ historic cars tied to Flint & Genesee County. Includes Flint-made carriages & GM concept cars from 1895 to 1987. WHEN WHAT WHERE Friday, Saturday & Sunday Exhibit JUNE 9-11 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. * Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors 60+, Buick Gallery JUNE 16-18 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. $5 youth ages 2-11, and free for mem - 303 Walnut St. JUNE 23-25 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. bers and children under 1 year of age. Chamber Music Series The Flint School of the Performing Arts and the Flint Symphony Orchestra holding free concerts during June. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. followed by a reception. Seating is limited to 270, the capacity of the hall. Free parking off Crapo Street behind the FIM. Sponsors: Patricia Cumings Dort Fund and the David T. Dort Fund. More info: theFSPA.org or theFSO.org. WHEN WHAT WHERE FRIDAY , J UNE 9: 7 P.M. Strings and the Ravel String Quartet MacArthur Hall, FRIDAY , J UNE 16: 7 P.M. Strings and Winds, featuring Walton Façade Flint Institute of Music FRIDAY , J UNE 30: 7 P.M. Clarinet and String, featuring Mozart Clarinet Quintet 1120 E. Kearsely St.

Euchre Tournament WHERE WHEN WHAT St. George Orthodox Church, FRIDAY , J UNE 9: 6:30 P.M. Euchre Tourn. *Admission: $5 5191 Lennon Rd. Flint Area Multiple Myeloma Support Group Support group for survivors/caregivers to learn about latest news in management and treatment of multiple myeloma. WHAT WHEN WHERE Support Group McLaren Hospitality House, THURSDAY , J UNE 15: 6:30 P.M. *Admission: FREE G-3170 Beecher Rd. The Flint Community Players: “The House of Yes” By Wendy MacLeod, “The House of Yes” follows a dysfunctional family on Thanksgiving as their weekend is dis - rupted by not only a hurricane, but also an unexpected guest. This show is for mature audiences only. WHEN WHAT WHERE FRIDAY , J UNE 16: 7:30 P.M. Performance Flint Community Players, SUNDAY , J UNE 25: 2:30 P.M. *Admission: $10 2462 S. Ballenger Hwy. Jazznite — Enjoy a night of jazz performed by Pat Cronley and friends. WHEN WHAT WHERE THURSDAY , J UNE 22, 5:00 P.M. Performance *Admission: FREE White Horse Tav., 621 W. Court St. Movie under the Stars: “The Lego Batman Movie” This free, family friendly event is one in a summer-long series of movie showings. Each showing has a different movie and special events around each film like costume contests and petting zoos. The June 23rd event will have bounce houses and attendees are asked to wear their favorite superhero costume. WHEN WHAT WHERE FRIDAY , J UNE 23, 7:30 P.M. Movie (Movie begins at dusk) *Admission: FREE Flint City Hall Flint Pride Festival The 7th Annual Flint Pride Festival will be held in Riverbank Park. The event will feature vendors, entertainers, and more. This event is a positive stance against the violence and discrimination against the LGBTQ community and to help increase visibility and to build a sense of community. Allies of the LGBTQ community are also welcome to attend.

WHEN WHAT WHERE SATURDAY , J UNE 24, 2 –8 P.M. Festival *Admission: FREE ($5 suggested donation) Riverbank Park, downtown Neighborhood Art Parade The Flint Public Art Project continues their Neighborhood Art Parade. Partners and community organizations create neigh - borhood attractions out of under-appreciated sites. Local music, a free barbeque, and an actual parade through the streets. WHEN WHAT WHERE THURSDAY , J UNE 29, 5 - 8 P.M. Parade *Admission: FREE Kennedy Park, Mary St. and Saginaw St.

