UPDATE
February 18, 2004

Phase Two of the Greater Flint Area Community Cultural Planning began in January, 2004. With funding secured from the Ruth Mott Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Facilitation Team (the coordinating body for the planning process) held a public meeting on January 19 at the Greater Flint Arts Council, which is administering the project. A diverse array of people (over 70 in numbers) attended this meeting, including:

• People who participated in Phase One by attending a Roundtable meeting or completing a survey
• Artists and representatives of arts and cultural entities
• Developers and people involved in economic revitalization
• Attendees at Governor Granholm’s “Cool Cities” Conference in Lansing in December
• Participants in the Community Challenge work

Ann Arbor-based consultant Morrie Warshawski reviewed highlights of the assessment report, FORGING LINKS (available from the Greater Flint Arts Council website in pdf format www.gfn.org/gfac/ ). Based on the conclusions and recommendations in that report, six Task Forces have been formed to pursue planning and goal setting. They are:

1. Neighborhoods
2. Underserved Audiences
3. Communication/Networking
4. Downtown
5. Youth and the Arts
6. Local Artists and Arts Organizations

Attendees at the January meeting signed up for the Task Force they felt most passionate about. With the help of Facilitation Team members, Sue Wood, Project Director, rounded out membership in the Task Forces and assigned a Chair and a Facilitation Team representative for each. (A roster of Task Forces is also available on the website.) In addition, nine new people were brought onto the Facilitation Team, each associated with a specific Task Force, usually the Chair.

It was decided the Task Forces would each meet three times on the same day, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at the Flint Public Library in the downstairs meeting room (Task Force Chairs can schedule additional meetings as needed). Those dates are:

• Wednesday, February 25, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
• Wednesday, March 17, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
• Wednesday, April 7, 4:00 – 6:00 PM

The timeline and process will be adjusted and adapted as we go, but the broad plan is as follows:

At the first meeting, we will explain the process and the expected outcome. Task Forces will receive their marching orders in a handout, they will divide into their groups and work on a Vision Statement (in their area, what would they like to see happen?) They will then discuss the Problem (impediments, challenges, issues). Ideas will be captured on flip charts by a designated notetaker (probably the Facilitation Team representative. Groups will determine if they need additional information before their next meeting. We will reconvene as a large group and hear brief reports from each Task Force.

At the second meeting the Task Forces may hear reports from members who gathered additional information or they may bring in “experts.” Groups will finish defining “the Problem,” and will begin brainstorming ideas for solutions. The best ideas will lead to the formation of large “Goals.” Once again, we will reconvene and hear reports from each group.

At the third meeting (some groups may finish before others do), each group will examine what they have so far, finalize the large “goals” along with suggested “objectives” and “strategies.” The final recommendations will come to the Facilitation Team.

At the end of April, the Task Forces will submit their reports, possibly in a public meeting.

In early May the Facilitation Team will knit the Task Forces reports together and create a first draft of the plan which will be sent out for review and comment.

In June, the Team and consultants will receive the comments and design and write the final Plan.

In September, the Plan will be released, possibly at a Press Conference.

Sue Wood, Project Director
swood3644 sbcglobal.net
(810) 287-4595

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