Sugar and Spice and Everything (Not) Nice

These gluten-free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles are full of sugar and spice and everything nice. I wish I could say the same of my life lately. The darkness of crime has infiltrated our neighborhood recently. On one day, a young man about to start a family, gunned down at a corner gas station.

Another evening, a single mom clings to her child as thugs, armed with a gun, break into her home. Neighbors threatening to move, because the ugliness has encroached even nearer to their doorstep. Truth be told, all this darkness knocks at the door of my heart too. There are days I live in fear and anger. Not so much fearful of my own safety, but fearful as I don’t know how to make it stop.

Baking is my Therapy

So I turn to baking. There’s something so comforting about the repetition of rolling cookie dough. The small ball of sugary sweetness, gently manipulated in your hand. The added sparkle of sugar, clinging to outside of the dough, like symbiotic glitter.

Baking these gluten-free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles acts like therapy and art all at once. There is almost a sense of hope, as baking becomes the art of the “possible.” You as the baker help these random ingredients form together to make something extraordinary.

Egg Free Cookies

And trust me, these (egg-free!) gluten-free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles are extraordinary. My secret ingredient? Gray Duck Chai concentrate, made from freshly ground spices on the day it is brewed. Crafted by hand, in small batches, and made from organic ingredients that support local economy. Oregon Chai concentrate would work well in these cookies, as well. 

Why We Stay

People ask us all the time why we don’t leave Flint. So much of that answer mirrors the creation of these cookies. These gluten-free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles came about because I had leftover pumpkin to use. (After remaking my chocolate-swirled pumpkin muffins.) I dislike throwing away leftovers. Even the smallest remainder is worth saving and repurposing.

Similarly, so many in Flint feel they are “left over’ or “abandoned.” Especially the kids in my neighborhood, living without fathers or intentional role models. If I gather their potential, add some layer of sparkle to the bitter tang in their lives, isn’t it worth it? Just like these cookies, these kids appear hard on the outside, but a softness hides inside that is worth discovering.

It Takes a Village

We also don’t leave Flint because we also see the investment from so many others, trying to make this city a better place. Young couples moving into the neighborhood, so they can be a resource for others. Businesses setting up shop because they want to be part of building a better community.

Non-profits like Communities First, renovating an abandoned, beat-up school because they know outside appearances don’t determine inner worth. Coffee shops partnering with the local homeless shelter to teach skills and change lives. Flint needs all of our investment, because drastic change requires combined effort.

Inspiration from Others

I didn’t create these gluten-free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles on my own, either. I gained insight from blogs like Sally’s Baking Addiction and The Whole Bite blog and Half Baked Harvest. Half Baked Harvest’s Chai Spice Sugar makes these cookies really phenomenal, while Sally’s wisdom taught me how to make these egg-free. (Without additional substitutes, just like my gluten-free pumpkin donuts!) These ladies share their baking wisdom and insight for all of us trying to make something beautiful from bits of grains and spices.

It Gets Better

So here I sit, sharing my heart and this recipe for gluten-free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles. They’re made with love and creativity and belief that that things can get better. That a gathering of simple things and simple people can add sweetness to the day of someone else.

It may take getting your hands dirty. Like these cookies you may get rolled around a bit, squished at times. However, if you’re like me, you realize it molds you into something new. Something different than you expected, but it changes your life for the better. That is, if you let it.

Time Well Spent

As I write this, we have just entered the season of advent. The church defines it as time of waiting and preparation. A time of anticipation and hope. While the holidays can seem hectic, may we enjoy the simplicity of baking cookies and drinking tea and simply spending time with those around us.

Even when we use that time helping clean up broken glass or giving a ride to the store or hugging the heartbroken. The miracle of Christmas isn’t just that Jesus was born. The miracle was that He saw our crazy mess and decided to “move into the neighborhood” anyway. May we be just as bold.

Other Pumpkin Based Recipes

Looking for more uses for canned pumpkin? If you need it egg free, these two ingredient pumpkin donuts are my FAVORITE!  I love these small batch pumpkin muffins, swirled with Nutella! This decadent small batch gluten free pumpkin roll is a sure winner as well! And of course, the holidays aren’t complete without pumpkin pie.

