University Ave.

It’s no longer a secret anymore. Mott Community College has officially taken over the mantle of greatness in a city long-known for great basketball. MCC is home to one of the winningest basketball program in the nation at any level. In 2011, the Bears are heading back to the national tournament in Illinois with a record of 30-2 and ranked no. 1 in the nation. The Bears won the regional championship in Flint over the weekend in front of sold-out crowds on Friday and Saturday.

From Great Lakes Hoops:

Perhaps the only person in the building more familiar with Danville, Illinois than Mott head coach Steve Schmidt, was Mike Brigham.

Mott’s sophomore forward and tournament MVP grew  up in Danville, about 90 minutes west of Indianapolis. As fate would have it, it was the Danville kid who lit a  fire under his team early, and gave them the extra energy they needed down the stretch to take down a resilient Delta College squad, 76-57, on Saturday afternoon.

Schmidt told Brigham in the locker room, in front of the whole team, that Danville was going to meet a brand new man.

“I’m taking this man home, and they’re going to be proud of the man that you’ve become,” he said to Brigham. “You came here as an immature kid, and they’re going to be proud of the man we’re bringing back to Danville.”

FIA THEATER FILMS – March 2011

Screenings are in the FIA Theater at the Flint Institute of Arts, 1120 E. Kearsley St. Unless noted, admission at the door is $6 non-members, $5 FIA members, $4 FOMA members. Details: (810) 234-1695, flintarts.org

FRIENDS OF MODERN ART FILM SERIES

March 4-5 (7:30 p.m.), March 6 (2 p.m.) – Budrus

(Israel-Palestine-U.S., 2010)  Directed by Julia Bacha, 82 min., subtitled, not rated

This documentary, lauded as “fine … humane” by the Chicago Tribune, follows a Palestinian man who unites various peoples in a non-violent protest movement on the West Bank.

March 11-12 (7:30 p.m.), March 13 (2 p.m.) – Animal Kingdom

(Australia, 2010)  Directed by David Michod, 113 min., rated R

In an explosive crime drama, a police detective tries to protect a teenage boy from a diabolical family led by his grandmother (Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver) and her trio of strange sons.

Read more »

Here’s a great story about a pair of UM-Flint students who are planning a bicycle ride across America, from Flint to San Francisco, to raise money and awareness for world hunger.

From Mlive:

The South Korean native has launched “Pedal to Feed,” his self-initiated cross-country bike trip set for spring.

The aim is to raise money for local and international charities while also spreading awareness about world hunger and the needs of Flint.

“We think that people who are interested in this trip are all full of passion. They want to do something for the world, and they like adventure,” Seok Gyu said. “The goal of the trip is to help people in need.”

Check out this award-winning film at the Flint Institute of Arts this weekend! It’s great timing as well, noting that educator Geoffrey Canada will be at UM-Flint on March 17. His work in Harlem is showcased in the film.

Waiting for Superman
February 18, 19, 20
(U.S., 2010)  Directed by Davis Guggenheim, 111 min., rated PG

From the director of the Academy Award-winning An Inconvenient Truth comes a controversial documentary about American public education, its systemic limitations…and the faces behind its failings.

The public is invited to enjoy African-American cuisine at Mott Community College’s Applewood Café again this year, in celebration of Black History Month.

Sponsored by the Foundation for Mott Community College, food for the luncheon is prepared by MCC culinary arts students, under the direction of MCC culinary arts faculty and executive chefs. The luncheon is scheduled from noon to 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 in the Applewood Café, accompanied by a musical program. Please RSVP by calling (810) 232-7845. Cost is $20 per person. Seating is limited.

The menu includes tropical fruit salad with toasted coconut and fresh mint, Southern-style oven fried chicken served with creamy macaroni and cheese, Grandma’s braised greens, fresh baked cornbread and butter, Sadie’s peach cobbler and pecan ice cream, fresh brewed coffee, hot tea with lemon or iced tea with lemon. The musical performers will be Dr. Michael Boucree, Vice President, Hurley Medical Center and Baritone Ivan Griffin. Please call (810) 762-0425 for more information about this event.

Screenings are in the FIA Theater at the Flint Institute of Arts, 1120 E. Kearsley St. Unless noted, admission at the door is $6 for non-members, $5 for FIA members, $4 for FOMA members.

Details: (810) 234-1695, flintarts.org

FRIENDS OF MODERN ART FILM SERIES

Feb. 11-12 (7:30 p.m.), Feb. 13 (2 p.m.) — Night Catches Us

(U.S., 2010)  Directed by Tanya Hamilton, 90 min., rated R

In 1976, a young man (Anthony Mackie) returns to the race-torn Philadelphia neighborhood where he came of age during the Black Power movement. Kerry Washington co-stars in this independent drama, which won the Grand Jury Prize for drama at the Sundance Film Festival.

Read more »

FLINT, Michigan – Step A’Side 4, College Town’s annual Step Show will be Saturday, Feb. 5 in the UM-Flint Recreation Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. Cost is $10 or $7 for members of Greek organizations.

Levellyn Hunter will serve as emcee for the event. The evening will feature musical performances by rap groups Yung Domino, Taztro, SwinnOrLose, and Team Elite with a dance exhibition by Outrageouz. Seven of the “Divine Nine” will challenge each other in a step competition for a $1,000 prize for the winning team.

Step Teams include: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc There will be special guest judges from each of the Greek organizations. For More Information Contact Mario Johnson (810) 394-3525

The news conference was held at Kettering University’s Innovation Center today in Flint.

