ISSUE I • 2019 FOCUS ON Facts,FLINT figures and community insights WHY FOCUS VILLAGE SURVEY HOW TO 1 ON FLINT? 2 OF 100 4 SNAPSHOTS 6 READ THIS REPORT focusonflint.org TABLE OF ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION CONTENTS Focus on Flint builds on the Vital Signs® publication model developed in Canada. The Mott Foundation would like to thank the Toronto Foundation for developing and sharing the Vital Signs concept. We also want to give special thanks to Community WHY FOCUS ON FLINT? 1 Foundations of Canada and the Victoria Foundation, IF FLINT WERE A who shared valuable insights and advice as we 2 VILLAGE OF 100 sought to launch a publication that would serve Flint. Our experience working on this project with our neighbors to the north was yet another reminder 4 SURVEY SNAPSHOTS that we can accomplish more when we work together in pursuit of the common good. 6 HOW TO READ THIS REPORT FOCUS ON FLINT TEAM The Mott Foundation led editorial efforts 8 WATER for this project. We were joined and supported by Behr Communications and FM3, who conducted the community opinion surveys and analyzed the ARTS & CULTURE 10 results. Olmsted Associates in Flint handled design, production and dissemination. Tepel Brothers 12 ECONOMY Printing in Troy, Michigan, printed the publication. 14 EDUCATION HEALTH The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation 16 is a private philanthropy that supports efforts to promote a just, equitable and sustainable 18 HOUSING society in our hometown of Flint and communities around the world. 20 PUBLIC SAFETY 503 S. Saginaw St., Ste. 1200 Flint, MI 48502-1851 Website: www.mott.org STANDARD OF LIVING 22 Email: [email protected] Phone: +1.810.238.5651 24 METHODOLOGY focusonflint.org The global benchmark for responsible forest management. The FSC Logo identifies products which Vital Signs is a community check-up conducted by foundations around the world that contain wood from well managed forests certified by measures the vitality of our communities and identifies significant trends in a range of areas Bureau Veritas Certification in accordance with the critical to quality of life. Vital Signs is coordinated internationally by Community Foundations rules of the Forest Stewardship Council. of Canada. The Vital Signs trademark is used with permission from Community Foundations of Canada. Cert. no. SW-COC-1530 © 1996 Forest Stewardship Council, A.C. People gather outside the Flint Farmers’ Market. ON THE COVER: Recyclable PHOTO: MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE/MML.ORG WHY FOCUS ON FLINT? For more than 90 years, the Mott Foundation has had a focus on Flint. Through good times and bad, we’ve tried to help our hometown deal with challenges and create opportunities. And though we’ve granted more than PHOTO: RICK SMITH $1 billion locally, we know that, too often, struggles still thwart success, and pessimism competes with promise. National media attention generated by the water crisis has, for the most part, painted a very negative picture of Flint. Yet we hear so many community leaders and other residents saying, “That’s not the whole story of Flint. That’s only part of the picture.” So what is the bigger picture of Flint? What can we celebrate? What needs improvement? What’s happening to help make the bad things better? Who’s doing that work? Ridgway White Focus on Flint explores these issues. In the pages that follow, you’ll see data that tell a story about how we’re doing as a community. You likely won’t be surprised that some of the statistics are frustrating. But you may be surprised to learn about points of progress and exciting efforts underway to address specific challenges. WHY WE WANTED TO This is by no means a comprehensive look at everything that can or should be SHARE THIS REPORT measured. Rather, it’s a springboard for a community conversation, input and action. To give the bigger picture — As Flint continues to recover and rise from the water crisis, it seems we’re at a point of Flint’s story the good where we should take a big-picture look at where we stand — and set our sights and the bad. on where we want to be. To share what Flint residents are The Mott Foundation is sending Focus on Flint to every household, business saying about their city and what’s and organization in the city. In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll also invite all important to them. interested members of the community to participate in conversations about these To gain a better understanding of measures of quality of life and local efforts to improve them for everyone. challenges our community faces The conversations will help all of us understand the strengths and challenges and what’s being done to help. identified by our community — and, with everyone’s input, contribute to solutions To use as a springboard and pathways to a promising future. More information, including how you can take for conversations that could help part, will be available soon at focusonflint.org. to keep Flint moving forward and We hope you’ll add your thoughts and ideas as we all focus on Flint. shape the Mott