WHEN Red Cross Blood Drive WHERE WHAT Lamb of God Lutheran Church, THURSDAY , J UNE 29, N OON - 6 P.M. Blood Drive 2051 W. Maple Ave., Flint

10 signatures of registered voters within 60 days, a New managing editor ... Summer single election will follow. The incumbent (Continued from Page 3.) would be on the ballot, as well as anyone else for EVM the mayor’s payments to several major advi - who chose to run. Qualifying for the ballot sors and many have criticized her attempts to would require about 900 signatures on a peti - Meghan Christian, 23, replace Flint’s current Republic trash service tion. It could be a very long list of candidates of Davison has joined with the scandal-tainted Rizzo service. and the candidate with the most votes, not nec - East Village Magazine essarily a majority, would win. If there were ten as managing editor. Recall against Mayor Weaver candidates, someone with 11% of the vote Her responsibilities might be elected. If there were 20 candidates a will include generating All of that has led to a recall campaign 6% vote might win the election. You get the story ideas and coordi - against the mayor. Begun by activists and crit - idea. There’s a chance that whoever wins might nating assignments, ics Arthur Woodson and Alex Harris, it not have anything close to a majority. (In a working one-to-one seemed that after several unsuccessful 2003 California gubernatorial recall election with reporters, and attempts to win approval for petitions, the there were 135 candidates on the ballot.) Meghan Christian editing the magazine. campaign would end up going nowhere. The city council is also up for election Christian, who graduated this spring from However, Woodson’s most recent petition this year, with a primary in August and the the -Flint with a bach - drive has been accepted and, at the moment, it general election in November. Even with - elor’s degree in English, was editor-in-chief looks like he might have a decent chance of out the recall, with competition in every of The Michigan Times , UM-Flint’s student- getting the required 5,800 signatures. ward, the Flint City Council races will run newspaper. She said she discovered her If that happens, as a result of changes generate their own share of friction for the love of words and editing at UM-Flint, in state law, we will see a very different next several months. It’s not yet clear adding that telling Flint stories has become recall campaign for mayor. whether a council member could run for one of her passions. In her free time, In the past, recalls were usually two-stage both a seat on the council and the mayoral Christian said she enjoys reading, writing affairs. Voters would first vote yes or no on election at the same time. short stories, and spending time with her whether to recall an official. Then, if they In any case, the recall has the potential boyfriend and her cat. She can be reached at were recalled, an election would follow, and to be more of a dusty cattle stampede than [email protected]. the recalled official could not run. an election. “We are delighted to welcome Because of the frequency of recalls in It could be a very hot summer. Meghan’s energy and fresh perspective,” Michigan, the state law changed in 2012, limit - Jan Worth-Nelson, EVM editor, said. ing the time frame for recalls, and requiring a EVM political columnist Paul Rozycki can “Her proven editing expertise, intelli - single election for recalls, rather than a several- be reached at [email protected]. gence, and deep interest in Flint will help step process. (Prior to that time, Michigan had East Village Magazine enrich and contin - at least 457 recall elections between 2000 and ue its tradition of first-rate community 2011, the highest in the nation.) If the recall ... Love journalism.” petition against Mayor Weaver gathers enough (Continued from Page 12.) students and their families know they are listened to, appreciated, and most impor - tantly, loved. Loved for who they are. Loved for their unabashed faithfulness to their religious beliefs. Loved for their willingness to open their lives and com - munity for this Christian woman. I have found my place in the world with - in a community not my own but who wel - comed me without reservation. My prayer is that all people of this world we call home would open their hearts to love. John Lennon stated it most clearly when he sang “Love Is All You Need.” Love is truly all we need. Everything else is of little consequence. If we would open our hearts and love others, the world would indeed be a better place. I am thankful to have even more love in my life because of this new experience. Love conquers all, and in my little corner of the universe, love teaches in a middle school English classroom.

