Freedom seemed unlikely. There I stood in front of a mirror in the bathroom of Pine river correctional facility in St. Louis, Michigan, October 2009. I had already served 8 years and 7 months of a minimum 9-year prison sentence with a maximum of 22 years. For a brief moment, I thought to myself; “What […]
Part trendsetter, social media expert and influencer, teens bring innate abilities and energy. It’s ingrained in their DNA. And now, thanks to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeasern Michigan (BGCSM) and its partners, talented teens will have the opporunity to marry their natural abilities with business opportuntieis in an effort aimed at building Michigan’s […]
Everyone is ready to emerge from COVID-19, particularly Flint residents who have been among the nation’s hardest hit by the pandemic. The immediate and heightened need for products, services and employment is overwhelming. Although Flint’s small business owners are beginning to rally, they are dependent on its citizenry for support. According to published reports more […]
Brandon Corder has some timely advice for his fellow Flint-based entrepreneurs facing uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic: Stay passionate. Stay creative. Why anyone should listen to him is a no-brainer. As the CEO of the Beats x Beers music festival, the music and event producer has long been beloved and respected in the local community. […]
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has everyone on edge. The breaks from workplaces that we used to dream about have become nerve-racking days of social distancing. Flint, along with the rest of the country, faces uncertain times, and for those who spent their lives building a small business all that work is in jeopardy. Fortunately for Flint’s […]
Tracy Palmer is a recognized change agent. Although she is best known as the owner of Trendsetters Productions, a local modelling and etiquette school, she’s also produced a series of well-attended empowerment events over the years. Her flagship events have included efforts like This is Me, an event which offers special needs youth and their […]
Ask Flint’s Damontai Richard how he would describe himself and there is no hesitation. “I’m a leader,” he says boldly. It doesn’t take long to realize that indeed the 23-year-old’s response doesn’t stem from cockiness, but a healthy sense of self-awareness. Or, that his proclamation is shared by many of his peers across the city. […]
Leadership isn’t something you’re born with – it is a series of skills that you learn from your family, mentors and community members. That lesson, along with many others, is what a group of Flint-area leaders hope to teach local youth in a special event. On Saturday, Feb. 22 the Mark Ingram Foundation along with […]
Ask Flint singing sensation Shamar what his name means and he’ll proudly tell you: Leader. “I won’t ever change my name like some artists do for show business,” Shamar says. “Because of the meaning, and because it truly says something about the real me.” The 21-year-old is set to live up to his name at […]
Women in Flint and Genesee County are propelling themselves to new heights. Their numbers are impressive: At 5,500 and growing, they are helping fuel Michigan’s ranking at the top of the nation for the growth of women-owned firms since 2014. The HUB Flint will highlight some of these achievers in the coming weeks. Meet Chrysa Curran-Cronley. It’s […]