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Gluten Free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles

Course Recipes

Keyword egg free cookies, gluten free snickerdoodles, pumpkin snickerdoodles

Prep Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 42 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

• 2 cups gluten-free flour I used Krusteaz
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• optional 1 tsp corn starch
• 1 stick butter softened (or vegan butter)
• 1/3 c brown sugar
• 2/3 c white sugar
• 1/2 c pumpkin 114 g, room temperature
• 2 tbsp chai concentrate or less depending on preference

Chai Spice Sugar from Half Baked Harvest

• 1/3 c sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/4 tsp cloves

Instructions

• In a small bowl, measure the gluten-free flour. This is best done with the “spoon and level” method. Lightly spoon the flour into the measure cup and then use a flat edge to level off the excess. 
• To the flour add the baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. *When making the batter, I thought it was too wet and added the cornstarch. I would suggest baking one or two cookies prior to adding it. However, corn starch often adds a softness to cookies that is wonderful! *
• In a separate larger bowl, cream the butter and sugars together. Next, add the pumpkin. (Make sure it is not super cold, as cold pumpkin will harden the butter.) 
• Finally, instead of adding traditional vanilla, use up to 2 tbsp chai concentrate. As these cookies do not contain egg, you can add the chai concentrate to taste. Place batter in refrigerator and allow to firm for at least an hour. (Most gluten-free cookie batters benefit from refrigeration.) 
• Remove batter from refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• In a small container, mix together the Chai Spice Sugar ingredients. Using a large tablespoon, scoop out some batter, and roll between palms to create a ball. Next, coat dough ball in Chai Spice Sugar blend. Next, flatten the dough ball between your palms. Finally, if desired, coat the flattened cookie with an extra dusting of the Chai Spice Sugar. I highly recommend it! 
• Bake cookies at least an inch apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes. (I accidentally baked one batch for 16 minutes and they still turned out just fine. I assume this is due to the moisture in the pumpkin.) 
• Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Makes approximately 2 dozen cookies. 

What speaks “Christmas” into your heart? What are your favorite cookies to make? Please share your story with me below. I promise I’ll read and  respond! 

** This post does contain affiliate links. Purchases made through those links help support this blog with no extra expense to you. Thank you for your continued support!**

Originally Published December 2017

The post Gluten-Free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

While people like to talk smack about Flint, we have a lot of great things to offer. From science and art museums to auditoriums and more, there are so many reasons to visit Flint. One of the highlights of our downtown area is the Flint Farmers Market, which everyone should visit. Make sure to stop at Hills’ Cheese Stand!

Where is the Flint Farmers’ Market?

The Flint Farmer’s Market has been located in many places in its 150 year history. It moved to downtown Flint in 2014, and it wow located at 300 E. First St. Readers named it “America’s Most Loved Farmers’ Market” in 2011. In 2021, CNN named the Flint Farmers’ Market one of the Top 10 markets in the country.

The market offers ample parking and is located near the MTA Transit Station. It is situated close to the University of Michigan – Flint campus, and I- 475.

When is the Flint Farmers’ Market Open?

Regular market days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, year round. Some businesses are open on additional days, such as Steady Eddy’s and The Market Tap.

Other Market Features

The Flint Farmers Market building also houses the Hurley Children’s Center, which is open Monday thru Friday. They offer well child visits, vaccinations, nutrition counseling, post-operative follow up, and much more.

The market also offers a hall for rental, and a demo kitchen used to teach about healthy eating. In addition, there is a commercial kitchen that allows vendors to prep for their stalls.

What Vendors Offer Gluten Free Options?

I spent some time interviewing some of the inside food vendors at the Flint Farmers’ Market, asking about their gluten free options. I did not talk to outside market vendors, as they mostly sell produce. Below I share some of their answers with you.

Lori’s Clean Cuisine – 100% Gluten Free

1) Why did you choose to offer a completely gluten free menu?

I try to eat gluten-free most of the time because it makes me feel better all the way around. For me, it was hard to find true gluten-free/clean options that I wanted. That was the main reason I chose to be a farmers market gluten-free Vendor. Not to mention, there were very few options here at the market as well.

Another service, I take pride in, is offering to work with customer dietary restrictions. I can do this by substituting ingredients when needed. That’s also why I do not pre-make my bowls.

2) I know that everything is gluten free, and that you offer vegan options. Is your menu also completely free of any other allergens,such as soy?

I try very hard to avoid soy. Whenever I have a recipe that calls for soy sauce, I will always use Braggs amino liquids or coconut aminos

95% of what I do is also dairy free. All of my bowls are dairy free unless a customer chooses to add cheese or they choose one of my homemade dressings that has a Greek yogurt for a base. And the only freezer meal that contains dairy is my ranch chicken chili.

