Skip to main content

Get Involved

Voting for the 2024 Flint ReCAST Mini-Grant Program is Now Open!

This is your opportunity to get involved by choosing which community-based organizations will receive mini-grant funding to implement programming that assists at-risk youth and families right here in Flint.

Please review the brief application summaries below from each of this year’s 15 finalists. Then, vote for your favorite organization or program at the bottom of this page. Only one vote per person is allowed. 

Voting will conclude on Tuesday, April 2 at 1:00 p.m.

If you’re having difficulties voting on this platform, please email your selected organization using the contact form below.

Active Boys in Christ: Youth Development Skilled Trades

ABC Youth is a non-profit organization that offers boys and girls ages 7-17 free skilled trades training, focusing on electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and culinary art, coupled with life skills sessions teaching several different components of character traits; improving the participant’s global self-worth, job competencies, and behavioral conduct. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to develop their skills and reach their full potential. Our program equips students with the tools they need to succeed in all aspects of their lives. Join us in empowering young minds and creating a brighter future for our youth!

African Drum & Dance Parent Association: ADDPA Skills and Cultural Awareness Project

African Drum and Dance Parent Association’s “Life Skills and Cultural Awareness Project” is a Performing Arts Program, consisting of West African Culture and engagement in life skills, designed to reach under-served Flint Neighborhoods with limited access to the Arts. Our goal is to expose at-risk Flint Area Youth to West African cultural traditions, instrumental/vocal music, survival life skills that encourage self-awareness, high self-esteem, youth leadership, community pride, academic achievement, careers and entrepreneurship. Participants will engage in “hands-on” West African drumming, dance, folklore, history, Swahili, crafts, jewelry-making, cooking, sewing, and personal hygiene.

Bangtown Studio On The Go: Studio On The Go Expansion

Flint ReCAST will support Bangtown Studio On The Go’s mission of Connecting Youth to their Communities through Music, Film, and Technology. Many youth in the Flint community don’t have access to the technical equipment and skills that BSOTG brings to them. Our professional Studio Production Instructors give youth experience in songwriting, music production, photography and film making, with youth actually using the equipment themselves.

Communities First, Inc.: Wrap Around Supports for Housing Security – Family Mobility Services and Trauma-Informed Property Management

As both a nonprofit social service provider and multifamily real estate developer, Communities First, Inc. (CFI) believes everyone deserves a safe, quality, affordable place to call home. By offering free Family Mobility Services to low-to-moderate income households, CFI strives to develop family supports and resiliency following traumatic experiences such as homelessness and poverty. Our programs focus on the whole person and the whole family to promote holistic health and wellness, economic opportunity, education and social interactions. Taking this model one step further, CFI seeks to train all staff on our Property Management Team in trauma-informed care to model the applicability of support and respect in the rental leasing process.

Developing Respectful Educated Aspiring Minds with Sports: Green DREAMS

Green DREAMS: Nurturing Tomorrow’s Leaders in Flint! Join us in transforming youth lives through sports, education, and sustainable living. In partnership with local schools and community centers, Green DREAMS offers a unique blend of STEAM education, agricultural exploration, and culinary arts. Our program fosters resilience, positive mental well-being, and community empowerment. Support our vision for a healthier, empowered, and vibrant Flint community by voting for Green DREAMS!

Ennis Center for Children, Inc.: Fostering Creativity – A Therapeutic Arts Program for Children Suffering from Trauma

INOVATIVE ART THERAPY LEADS TRAUMATIZIED KIDS ON “PATH TO WELLNESS.” Ennis Center is making great strides in benefitting Flint-area children with highly successful Fostering Creativity Program. Fostering Creativity is an enhanced art-therapy program, carefully designed to help mitigate the suffering of distressed children who have been traumatized by the long-term effects of abandonment, abuse and neglect. This uniquely successful initiative is set to be offered as an engaging after-school program, free of charge, one day a week to youth ranging in ages from 8 to 14.

Flint Cultural Center Academy: FCCA Hope Squad

Flint Cultural Center Academy’s Hope Squad is the foundation of mental health support and awareness at FCCA. Hope Squad members lead activities to educate our 650 K-8 student body, families, and staff about mental health and suicide prevention. Hope Squad’s goal is to raise awareness, destigmatize mental health, and educate and connect students to appropriate and safe resources.

Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative: Collaborative Experiential Learning, Family Engagement, and Talent Development

The Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative promotes equitable learning opportunities through community partnerships. We engage youth in literacy enrichment and self-esteem development, offer paid experiential learning for young professionals, and provide wrap-around supports for families. Our goals include partnering with community organizations and youth programs to develop team members, supporting local economic development, and fostering positive culture and organizational capacity through collaborative activities.

