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The Good Church & 181 Movement, Pastor Leo Robinson II
Nominated by the Genesee County Prevention Coalition
Leo Robinson II is the Lead Pastor of Good Church, a multicultural and multi-ethnic church located on the north side of Flint. The name of the church is derived from Galatians 6:9-10, which encourages people to not get tired of doing good and to do good to everyone. Good Church opened its doors in October 2020 during the pandemic and is situated in one of the lowest economic zip codes in the United States.
Leo is committed to connecting with people in the community, as well as other denominations, and transforming the culture of the church. His dedication resulted in Good Church being recognized as a "very" successful church plant by organizations such as Stadia and SEND Network. He is a popular speaker and is passionate about building bridges between the church and the community; and seeing God's will be done on Earth.
Leo's wife, Miosha, and their five beautiful children, Peter (adopted), Zion, Leo III, Jo'el, and No'el are his main ministry. Together you will find this family serving the community and making sure that all glory from their efforts is pointed back to God.
Isaiah Grays
Grand Blanc High School Senior & Member of the Flint Public Health Youth Academy
Nominated by the Genesee County Prevention Coalition
A passionate advocate for public health and environmental issues, Isaiah Grays (18) is known as being the outspoken president at his local high school. Grays's path is characterized by achievements that reach beyond his local limits. Grays demonstrates his dedication to the community through his passionate service to the Young, Gifted, and Green Youth Environmental Justice Council and the Flint Public Health Youth Academy.
Grays is committed to address important issues and has done so notably through being a panelist on a televised town hall on gun violence covered by his local media.
Grays has attended conferences around the nation including the Annual American Public Health Association Conference (APHA) and the APHA Policy Institute, where he was one of the youngest present. As a member of the 4th Cohort of YAC UNOD, Grays is a rising star in the advocacy world beginning to receive recognition for his commitment to bring a positive change for communities. With his enthusiasm and unrelenting dedication, Grays aims to be a symbol of greatness, paving the way for a future that is just.
“We are the most effect, and we will be the loudest too,” - Isaiah Grays
Makenzie Lawson
Fenton High School Senior, Childhood Cancer Awareness Champion & Childhood Cancer Survivor
Nominated by the Genesee County Prevention Coalition
Makenzie is a childhood cancer survivor who ran a Childhood Cancer Awareness campaign in Fenton Schools. During September 2023 she promoted childhood cancer month throughout the district and community, sharing statistics and promoting awareness, and raising funds for childhood cancer research by selling t-shirts and bracelets she designed and created. This campaign raised $2,580 for the Cure Search Organization. She also volunteers with Child and Family services at Hurley and plans to be a future Nurse so she can continue to help others. She attends Genesee County CTE Early Middle College through Genesee Career Institute. Makenzie is the 2024 Robert & Vickie Weiss Outstanding Youth Award Winner!
Girl Scout Troop #13303
Nominated by Becky Jackson
Girl Scout Troop #13303 is very active in the community. In the last year, they have participated in National Volunteer Day by helping nine organizations with projects (American Cancer Society, Humane Society, Food Bank, etc.), donated books to a local rehabilitation facility, handed out candy at a church trunk-or-treat event, planned Narcan training for the community, played bingo with local seniors, stuffed stockings for foster children in Flint, bagged and boxed food for MLK Day, hosted a community potluck, painted an inspirational mural in Flint, planted pinwheels for child abuse awareness in the community, assisted local police with Drug Takeback Day, and taught younger scouts camp skills and songs.
Ann Greenway
Nominated by Chrelle Loonsfoot, Flint Odyssey House
Ann is the primary counselor for the adolescent program at Flint Odyssey House. She goes above and beyond for each youth she encounters providing both group and individual counseling. She is caring, understanding and empathetic to all their needs and struggles. She plans and coordinates special outings such as walks, bowling, and other fun activities to show the youth there are so many fun things to do outside of using substances. She also provides educational outreach at schools to talk about the effects of substances on young people.
AshleyCae Lee
Nominated by Carolyn Schannon
AshleyCae is a healthcare advocate for underprivileged children and adults. She advocates for the kids to speak out about how they feel emotionally and physically so they can receive proper health care. She’s also a co-founder of Sugar Mama Care Packages which gets food to children and their families free of charge.
Nicholas Prescott
Nominated by AshleyCae Lee, Wiseword Place
Nick is a mental health advocate who uses music as a tool for healing for the youth. He opens space to allow them to speak their truth in a healthy and productive way. He is a strong supporter for Mental Health Awareness for the youth in our community.
Elizabeth Kato
Nominated by Evan Philburn, Genesee Health System
Elizabeth Kato is the principal at Myers Elementary School in Grand Blanc. She has been a true leader in the community and in the Grand Blanc schools. She is dedicated, caring, and hard working. She and her staff saw a need in their community and have gone through a lot of prevention training including QPR, Mental Health First Aid, and AMSR training. They brought back their experience and knowledge to their fellow co-workers.
In the fall of 2023, she and her staff implemented Hope Squad in Grand Blanc High School. Hope Squad is a school-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention program for students. Hope Squad members are students nominated by peers as trustworthy classmates and are trained to identify at-risk students, provide friendship and seek help from a school advisor. Since the implementation, her students have been going strong and even created a Hope Week in the spring of 2024. Hope Week is an exciting time in which the Hope Squad plans activities to help the whole student body learn about suicide prevention. It allowed their squad to be creative and inventive in getting the school to participate and learn key principles for mental wellness.
Georgia Rook
Nominated by: Becky Jackson, Girl Scout Troop #13303
Georgia has been the Treasurer of Girl Scout Troop #13303 for seven years (and will continue despite her granddaughter graduating from the troop!). She has been instrumental in teaching the twelve teen girls in the troop how to be financially responsible and make ethical decisions with their money.
