Place for Public Ideas for the Greater Flint Area

About this grant

In 1998, the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation began working to improve public life in Flint through innovative programs that identify and support individual and organizational leaders, and to develop new ways for citizens to engage in public life. During the past five years, the Place for Public Ideas has worked with people, institutions and networks throughout the Flint area through a variety of programs and activities that will ultimately lead to an improved quality of life.Multiyear funding will support objectives that include training five to seven alumni from the Place for Public Ideas to serve as certified teachers to continue the work; conducting three, two-day workshops to train the teachers; designing a streamlined curriculum; providing support to local leaders for two years; providing an operating plan for the Place for Public Ideas; and organizing two annual retreats for local leaders, participating organizations and local teachers. In addition, funding will support ongoing work on the Flint Civic Engagement Initiative, a project to develop civic engagement tools for Flint residents.