My City August 2021

* dz ijá ijº Ȅ ŝá CEO, Flint Cultural Center Academy 5

[ĩdȟǰȑ Ɵƈú ɩƟdzŤljdzáťdȟáÉ ȟĩijƈğ ɲƟɔ ɩdƈȬ ȟƻ dƟƀǕťijȄİ ijƕ ȟĩú ƈáɬȬ ɲádǽǩ This will be the third year of the Flint Cultural Center Academy and the first couple of years have been quite challenging. I hope that my staff are able to experience a school year that is “in place” so that they witness just how truly impactful their work is to the children and families we serve. We need the opportunity to experience a more normal school year, so that we can implement not-so-normal educational experiences for kids.That is why FCCA was built. [ĩdȬ dÉɦijú ɩƟȸťÉ ɲƟɔ ĩdɦú ěijɦáƕ ȄáɦáƈȟááƕljɲádǽljƟťÉ dzijºǩ I would tell him that life is hard. Most every challenge is temporary. Do what you enjoy and what makes you a better person tomorrow than you were today. Dream big! !ĕ ɲƟɔ ƟȸťÉ Ɵƈťɼ ádȬ Ɵƈú ƀádŸ đƟǽ ȟĩú dzáȄȬ Ɵĕ ɲƟȸǽ ťijđúÆ ɩĩdȬ ɩƟȸťÉ ijȬ Ÿúǩ Chicken wings from Charlie’s BBQ (Flint Farmers’ Market) and Luigi’s Pizza are my jam!

[ĩdȬ ɩdȑ ɲƟȸǽ ɦádzɼ đijdzȄȬ ŗƟ£ǩ My first job was amazing! My parents owned a small, family-run hardware store on Main Street in downtown Davison, MI. I started working there at a very young age and had the opportunity to learn lifelong skills while working alongside my father for nearly 20 years. It was a special experience. [ĩdȟǰȑ Ɵƈú ȟĩijƈğ ȟĩdȬ dƕ ijƈȄȟdƈȟťɼ ƀdŝú ɲƟȸǽ Édɼ Ÿáȟȟáǽǩ The best way to start my day is by greeting students as they arrive at school. If I miss this opportunity, I feel like my day is not off to the optimal start.The kids and their families bring a smile to my face each morning and reinforce that the FCCA crew is doing great things! [ĩdȟǰȑ ɲƟȸǽ ƀƟȄȬ ǕdzijʃáÉ ǕƟȄȄáȄȄijƟƕ dƈÉ ɩĩɼǩ My family is my most prized possession.They are supportive and appreciative of the work that I’m involved with and tolerate the long hours I am away from home. [ĩdȬ ijȑ ɲƟȸǽ ÉáđijƈijȟijƟƕ Ɵĕ ȄȸáȄȑǩ In my mind, happiness is success. Obviously, there are many forms of success, but if you are happy, then you are successful.

6 7

31