I also use all organic ingredients, as much as I possibly can. Non GMO, for sure. Lastly, I have a little “grocery store” filled with organic & gluten free products.

3) What steps do you take when preparing meals with other allergens, such as peanuts?

Since my number one seller is my Pad Thai Bowl (which contains peanuts) I can never say that I’m peanut free. However, if someone lets me know of a peanut allergy, everything is wiped down, new gloves and utensils are used, etc

4) Do you use oats or oat milk in anything you prepare?

I use organic gluten free sprouted oats when needed. My go to milks are unsweetened almond and unsweetened coconut milk

5) Do you have any desserts at your stall (I think i noticed other snacks like chips, etc.)

I just started selling my Chia Fruit Salsa, Pineapple Mango Pico de Gallo, sweet and spicy Mango Salsa and Rainbow Fruit Cups.

Late spring thru Fall I’ll have gourmet chocolate covered frozen bananas. Dairy free options are available too.

Follow Lori’s Clean Cuisine on their website / Instagram

Sweet Peaces Vegan Bistro

At Sweet Peaces we offer a gluten free bakery, pantry staples, snacks, and daily soup. I follow a vegan diet, and opened Sweet Peaces to cater to people who do not eat animal products. We added more gluten free friendly items as demand grew over the past 10 years.

To avoid cross contact, we use tongs and gloves. We wipe down all prep areas thoroughly 3 times. Our bakery case contains only gluten free baked goods, which are prepared in a dedicated gluten free space.

Follow Sweet Peaces on Facebook / Instagram

Say Cheese 810

Instead of offering gluten free pasta, they allow you to build your own Cheesy Potato Bowl. While they do not have a separate dedicated gluten free prep space, they do take precautions for gluten free customers. When preparing a potato bowl, they change gloves, use separate utensils, and cook gluten free orders in a separate pan. They do state that gluten free items are cooked in a shared convection oven.

“Thank you for messaging me! We try our best to keep potatoes from cross contact of any other food source. Gloves and utensils are all new and clean for guests with a gluten allergy and only used once. The next bowl gets clean utensils.” There is no upcharge for gluten free orders.

Follow Say Cheese 810 on Facebook / Instagram

Steady Eddy’s – Sit Down Restaurant

Gluten free options at Steady Eddy’s include omelettes and sandwiches made on gluten free bread. They do charge extra for gluten free bread, which is noted on the menu. My favorite sandwich is their veggie club.

They do not have a dedicated prep space for gluten free meals. However they do change their gloves and use separate utensils. They also have a separate toaster for gluten free bread. In addition, they offer many vegetarian options.

Follow Steady Eddy’s on Facebook / Instagram

SOS Ice Cream (Scoopful of Sweetness)

We offer several ice cream flavors that contain no gluten. S.O.S. Ice Cream serves Hershey brand ice cream, plus a few flavors from an independent dairy. For those who can’t eat dairy, we also serve Hershey’s Oatmazing ice cream.

We have designated and sanitized scoops. We do not double scoop (which means we don’t scoop 2 different flavors with the same scoop). If a customer prefers, we will open a new container. We personally have gluten dietary restrictions in our family, and we want everyone to feel comfortable.

We have gluten free cookies, cones and starting soon we hope to carry homemade gluten free waffle cones. Homemade ice cream cakes are in the future as well.

We carry gluten free cake pops and can accommodate special orders as well.

We offer gluten free milk shakes, and clean/sanitize every blender after each milk shake is made.

Follow SOS on Facebook / Instagram

Market Tap

I love visiting the Market Tap. Located upstairs at the Flint Farmer’s Market, they offer delicious adult beverages and often have live music. They have many hard cider options, either on tap or in cans. In addition, The Market Tap offers wine and spirits, including Michigan made Gypsy vodka.

They offer extensive outdoor patio seating, with a gorgeous view of downtown Flint. **Note, The Market Tap is also open on Friday, in addition to the regular Tuesday / Thursday/ Saturday schedule.

Follow Market Tap on Facebook / Instagram

Other Flint & Genesee County Gluten Free Options

There are many neat place to visit in Genesee County. That includes the Capital Theater, Sloan Science Museum, the Flint Children’s Museum, and so much more. I’m a huge fan of the many murals around the Flint area.

As for gluten free dining options, Flint Crepe Co. offers gluten free crepes. The Social House on Fenton Rd offers many gluten free options, and Teta’s Grill in Flushing has an extensive gluten free menu. Brothers Brunch House in Burton makes amazing gluten free pancakes, and has a dedicated prep space.

