Mission

“The mission of Flint and Genesee Literacy Network is to seek out, convene, align, and build capacity in partners who improve the lives of individuals, children, and families of Flint and Genesee County by radically raising literacy levels.”

Vision

“We envision a Flint and Genesee County where children enter kindergarten ready to learn, children are successful in school, students are prepared for post-secondary education, and adults earn a livable wage because low literacy rates are no longer a barrier.”

History / MCC Fiscal Sponsor

Initiated by former Mott Community College President, Richard Shaink, a workgroup of community organizations was formed to bring awareness to the basic skills crisis in the Flint area. Dr. Richard Shaink, President of Mott Community College, had become increasingly concerned that many high school graduates were beginning postsecondary education not fully literate. As part of the Achieving the Dream initiative, a national program designed to help community college students pursue their dreams, Dr. Shaink, and his team disaggregated local data and convened community leaders to discuss literacy work in Genesee County, including the libraries, the school system, a local literacy coalition and the foundation. A Literacy summit was convened, which raised the profile of literacy efforts in Flint, and began conversations in earnest with the United Way of Genesee County, the C.S. Mott Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.

The Flint & Genesee Literacy Network is proud of our ongoing partnership with our Fiscal Sponsor, Mott Community College.

Our Staff

Jessica Kitchner Director
Heather Harrison Literacy And Partnership

Steering Committee

Our Steering Committee is comprised of cross-sector community partners representative of the relevant ecosystem that provides strategic direction for the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network and champions its work.

Kristina Johnston – Chair
Chief Operating Officer
Flint + Genesee Group
Jim Carney
Vice President – Commercial Loan Officer
Choice One Bank
Robert Matthews
Vice President, Student, Academic & Workforce Success Mott Community College
Lydia Starrs Senior Program Officer
Community Fundation of Greater Flint
LaDelvin Walker
Parent/Family Engagement
Kerry Downs – Vice Chair
Flint Community Schools
Todd Slisher
Sloan Executive Director
Sloan Longway, Flint Cultural Center Corporation
Asa Ascencio-Zuccaro
Executive Director
Latinx Technology & Community Center
Ja’Nel Jamerson
Executive Director
Flint Center for Educational Excellence
Mary Lorah-Hammond
Grants & Program Administrator
GST Michigan Works!
Mary Behm
Assistant Superintendent, Education & Learning
Genesee Intermediate School District
Tarnesa Martin
Patient Resource & Community Advocate, RN BSN
Hurley Medical Center

Community Partners

Together, FGLN and its Partners are focusing on building the strengths of community organizations, as well as ensuring that individuals in need of improved literacy skills, have access to sufficient and appropriate information and resources. The coalition is designed to serve Flint and Genesee County’s most vulnerable learners, across their lifespan. This development of strategic and accountable partnerships is critical to achieving Collective Impact

Funders

FGLN Funding Partners

Partners who make an investment in FGLN. Solution areas in the form of a financial contribution.

  • Mott Community College
  • Community Foundation of Greater Flint
  • AG Bishop Trust
  • Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Workforce Development (WD) – Adult Education
  • Dollar General Literacy Foundation
  • Proliteracy Book Fund