Long vacant Bunche Elementary on Flint’s North Side now a vibrant hub of community-focused activity

Media contact: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; barbara@eafocus.com; 248.260.8466

Flint, Mich. — Aug. 14, 2017 — Flint-based Social Impact Philanthropy and Investment (SIPI), a platform for change providing business and operational services to social enterprises and nonprofits, as well as implementation and administration of government programs, is pleased to announce that its work with the Flint Development Center continues, following the Center’s June 2017 initial grand opening.

Located in the former Bunche Elementary School on Flint’s North Side, the Flint Development Center now offers recreational activities and after school programs, with additional adult, senior and other community services forthcoming. The Center currently houses the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission, YMCA of Greater Flint, Flintball.com and Shooting for the Stars.

The Bunche Elementary School building was purchased in 2014 by the Evergreen Community Development Initiative (ECDI), a non-profit affiliate of Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church, which envisioned its redevelopment into a vital community hub for recreation, socialization, education, cultural activities and civic engagement. Working with the Ruth Mott Foundation, the primary funder of the redevelopment, SIPI collaborated with ECDI and other project leaders to create and implement an organizational roadmap for the Center while providing assistance with grant writing, policy and procedure development and lease agreements.

Speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony on June 8, SIPI President and COO Jason Ball, alongside Ruth Mott Foundation President Handy Lindsey, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, Evergreen Church Pastor and ECDI founder, Rev. Daniel Smith, and other community leaders, noted the significance of the day for the Flint community.

“We are grateful to the Ruth Mott Foundation for their support of our efforts with Pastor Smith, Shelly Sparks and the other tremendous leaders that worked so hard to make the reopening of this school a reality.”

Future SIPI efforts on the Flint Development Center include continuing to work with leadership on implementing an individual fundraising campaign and securing resources for phase 2 and 3 of the building project.

The Flint Development Center is a partnership of ECDI, the Flint Neighborhood Coalition, Flintball.com and Shooting for the Stars. Together, they comprise the Flint Development Group, the management corporation for the Flint Development Center. The Center is seeking tax deductible contributions for its capital campaign to support additional growth and programming. Contributions may be made via the website at www.flintdc.org or mailed to Evergreen Community Development Initiative, PO BOX 310566, Flint, MI 48531.

About Social Impact Philanthropy and Investment (SIPI)

Flint, Mich.-based Social Impact Philanthropy and Investment (SIPI) was founded as a platform for change in 2015 to transform legacy cities into economic hubs of opportunity for all.  Working with social enterprises and nonprofits, SIPI’s services include operations, human resources, finance, data analysis, fundraising, contract negotiations, strategic planning, training and community development to help build self-sustaining organizations.  SIPI also implements and administers community-focused programs for local, state and federal agencies. Learn more at https://www.sipi-inc.com.

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