Stay tuned for a later blog post about more Flint gluten free dining options.

Address, Hours and Contact Info

Flint Farmers Market

300 E 1st St, Flint, MI 48502

Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Market Tap is open on Fridays. Steady Eddy’s is open on additional days.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

The Flint Farmers Market is one of many Michigan gluten free dining options I recommend on my blog. Looking for options in bigger cities? Check out my suggestions for Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. Plus, check out my Michigan gluten free baker list!

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Not every city offers a public gluten free bakery. For instance, I live in Flint, Michigan. For me, the closest dedicated gluten free bakery is located at least 30 minutes away. Which is why I appreciate small home-based bakers. They open their home to make holidays possible.

Little G’s Bakery, located in Grand Blanc Michigan, offers special order cakes, prepared in a dedicated gluten free kitchen. Owner Gretchen Wallace loves being able to use her baking skills to make others feel special, especially those with dietary restrictions. Read more about this cottage law business, through my interview with Gretchen, below.

1. What inspired you to become a dedicated gluten free baker?

I have always loved the creative aspect of decorating cakes. My focus shifted to creating gluten-free cakes after my Celiac diagnosis. Now, my youngest is following in mom’s footsteps with gluten issues. Therefore, I work hard to make sure we get to enjoy fun cakes on all of our birthdays.

2. Are there other highlights of your baked goods? Dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free etc.?

The other top 8 allergens are present in my kitchen. I make vegan cakes upon request.

3. What steps do you take to guarantee your products are gluten-free?

All of my cake ingredients are certified gluten free. I don’t use any gluten free wheat starch. I never use oat flour in my cakes. I do occasionally use oats in other things, but I only use oats that are labeled gluten free.

I am a dedicated gluten-free baker and no longer use wheat flour in my kitchen. The space I make my baked cooks is 95% gluten free. I do have a High Functioning autistic son who has two (pre-packaged) foods that he eats that are not gluten free. Those items are always put in bowls for him that are not used for baking.

4. Can you share a story of a customer who’s been greatly impacted by Little G’s Bakery?

A couple families have become repeat customers. They express how happy they are to have something cute, and something they and/or their family can all enjoy. They have always commented that other family members haven’t even realized they were eating gluten free cake.

5. What would you like consumers to know about Little G’s Bakery?

I love pouring my heart into creating a custom design, with the customer. Even though they eat gluten free, they should still enjoy a fun cake on their special day. Many of us with gluten issues do not get to indulge on special days. Therefore, I love that I can be the one to provide a little indulgence for all of us as well.

Little G’s Location, Hours and Contact Info

Home Based Business in Grand Blanc, MI

Preferred Method of contact – 989-239-2692 or email

Facebook | Instagram | Email

Little G’s is one of many gluten free bakers across the state of Michigan.  Click this link to see a comprehensive list of all the gluten-free bakeries in Michigan, complete with interactive map! Looking for more local eats? Check out my list of gluten free baked good options at Michigan Farmers Markets. 

The post Little G’s Gluten Free Cakes & More- Grand Blanc, MI appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Coney Dogs: Detroit Vs. Flint Style

My husband and I grew up an hour away from Flint, in Lansing. Truth be told, I don’t think I’d ever eaten a coney dog as a child. When we moved to Flint, every other restaurant appeared to be named a “Coney Island.” A family diner, which served hamburgers and basic entrees. But their menu fixture was always a Flint Style Coney Dog.

In Michigan, one can get a coney dog served Detroit or Flint style. The main difference, as fas as I can ascertain, is that a Detroit style coney dog is “wetter” than a Flint Coney Dog. That, and most Detroit style recipes only use ground beef in the sauce. Flint coney dogs include chopped up hot dogs. And no other hot dog will do than Flint-owned gluten free Koegel Hot Dogs!

How to Build a Flint Coney Dog

To make my Flint coney dogs gluten free, I used Schar gluten free hot dog rolls. I love that they are shelf stable until I’m ready to use them. Aside from being gluten free, they are also egg and dairy free, and contain no gmo ingredients. Most coney dog recipes called for steamed buns. Therefore, I placed my Schar hot dog rolls in the microwave, with a cup of water, and warmed them for 40-60 seconds. A great tip I learned from Kathleen Flinn’s recipe for Flint-Style Coney Islands.

Traditional Flint Coney Dogs are topped with onions and mustard. No ketchup here. While you can use whichever mustard you like, traditional recipes call for yellow mustard. Most yellow mustard on the market contains no gluten. The only excpetion to the rule, I’ve found, is Colman’s Mustard, which contains wheat.