This is a great honor for The University of Michigan-Flint, one of the most veteran-friendly universities in the United States.

From UM-Flint.edu:

The University of Michigan-Flint has been selected to partner with the Tillman Military Scholars program, which provides educational scholarships for veteran and active service members and their dependents. UM-Flint was one of five new universities named by the Pat Tillman Foundation for the 2011-2012 academic year. The newly-named schools bring to 12 the number of universities across the country who will partner with the scholars program. UM-Flint is the only university in Michigan to receive the designation.

I just saw this today. It’s an indictment of the media’s portrayal of Flint, and it’s written by a friend from my alma mater, The University of Michigan-Flint. Read it and let me know what you think.

She references how Flint is the poster child for every negative list that a publication can concoct to attract the ambulance-chasing public:

I have to tell you, these lists are getting old. In an era when media companies have been gutted, and the notion of true investigative journalism without agenda is becoming mythical, these lists are cheap content fillers. You have someone pull statistics, stock photos, and bam!–instant content that can be re-tweeted and regurgitated for a media empire that is a shallow shadow of its former self. We need a visit from Edward R. Murrow, the Ghost of Journalism Past.

She also points out that buried beneath all the negativity is a lot of positive stuff that gets overlooked.

Flint is the so-called fat kid in gym class. Undervalued, underappreciated, and relegated to the lowest narrative form, no matter how many positive things happen, Flint gets nothing but negativity. If anyone outside of Genesee County would visit this community, they would see more than our so-called gritty streets, desperate souls, and every other narrow description that has been attributed to this town.

It’s troubling, to be sure, that some of the unjustified negativity comes from people who, unbeknownst to them, actually benefit most from a renaissance of sorts in Flint — you know, the people who live here. That’s why I think it’s vital that people in this community become greater stakeholders; we need to take ownership of this community to move it forward.

I think it’s important to understand that the path of least resistance is the road most often traveled by our popular media. Looking beneath the surface, beyond the perception, is easy. If we don’t like how we are portrayed in the media, then we need to work harder to change perceptions.

The ninth Annual Global Issues Film Festival, sponsored by Kettering University, Mott Community College and UM-Flint, will continue Jan. 26-29, in McKinnon Theater in the Academic Building on the campus of Kettering University. All films are free.

Read more from Kettering.

Here’s another great blog post about Flint Local 432. It’s clear that the news of the return of the music club is being met with cheer by locals of all ages.

From Made With Luv:

Luckily, for some of us somewhat rootless and angsty youth in the late 80’s and nineties, there was respite to be found in the kinship of the indie rock movement, and particular to our area, in “The Local”.

The Local 432, as is its formal name, evolved in downtown Flint as a place where anyone could play music, and all ages could hang out and listen. Occasionally there would be an important name from the indie rock movement who played downtown, but mostly it was made up of people our age who just wanted to say something, and were surprised to find that we could.

Flint Local 432 has been a fixture in the local music scene in Flint for years, and it’s re-opening this spring in a new location near the corner of First Street and Beach in downtown Flint.

Screenings are in the FIA Theater at the Flint Institute of Arts, 1120 E. Kearsley St. Unless noted, admission at the door is $6 for non-members, $5 for FIA members, $4 for FOMA members. Details: (810) 234-1695, flintarts.org.

FRIENDS OF MODERN ART FILM SERIES

Jan. 7-8 (7:30 p.m.), Jan. 9 (2 p.m.)

Exit Through the Gift Shop

(U.S.-United Kingdom, 2010)  Directed by Banksy, 87 min., rated R

In a comic documentary called “the world’s first street-art disaster movie,” an amateur filmmaker attempts to befriend famed graffiti artist Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera on its owner with spectacular results.

Jan. 14-15 (7:30 p.m.), Jan. 16 (2 p.m.)

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

(U.S., 2010)  Directed by Woody Allen, 98 min., rated R

Woody Allen directs an international cast (Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Antonio Banderas, Pauline Collins, Gemma Jones) in a dark comedy about two New York couples whose marriages are on shaky ground.

Jan. 20 (9 p.m.), Jan. 21-22 (10 p.m.)

Read more »

Mark Ingram’s high-impact football career at The University of Alabama appears to be over.

Reports surfaced late on Wednesday that Flint’s Heisman Trophy winner, a former standout at Grand Blanc and Southwestern Academy, will officially declare for the NFL Draft on Friday.

The report, oddly enough, came out of an interview with a top high school running back prospect in Oklahoma. You’ve probably heard of his father: Barry Sanders, Jr.

Here’s an excerpt from OKBlitz.com:

Heritage Hall running back Barry Sanders, Jr. briefly met Alabama coach Nick Saban Wednesday, and Sanders said Saban told him junior running back Mark Ingram will declare for the NFL Draft.

“He just said ‘We need running backs,’” Sanders said. “How Trent Richardson would be a senior if I were to go to Alabama. He told me Ingram’s leaving, he’s making it public probably Friday.”

Saban came to Heritage Hall around noon Wednesday and picked up film on Sanders before receiving a tour of the school, during which he ran into Sanders.

Ingram won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore last season after rushing for more than 1,600 yards and scoring a total of 20 touchdowns. He was sidelined at the beginning of this season with a knee injury, but still rushed for 875 yards and 13 scores.

Ingram is listed on most draft boards as the first running back to be selected. And, in case you were wondering, there’s almost no chance he becomes a Detroit Lion. As scary as this sounds, Ingram could end up with New England or Green Bay in the first round. If either were to happen, Ingram won’t have enough fingers for all his championship rings.