Foundation’s local grantmaking. To track any changes in residents’ thoughts and concerns over the coming years. Ridgway White, President and CEO Charles Stewart Mott Foundation facebook.com/RidgwayWhite twitter.com/RidgwayWhite FOCUS ON FLINT: FACTS, FIGURES AND COMMUNITY INSIGHTS 1 IF FLINT WERE A VILLAGE OF All data on pages 2 and 3 come from the100 U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 American Community Survey One-year Estimates. In some cases, numbers rounded to the nearest whole will not add up to 100. If Flint had 100 residents, this is what the community would look like. AGE GENDER LANGUAGE 80+ SPOKEN IN THE HOME 65-79 4 UNDER 18 50 WOULD SPEAK 10 ONLY ENGLISH 21 50 96 WOULD SPEAK 2 PRIMARILY SPANISH WOULD SPEAK RACE/ETHNICITY 2 PRIMARILY ANOTHER 53 LANGUAGE 35-64 18-34 38 37 28 WOULD LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL 3 5 39 BLACK OR WHITE OTHER MULTI- POVERTY LEVEL AFRICAN SINGLE RACIAL AMERICAN ETHNICITY If Flint had 100 households, this is what OTHER HOUSEHOLD RESOURCES the community would look like. ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME would have a broadband would have a smartphone 28 30 Internet connection 19 63 59 13 6 5 <$10K $10-24.9K $25-49.9K $50-74.9K $75-99.9K $110K+ would have a desktop would have a car 51 or laptop computer 81 2 FOCUS ON FLINT: FACTS, FIGURES AND COMMUNITY INSIGHTS HOW FLINT COMPARES TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY KEY: FLINT UNITED STATES EDUCATION POVERTY RATES BY EDUCATIONAL AMONG RESIDENTS AGE 25 AND OVER ATTAINMENT RESIDENTS AGE 25 AND OVER 46% 39% 37% 33% 32% 27% 29% 25% 28% 16% 14% 12% 13% 10% 13% 4% LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL SOME COLLEGE/ BACHELOR’S LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL SOME COLLEGE/ BACHELOR’S HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA ASSOC. DEGREE DEGREE OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA ASSOC. DEGREE DEGREE OR DIPLOMA HIGHER DIPLOMA HIGHER POVERTY RATES BY MEDIAN ANNUAL EARNINGS SUBPOPULATION FOR FULL-TIME,YEAR-ROUND WORKERS 100% $75k 80% $60k $51,284 60% 61% $45k $41,453 $34,618 43% 40% 39% $30k $26,460 32% 23% 20% 18% $15k 13% 11% 0% $0k ALL BLACK/ WHITE CHILDREN MALES FEMALES RESIDENTS AFRICAN AMERICAN OWN OR RENT MEDIAN MONTHLY RENT $1200 $1,148 100% $1000 $991 80% $874 $800 $779 64% MEDIAN HOME VALUE $676 60% 59% $600 $480 41% 40% 36% $27,400 $400 $200 20% $0 0% $217,600 1 BEDROOM 2 BEDROOMS 3 BEDROOMS OWN RENT CHARLESFOCUS ON STEWART FLINT: FACTSMOTT FOUNDATION& FIGURES ABOUT FLINT, MICHIGAN 3 SURVEY SNAPSHOTS OVERALL RATING QUALITY OF LIFE 2.5 FROM OUR SURVEY 86% 58% of residents feel WILLIAMS DANEN PHOTO: feel connected to supported by family, the community companions and/or friends 81% 70% describe themselves feel good about their as happy Visitors to the Crim Festival of Races pause to take a selfie. physical health 29% 69% recently felt lonely While 63 percent like where they live, believe homelessness 68 percent would not recommend is a serious issue in Flint Flint to others as a place to live. 84% 75% 72% do not believe city officials believe the current believe the quality of value residents’ voices cost of their water public education in Flint is service is unfair a serious concern 75% 52% are not satisfied with the have a positive outlook maintenance and repair about their personal of local roads financial situation 4 FOCUS ON FLINT: FACTS, FIGURES AND COMMUNITY INSIGHTS QUOTES FROM SURVEY PARTICIPANTS BEST PART OF LIVING IN FLINT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THEY DIVERSITY. DON’T GIVE UP. LOW COST OF LIVING. ACCESS TO GREAT CULTURAL CENTER, CULTURAL AND COLLEGES AND ARTS PROGRAMS. A CITY WITH A FRIENDLY NEIGHBORS FIGHTING SPIRIT. AND THE SPIRIT AND A VARIETY OF GRIT OF THE PEOPLE DINING OPTIONS IN OF FLINT. DOWNTOWN FLINT. OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT CARE TO MAKE IT A WONDERFUL, SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL CITY. BIGGEST CONCERNS / TOP PRIORITIES “ The water crisis. We are still “ We need an educational system “ Bringing industry, good jobs living with undrinkable water. that teaches actual trades and and job training back to It’s time for this problem to be prepares our future leaders for the community.” fixed once and for all.” survival and success … real and true things that will help “ Making sure that areas other “ Education is the most my daughters live happy and than downtown Flint see important.” fulfilling lives.” positive improvements and that we don’t gentrify — “ Crime, blight and not enough “ We need youth activities that socioeconomically and racially police officers.” keep them off the streets and — the downtown area as part “ Water bills are ridiculously high out of trouble.” of the improvements that are for the quality of water we get.” happening.” CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION 5 HOW TO READ THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF THIS REPORT OVERALL RATING Nine hundred residents shared their views through telephone and online opinion surveys conducted in the first half of 2019.