What to Enjoy with a Flint Coney Dog

It’s no secret that I’m a big supporter of all things Michigan made. Great snacks to enjoy along with hot dogs include potato chips, like Better Made. If you crave a pickle with your dog, McClure’s Pickles fit the bill. Wanting to complete the meal with a ball park vibe? Try some Second Nature nuts. And I always recommend finishing off any meal with a scoop of Michigan Made Hudsonville Ice Cream.

What beverage should you enjoy with your Flint coney dog? No soda (or pop) is more Michigan than Faygo. Unfortunately, I recently realized they’ve now added sucralose to all their beverages, so I can no longer drink them. Eat Like No One created a list of other Michigan Made Pop brands, such as Towne Club and Vernors. Looking for something more “adult?” Check out my list of Michigan gluten free alcholic beverages.

Flint Strong

When I tell people I live in Flint, their first reaction is often “How’s the water?” Better. Much better. However, there’s lots of great things about Flint that get overlooked. Even in the decade I’ve lived here, a resurgence is starting to help change the image of the city. Busineses continue to invest in Flint, as I’ve previously shared in my post on reconstruction.

For instance, we have an amazing coffee scene in Flint. We have our own hockey team, called the Flint Firebirds. Our brand new soccer team, the Flint City Bucks, won the championship in their division in their first year as a team. The college cultural area includes great museums, and more.

Flint Public Art Project

My favorite new initiative in our city is the Flint Public Art Project.  Over the past few years, painters have turned boring building walls into major works of art. We now have over 100 murals throughout the city. They include murals of Olympic Gold medal winner Clarissa Sheilds, Beyonce, and various sports stars.

However, it’s the murals of the not so famous that I love. Like the man on the Blackstone’s building, pictured above. Or the children, hiding among the sunflowers, at the Ennis building. Or the mural of the homeless man, with the weight of life etched into his face, at the Catholic ministries building. I highly encourage you to take a trip to Flint to experience them for yourself. Allow this Flint Public Art Project map to be your guide!

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Gluten Free Coney Dogs

Ingredients

For Chili Mixture

• 1 tsp oil or butter
• 1/2 onion finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic finely chopped (1/2 tsp)
• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 2 hot dogs finely chopped
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1-2 tsp cumin
• 4 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup water more if needed
• 1/4 tsp salt
• pepper to taste

For Coney Dogs

• 4-6 Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns I used Schar
• 4-6 gluten free hot dogs cooked (I use Koegel)
• 1/2 Sweet vidalia onion diced
• yellow mustard

Instructions

• Finely chop one half of a sweet Vidalia onion, and garlic. (I actually buy jars of pre-chopped garlic, and use 1/2 tsp.) Also finely chop hot dogs. 
• Add oil or butter to the skillet, and heat. Add onions and saute for approximately 5 minutes, until soft. 
• Add ground beef, hot dogs, and garlic. Cook until ground beef is no longer pink.
• Once meat is cooked, add paprika, cumin, tomato paste, water, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, allowing beef to continue to break down. Add extra water if needed to prevent meat from drying out and burning. The finished sauce is intended to be dry, not soupy. It will look a bit like Sloppy Joes, just not as saucy. 
• To assemble coney dogs, steam buns in the microwave with one cup of water, and heat for 40-60 seconds. 
• Place cooked hot dog in bun, top with 2-3 tablespoons of coney sauce, diced onions, and mustard.

**Schar provided the ingredients for this post, and compensated me for my time. This post does contain affiliate links. Purchases made through those links help support this blog with no extra expense to you. Thank you for your continued support!**

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… to Push for Justice

Flint continues. There are so many words I can use to finish that phrase. For certain, living in Flint continues to present its challenges. It would take all my fingers and toes to count the number of times people have suggested that we move. I’d be lying if I say my husband and I haven’t discussed it. However, there is a remnant here in Flint who envisions a better future. Better water and schools. Better economy and community. For certain, it’s not going to be easy.

Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not naive.  Six years after I shared about the “Flint Water Crisis”, our battle for legal justice continues. In the meantime, most of our water lines have been replaced. Our water quality has been restored.. This Politico article explains why we have clean water, but people still don’t trust it. Until all lead lines are replaced, we are encouraged to still filter our water. 

