A Time for Everything……..

Growflint.org was launched in the fall of 2009 by the Ruth Mott Foundation’s outreach coordinator, Erin Caudell.  Our intent was to connect you to many of the great events, inspiring people and awesome ideas that are moving Flint forward. Erin focused on emerging issues such as healthy food systems, eating locally and urban agriculture and she posted blogs from as far away as China and the Netherlands, where she studied everything from local food traditions to global progress in supplying healthy food to growing urban populations.

Many of you know Erin. She is a gifted horticulturist with two hands worth of green thumbs. She is passionate about urban living, locally-grown food and the joys of gardening. And she is tireless in her support for the development of sustainable communities – especially her beloved Flint. You’ll also occasionally find her shining in local theater productions. She is one very busy woman. As Erin has become more deeply involved in outreach work and community issues here, some of her other projects have had to be set aside. And so it was with this blog.

We loved Erin’s plans for growflint.org. All those people and events and ideas she planned to tell you about are still working and happening, and we want to continue to bring them to light. We also realized there are dozens of other community topics we want to address with you in this blog.  So, with two green thumbs-up from Erin, I will take it from here.  

I am Steve Wilson, and I returned to my hometown of Flint three years ago to become executive director of the Ruth Mott Foundation.  I have the honor of being in the right place at exactly the right time, working with a caring and creative staff, and for a family foundation whose family members and founder have a long history of community stewardship.

The Ruth Mott Foundation grants about $6 million annually to support new ideas in this community.  We also operate the Mott Family estate of Applewood, a place of beauty and learning and a model for responsible environmental practices.  We do this with five values in mind: to inspire hope and pride, encourage community engagement, support collaboration, promote fairness and justice, and to establish a plan for continuous improvement.

I look forward to introducing you to many people in this town, including those who are quietly doing their special part as community builders.   And Erin and others will weigh in from time to time.

Please join in this conversation. I look forward to hearing from you.

Steve Wilson