St. John Street: Remembering, Honoring, and Preserving History

In this episode of Philanthropy Speaks, we shine a light on the powerful story of the St. John Street neighborhood, a once-thriving Black community in Flint, Michigan through the lens of the documentary St. John Street: Story of a Neighborhood. This film celebrates the vibrant history and enduring spirit of the St. John Street neighborhood, a once-thriving Black community in Flint. The documentary highlights the neighborhood's rich cultural heritage and the resilience of its residents in the face of urban renewal and the construction of a highway that led to their displacement. 

Host Dan Kildee, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, is joined by director and editor Justin Brown, producer Rodney Brown, and St. John Street Historical Committee President James Wardlow. Together, they explore the documentary, the remarkable history of the St. John Street neighborhood, and the importance of preserving and sharing these stories.

Tune in to learn more about this community, the impact of urban renewal, and how the St. John Street Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint is working to honor its legacy.

Watch the documentary on WKAR-TV, Michigan State University’s PBS station, airing Tuesday, February 4, at 6 p.m., and Thursday, February 6, at 10 p.m. Distributions will expand to PBS stations nationwide and will be available on the PBS streaming application. 

Learn more:

• Community Foundation of Greater Flint’s TRHT work: cfgf.org/trht
• St. John Street Historical Committee: stjohnstreethistoricalcommittee.com
• iMichigan Productions: imichiganproductions.org