The previous mayor and city council canceled a previous agreement to get water from the Karegnondi Water Authority, because of concern of our inability to treat it properly. Instead, we agreed to pay Detroit for water for the next 30 years. Sadly, it may take 30 years to replace the trust our city has broken. A new mayor has us in negotiations to undo this.

… to Fight Crime

Flint continues to battle high crime. Police response times are terrible. Someone stole our central air a few summers ago. The police department never even showed up. Citizens have become apathetic in calling police for the crimes in their neighborhood. Therefore, statistics look like crime has diminished here in Flint. Flint continues to have its silence shattered by the gunshots of hateful violence. A few yearss ago, a gas station attendant was murdered in broad daylight, a victim of angry drug dealers. Only a block from my house.  It pierced my heart, and I shared about it in my gluten-free Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles recipe.

There are so many more negative things that I could highlight. To be honest, I have a hard time focusing on the good myself, sometimes. However, Flint continues to have bright shining moments, if you look for them amidst the darkness. New investment. Education expansion. Demolition of blighted houses, making way for new development. Sources of joy.

Flint continues to persevere.

There are people here with vision. Let me share a few, and bare with me if I run long-winded.

Communities First, Inc

Don’t pass this video by. PLEASE watch it. It makes me cry. It makes me cry, because the brokenness you see in this video is literally my neighborhood. The burnt out, abandoned apartments you see in the first 30 seconds were only half a mile from our house. But now they have been torn down. Natural beauty has now replaced ugly destruction.

We walk these streets. We volunteered at the abandoned, graffiti – covered Coolidge Elementary Glenn speaks of. However, it also makes me cry tears of joy. Of hope, because Communities First, Inc. has decided to take a stand. As Flint continues to rebound, it is non-profits like this that will change this city. If you want to help Flint rebound, invest in organizations like these.

St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center

The N.E.W. Life Center started when two nuns had a desire to see real change happen. What started as a concern to clothe the needy turned into a full scale sewing educational center and business. New Life Center started training women to sew and make scrubs for local hospitals. Now they clothe hundreds in Flint and beyond. Maybe thousands, as they now produce high quality vests for one of Michigan’s most iconic brands, Stormy Kromer.

New Life Center does more than job training. They house a food pantry, run a lawn care business run for men looking for jobs, and so much more. You can read more about their amazing accomplishments in this Flintside article. Want to invest in their vision? Visit their page to donate time, materials or money. Buy a tartan red and black Stormy Kromer vest,  which may allow them to employ and impact even more women.

Flint Crepe Company, Robb Klaty and Coffee

In my opinion, one cannot talk about downtown Flint without mentioning Robb Klaty. During a time when others were quick to leave Flint, Robb set up shop. Quite literally. Robb opened the Flint Crepe Company location in downtown Flint in 2011. He focused on great food with locally sourced ingredients. He also chose not to focus on himself. Every Tuesday a different charity is highlighted that receives a portion of the days tips.

Klaty’s investment continues to factor into Flint’s reconstruction. What started as one small business turned into a continuing downtown expansion. He now owns Tenacity Brewing, where he brews his own beer, and now Heyday Coffee. Klaty opened Heyday coffee when he realized he could provide an outlet for Blue Line Donuts, a business run by the local homeless shelter that used the project to teach men and women business skills.

Kettering University and the University Avenue Corridor Coalition

The transformation that Flint continues to experience along the University Avenue Corridor is astounding. Kettering University, formerly General Motors Institute, realized the positive impact they could, and should have on the community around it. Mobilizing surrounding businesses, they inspired the creation of the University Avenue Corridor Coalition. The result? Blighted, dangerous homes finally removed. A historic football stadium now resurrected to its former glory.

The change to the neighborhood is nothing short of breathtaking. Maybe breathtaking is the wrong word. Maybe the word is breath giving, as it restores hope. Want to help further the hope? Run in the CRIM that passes through this space. Attend a Flint City Bucks (USL league) soccer game. Did you known they’re national champtions for their league? Donate to Carriage Town Ministries, benefiting the homeless and the poor.

Uptown Reinvestment Initiatives

Flint continues to improve, partially at the hand of major investors. Uptown Reinvestment, wanting to “build a vibrant future for Flint,” invested big bucks into our downtown. With their help we have a new Flint Farmer’s Market, voted one of the best in the country. Uptown’s investment helped create the new Michigan State University campus downtown. This campus focuses on healthcare, training interns at local hospitals. Also, they use their resources to help mitigate the effects of the Flint Water Crisis

Most recently, Uptown’s passion for making old things new included the grand restoration of the Capitol Theater. Originally opened in the 1920’s, a new generation of Flint residents now appreciations the beauty of the past. Want to help in the reinvestment of Flint? Visit the Farmer’s Market. Take in a show at the renovated theater. Dine downtown, and enjoy the beauty of our city.