New EVM staff writer Aubrey McClain lives in the College Cultural neighborhood and teaches at the Genesee Academy. 11 Village Life How a Christian teacher finds, gives love at an Islamic school By Aubrey McClain “You can do this, Aubrey,” I repeated to The walk up the relatively short path to nal people of this Muslim community. myself over and over as I sat in the parking lot the front doors made me feel like I was in One of the most jarring realizations of my new school. My heart raced. I thought one of those carnival fun house tunnels, I’ve experienced came from a little sixth it might jump out of my chest. I had started the ones with all the psychedelic colors grade girl. She came up to my desk as I over at new schools before so this should be and strobe lights. I had never been so took attendance, hands on her hips, hijab nothing to make me so nervous. unsure, so unsteady of anything in my on her head, and sighed a little huff. “You can do this, Aubrey,” I repeated again, life. I quit a public charter school where I “Mrs. McClain?” she questioned. a feeble attempt at a dose of courage. had stability and ten years of service to “Why can’t Jews, Christians, and start over at a private school. Muslims get along? I mean, we all serve It was an Islamic parochial school. As a the same God. We just do it in different I’ll Not Disturb You, Little Bird Christian woman, I was the proverbial ways.” As I looked up at her sweet face, I (For David) By Grayce Scholt fish out of water. knew I had to give the correct “teacher” My nerves shot, I buzzed to be allowed response and explained that sometimes I’ll not disturb you, little bird entry, suddenly grateful for my college act - people simply choose to be ignorant. this chilly morning, when ing career. I smiled a big smile and prayed Thankfully, she accepted my teacher apple blossoms close again no one could hear the hardcore rock band response, took her seat and readied herself thinking it is spring, drum beat pounding in my chest. for the day’s English instruction. Wise My lack of self-confidence stemmed not words from one so young made my eyes when last night’s prowler from concern about my teaching abilities, well, and a single tear slid down my right masked and hungry but about wondering if I would be accepted grasped and mouthed cheek. I once again realized I had made a the crumbs that squirrels by other staff members, my new students, great career move. dropped before and the new families I would be serving. To be able to connect with students of they scurried up the I was not a Muslim. I knew very little of another faith and have them confident tree to sleep. Islam. I was a white, conservative, enough to ask me such a question proved Christian woman, a Baptist preacher’s that I was there for a reason. I was there to This morning only bits remain daughter who was now a practicing help bridge a gap in understanding. I was for tiny tweezer beaks, Catholic preparing for catechism. How in there to show love. Appreciative once again for feathers rumpling the world would I ever fit into a Muslim for my college acting career, a smile spread in the pricks of wind that though it’s spring community? across my face as I began to teach. still sting. My fears quickly waned. Within the There was an insurmountable truth in the first hour of being at my new school, I words she spoke that day. People are people. So pick at what is left, dear bird , positively knew that this had been the best The religious teachings of the Torah, the the specks of corn, of millet career decision I’d ever made. I instantly Bible, and the Qu’ran speak to loving peo - seeds, in spite of formed bonds with my new teammates, ple, even those who may differ from us. all the million mouths and my new students were bright, funny Unfortunately there are those who do not across the earth young people with whom I knew I would demonstrate love, and their actions cause whose gaping beaks have nothing left to seek. connect. mistrust and suspicion. Their actions cannot An even greater alleviation came the be explained by those of us — Jews, Little bird, afternoon of my first parent-teacher con - Christians, and Muslims alike — and we are eat. ferences when I met grateful parent after left to pick up the pieces these loveless peo - grateful parent thanking me for coming to ple leave behind. their school and teaching their children. I, In the five months I have been in my a Christian, was met with love, compas - new teaching position, I have learned sion, and appreciation. more about love than I ever knew. I may I am one of the lucky ones. My father have grown up the daughter of a Baptist and mother raised me to see the beauty in minister, always encouraged to love peo - all people. It didn’t matter if they looked ple for who they are, but I’ve never had the Photo by David Michael different or practiced a different religious opportunity to be a part of a community belief. People were people, and that’s all different from my own. Being a part of this there was to it. Grayce Scholt is a retired English professor from Muslim community where I have learned Mott College who wrote art reviews for the Flint I’ve tried to hold true to that belief in my about Islam and its teachings from my stu - Journal. Her book of poetry, Bang! Go All the life. Even after the tragic events of September dents and colleagues has strengthened my Porch Swings , is available online from Amazon. A personal narrative of the poet’s life in Europe in the 11, 2001, as people speculated and became resolve to love even more. early 1950s, Vienna, Only You , is available at suspicious of their neighbors and as a divisive If my students and colleagues ever feel [email protected]. The author’s new book of political tumult heated up, my resolve unsafe, I will stand with them. I want my poems, Night Song , is available from Friesen Press (www.friesenpress.com) and Amazon. remains the same: to love all people. I have classroom to be a safe place where my witnessed this same love from the phenome - (Continued on Page 11.) 12 LV: 6 (649 issues, 6,507 pages)