Flint Innovative Solutions: Keeping Tabs – Building Community Connections and Resilience at Cook and Ophelia Bonner Park

Empowering Cook Park through Keeping Tabs! Build connections, access resources, and promote mental well-being with our innovative mobile app. Join us in creating a stronger, more resilient community!

Flint Institute of Music: Hocus Focus

Hocus Focus is a creative instructional approach to support the learning of students with varying degrees of educational challenges and abilities including autistic, cognitively delayed, emotionally disturbed, and learning-disabled students. The activities are motivational, promote positive self-expression, and reinforce many key skills needed for student success.

Flint STRIVE: I Know About You and Me!

Do you hear what I hear? Flint STRIVE helping youth embrace each other in 2024. Come join the fun!

GEARup2LEAD: The Engagement Center

At the Engagement Center, we’re dedicated to connecting young people to education and employment opportunities while transforming their lives by providing personalized support and vital resources. Together, we’re breaking barriers and shaping brighter futures in our community.

Good Church: 181 Teen Movement

Strong, Survivor, Resilient, Amazing, Special, Bright, Brave, Fearless, Determined, Worthy, You, yes, You! No matter what you have been through, no matter what you are going through, you are wonderful! Come hang out with us at 181 Teen Movement to learn more about just how special you are. Come spend time with real people as we search for real solutions to real problems. Lots of good food, games, and giveaways.

Mothers of Joy Institute for Parenting and Family Wellness Inc.: Positive Parenting 2.1, Family Self-Care, and Family Safe Space

MJI’s holistic programs plant seeds to empower families and youth to form strong, happy, and healthy families from within. Positive Parenting 2.1 is a 4–6-week program that takes a family-centered approach to incorporate and improve parental understanding of age-appropriate expectations. All MJI programs are trauma-informed and family-centered which helps parents create positive, supportive, and nurturing relationships with their children. These programs will equip parents with the tools and resources to become empowered and build strong parent-child relationships while helping youth build more awareness about their own health and self-care.

The New McCree Theatre: Summer Theatre Camp for Youth

Experience the magic of theatre as The New McCree Theatre’s Summer Theatre Camp for Youth presents the Lion King, Jr., the condensed version of that Broadway hit designed specifically for young performing artists.

Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village: SBEV Afterschool Program

Investing in Flint youth – Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village (SBEV), alongside ReCAST and other important community partners, is working to connect even more Flint youth with academics, arts, and sports. Through focused programming, students will work to increase academic success, explore the arts, increase physical activity, and create lasting, healthy relationships with their peers.

Community Voting 2024 Live

  • Active Boys in Christ: Youth Development Skilled Trades
    18% 280 / 1.4k
  • African Drum & Dance Parent Association: ADDPA Skills and Cultural Awareness Project
    5% 77 / 1.4k
  • Bangtown Studio On The Go: Studio On The Go Expansion
    1% 19 / 1.4k
  • Communities First, Inc.: Wrap Around Supports for Housing Security – Family Mobility Services and Trauma-Informed Property Management
    4% 70 / 1.4k
  • Developing Respectful Educated Aspiring Minds with Sports: Green DREAMS
    2% 43 / 1.4k
  • Ennis Center for Children, Inc.: Fostering Creativity – A Therapeutic Arts Program for Children Suffering from Trauma
    6% 94 / 1.4k
  • Flint Cultural Center Academy: FCCA Hope Squad
    18% 282 / 1.4k
  • Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative: Collaborative Experiential Learning, Family Engagement, and Talent Development
    11% 176 / 1.4k
  • Flint Innovative Solutions: Keeping Tabs – Building Community Connections and Resilience at Cook and Ophelia Bonner Park
    5% 85 / 1.4k
  • Flint Institute of Music: HOCUS FOCUS
    1% 24 / 1.4k
  • Flint STRIVE: I Know About You and Me!
    0% 12 / 1.4k
  • GEARup2LEAD: The Engagement Center
    5% 80 / 1.4k
  • Good Church: 181 Teen Movement
    1% 26 / 1.4k
  • Mothers of Joy Institute for Parenting and Family Wellness Inc.: Positive Parenting 2.1, Family Self-Care, and Family Safe Space
    3% 53 / 1.4k
  • The New McCree Theatre: Summer Theatre Camp for Youth
    4% 61 / 1.4k
  • Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village: SBEV Afterschool Program
    7% 112 / 1.4k

Connect With Us

Be sure to connect with us so that you can stay up to date on all things Flint ReCAST. Provide your email address if you would like any materials mailed directly to you or you want to be added to our newsletter distribution list. You can also email us directly at [email protected].

Upcoming Events