Flint City Art Project

In 2019, the Flint City Art Project started an ambitious goal. To paint beautiful murals across the city of Flint. Murals of chidren, the homeless, Beyonce, and so much more. Even Anthony Bourdain. Over 40 exist, and the Flintside website created amap to see all of the Flint murals, in less than an hour. It’s a perfect reason for a roadtrip.

And So Many Others

There are so many others investing in this city, more than I can possibly name. (Flintside strives to share many of them. I highly suggest subscribing to their online newsletter.) People and organizations and businesses that chose to stand up to fear and put down roots. Support them.

Come to a Flint Firebirds hockey game. Donate to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, as they feed over 330,000 people a year. That’s what Flint needs, people and businesses seeking out the good and encouraging it to grow.

As Flint continues to rebound, those of us living here will roll up our sleeves to help. You can invest in us too. Donate to those doing good. Visit our city. Run through our streets. Buy our goods. Join us for a cup of coffee. Quit using Flint on social media as a meme or potlical clapback.. And although some gave me flack for it four years ago, continue to pray for our city.

Pray that hearts and minds change, both for our citizens and our leaders. Most of all, stand up for us. When the media kicks us down, when memes make light of our stuggles, speak up for those who might be starting to lose their voice. Lend us a bit of your emotional strength, maybe your financial support, and let us show you just how amazing Flint can be.

The post Flint Continues: (Flint Water) Crisis to (Re) Construction appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

By now, the world at large has heard about the Flint Water Crisis. I’m going to share my own opinions about how we got here and how to fix it. What I’m about to say might not be popular. Then again, what’s right isn’t always popular, and what’s popular isn’t always right.

The city of Flint is in crisis. At the moment the lack of clean water is in the news media. You can’t miss it. Rachel Maddow is talking about it. It’s a topic on Fox News. Even Cher has thrown her thoughts into the public forum. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the matter. So I guess it’s okay to share mine.

It’s seems impossible to think that a city in the United States, in 2016, can be in such a state. How is it possible that a city that was built for 200,000 people can have an entire water system that is unfit to drink? How is it that a city, once home to the creation of General Motors, has been sending out water to its citizens that is full of lead? I wish the answer was simple, but I’m not sure it is.

In truth, our city has been in crisis for decades. If you were to drive through certain streets, you would see the vacant fields, boarded up business, and charred remains of where houses once stood. Our community members are just as damaged. Their sense of hope has left, walls of distrust built up, broken homes where single mothers are left to pick up the remains of their family.

Our government has been in crisis for a long time too. In 2002, citizens recalled mayor Woodrow Stanley for mismanaging the city and placing it in $40 million dollars worth of debt. It left the city highly divided. (By the way, citizens elected Stanley to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2008.  Let that sink in.) That was the first time the state sent someone in to help, as the city was in dire straits. City council president, Scott Kincaid, said at the time “he did not believe a financial emergency existed.” (Kincaid was the president of the city council here until just a year ago.)

Then started a long history of people sent to help. Darnell Earley became the temporary mayor after Stanley resigned. (Same Darnell Early that was here during the water switch. Same Darnell Early now in charge of Detroit Schools.) But you know what, things got better. We were no longer under state management in 2004 and we had a new, publicly elected mayor, Don Williamson. (Nevermind that Williamson was convicted for several business scams in 1962 and served 3 years in prison before being paroled. What’s the worst that could happen?) Skepticism aside, we were out of the red, had balanced budgets, and even received a national budget award in 2006. But somehow by 2009 we were in the hole again, to the tune of $14 million dollars. So of course, the citizens voted to recall Williamson, just like Stanley. Before he could be ousted, he resigned and moved away. And once again the state stepped in to help.

Enter the Emergency Manager Law

And so enters the era of the Emergency Manager law. A law passed by the Michigan legislature, our representatives, giving the governor the power to send someone to go in to a city and basically take over. Many decried that it was an attack on democracy. That we lost the right to govern ourselves.