Georgia handles cookie sales every year, showing the girls how to maintain product inventory, set and achieve their goals, and valuable customer service skills. We appreciate that she shares her talents with the troop, and the girls are go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders because of her influence.
Julie Baumgras
Nominated by: Becky Jackson, Girl Scout Troop #13303
Julie is always thinking of others. She never hesitates to jump in and help with enthusiasm! The girls in our Girl Scout Troop feel comfortable talking with her, as she supports them without judgement. Julie is shaping these twelve teen girls into future leaders that demonstrate Courage, Confidence, and Character with her words and deeds, which exemplify core Girl Scout values. She is an inspiration!
Herbert Winfrey
Nominated by Lorraine Dulin, Hope Network-Connexion
Herbert has been a tireless provider of prevention services for 25+ years. Formally a City of Flint school teacher, local leaders spirited him out of his first retirement from Flint Community Schools to start, and head one of the first prevention departments to serve the greater Flint area.
Herbert, already being a skillful educator, moved into the role easily as he is a natural at connecting with others. He has a large capacity for calming others, being patient, and gaining trust. Herbert is open to hearing other opinions and having healthy debates from many perspectives while building new positive prevention skills in others.
Herbert has deep roots in the community where he delivers evidence-based prevention programming to students and families in various schools in the Flint area. These programs including Anger Management, Conflict Resolution and Parenting for Effectiveness, provide the tools people need to lead more positive, healthy lives.
Omar Hyatt
Nominated by Nicole Stroub, Flint Odyssey Outpatient
Omar has worked tirelessly with the youth at Flint Odyssey Adolescent program. He welcomes the teens and their parents into the program and is a constant support throughout their journey. Omar adores his clients almost as much as they adore him. The Juvenile Recovery Court wouldn't be the same without him!
Quantrez Anderson
Nominated by Sunshine Family Cares, Inc.
Quantrez is a Flint native working in outreach for prevention of STI and HIV with other community organizations and individuals by educating and providing resources.
City of Flint SAKI Program (Sexual Assault Kit Initiative)
Nominated by Faith Groesbeck, City of Flint, Office of Public Health
Staff worked hard to get the SAKI grant. They are processing rape kits from over a decade ago, contacting victims and using trauma-informed techniques to see if they are interested in pursuing legal action. What they are exposed to, in terms of the evidence, can be grueling. Holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable is a community-level prevention strategy. People who experience sexual abuse are at an increased risk of substance misuse. This is difficult, necessary, and important work, that is sometimes invisible in our prevention community. Go SAKI team!
Crim Sports
Nominated by Joshua Moore, Social Work Student/Intern, Mindful Flint Initiative & Crim Sports Volunteer
Crim Sports is creating positive childhood experiences (PCEs) for the youth of Flint, and I believe they are more than worthy of recognition. Crim Sports serves over 2,000 student athletes who participate in flag football, soccer, tennis, archery, baseball, basketball, and more. Crim Sports runs after-school sports programming year-round and encourages athletes to participate, learn the fundamentals of the sports, and learn how to be a leader both on and off the field. Crim Sports fills the gap in youth sports our community schools can no longer adequately support. I see the work they do, and I feel they, Traci Pigott and crew, are Prevention Champions.
The Scholars Etiquette and Self Image Institute
Nominated by Jeanine Smith, Parent of a TSESII Scholar
This organization takes the time to mentor and inspire other young ladies in the Genesee County area. They have helped my two daughters build confidence, have given them a voice, and have equipped them to understand womanhood. The organization provides free of charge about 30 weeks of training and then celebrates the youth for their commitment at a formal attire dinner. Its purpose is to teach and influence change in etiquette, self-esteem, career and community service, and self-awareness. It’s a great program.
The African Market
Nominated by Amy Caldwell, Customer
They have the best natural herbs in town fresh from Africa and organic products. The African Market provides various other products from fashion, groceries, supplements, cosmetics and various home needs.
The Peacekeepers Global Initiative Flint Chapter
Nominated by Jalil X., The Peacekeepers Flint
The Peacekeepers engage in Conflict Mediation with the youth to “Squash Beefs before the Grief” which has reduced violence and helped improve the quality of life in our communities. The Peacekeepers have built a bridge between law enforcement and the youth in our community with Conflict Mediation Training. The training deals with biases and perceptions that keep law enforcement and the community from understanding one another and respecting one another.
Ballenger Park Coalition
Nominated by Jordan Johnson, GCPC Youth Mental Health Specialist
A mother’s dedication to her child’s safety brought great change to the Flint community. With the desire to bring a safe environment for her son’s love for basketball, she started a community collaboration to enhance the Ballenger Park on Dupont and Flushing Road.
These cornerstones are known as The Ballenger Park Coalition. Led by Princess Belk and Dionne Johnson, this community effort consists of Flint residents and local organizations who had the same vision and heart for their community.
To keep his heart and passion for the City of Flint alive, Mr. Ballenger dedicated this park to his city in 1935. The Ballenger Park Coalition has partnered with the Ballenger Trust Foundation and the Flint BRAND grant from Habitat for Humanity to bring several enhancements to the Ballenger Park such as park maintenance, restoration of benches, placing barriers to prevent damage to lawn and to reduce negative engagement, and hosting events such as Yoga in the Park (partnered with the CRIM Foundation) for almost a decade.
Through their efforts they have enhanced the quality of life for the residents and youth within that area. Ballenger Park has become a central location where young people and families can fellowship and enjoy the outdoors in a safe and clean environment. They have been a pivotal part of reducing crime and violence in this space and the increase of the quality of life and positive norms within our community.
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