But from where I stand, we haven’t done such a good job at taking our role as citizens seriously. Those governing this city who have been elected by us haven’t chosen very wisely. They elected a mayor with a known criminal record. We currently have a city council member that is a convicted murderer. We have another city council member who has been charged with disturbing the peace, during city council meetings, since 2009. Within a month of being elected, he was arrested for drunk driving, while driving the wrong way down the freeway. He has been allowed to keep his council seat. (His original trial found him not guilty on a technicality. He has since been retried and is serving 28 days in jail.) ONLY Forty percent of voters turned out for that November 5th, 2013 election.

Why do I say all this? Why do I bring up our past when we are facing such a health crisis now? Why aren’t I shouting in anger at the governor for letting this happen to us? Why aren’t I demanding the repeal of the emergency manager law?

Because it’s not just that easy. Because our city has over a decade’s worth of history of our own mismanagement. Because true change can’t happen until we do the soul searching of what got us here. Because I’m tired of the culture of hate and bickering.

You have no idea what it is like to read a Flint Journal article online, only to see neighbors within the county talk about how our city is good for nothing. How they say it should be bombed, and that the last person should simply turn off the lights. It’s hard to hear your own neighbors say how desperately they want to leave, when they are the very people you are sacrificing your time and energy to serve. It’s heartbreaking to go to the funeral of teenage students, because they’ve killed each other over an argument. You have no idea what it’s like to have police not show up after your house has been burglarized, because the city doesn’t have money to pay for an adequate police force. Or to hear AK-47 gunshots for 20 minutes on New Year’s Eve, practically coming from your backyard on New Year’s Eve, only to be told by cops that there’s nothing they can do and to just deal with it.

And that’s why this citizen wants to see the mass media go away. The hype to go away. The nasty viral tweets, snarky Facebook memes, and political grandstanding to go away. They weren’t concerned with the day to day moral poisoning of the city. Why are they concerned now?

Can you understand? We’ve been used by pawns by our own local government for far too long. We don’t need Michael Moore or Cher or Rachel Maddow or potential presidents to use our city for talking points and ratings. To use fear and hate to feed the divide we already have in this city.

Because hate can’t drive out hate. Only love can do that. Flint needs love. We need hope. Yes we need clean and safe water. But we also need words of healing, prayers of concern, people who are willing to quietly work behind the scenes to do the hard work of real change.

So if you’re not interested in showing love and providing healing, I’m going to kindly asked you to keep your opinions to yourself. Because after years of deception, we need truth and honesty. Not opinion.

And please forgive me, as I realize I might seem ungrateful for the help we have received. I’m not. There are people volunteering from cities near and far, going out day to day in the cold. Delivering water and filters to shut-ins, those without vehicles to purchase safe water. I am eternally grateful for them.

I’m thankful for those who stand up locally, who fight for truth and demand action. Who see a problem and are working for change, writing senators, scheduling meetings behind the scenes, the countless who are giving of their time to make things happen. Those people are truly changing the world.

I appreciate the outrage that is moving people to personally help. To be love with skin on.

Here are 5 ways you can get involve in helping the Flint Water Crisis.

Thank you Paul Christiansen for this list.

1) PRAY. PRAY. PRAY.

Pray for the people of Flint. Pray for those in decision-making roles. Pray that the necessary resources will be provided for both for short-term needs and for the long-term infrastructure issues. Pray that hearts will be changed and people will listen to divine wisdom to overcome this terrible issue.

2) STAY INFORMED.

There is a lot of hype and sensationalism out there right now over this issue. It is important to get the facts.Here are three links that can give helpful, accurate information. (The first is info from Virginia Tech who did extensive testing in Flint and helped get the state to take this issue seriously. The second is a site organized by our State Senator with info for residents. The third is an article by Michigan Public Radio, who was on top of this story when no one else believed.)
https://flintwaterstudy.org
https://flintwaterinfo.com
https://michiganradio.org/…/how-people-flint-were-stripped-b…

This is a hot topic nationally right now and it’s getting alot of publicity, but it will fade from the national consciousness as soon as another big issue arises. The people of Flint will still be here. Hopefully, the coverage does actual good for those hurting and affected.

3) DONATE TIME TO DELIVER WATER DOOR TO DOOR.

Manpower is needed and for individuals and groups looking for a way to serve, this is a great option for getting boots on the ground. The mayor, county sheriff, and national guard are coordinating the effort, but they are calling for more help. Flint has close to 100,000 residents, and 40% of Flint’s population lives below the poverty line. Water was already a major need before all this happened, but now even more so.

**Update- water is NOT being delivered door to door right ow. Instead there are water distribution sites in around the city.**

4) DONATE WATER.

Water donated can be taken to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan or the Mission of Hope church/shelter. There are others, but those are two of the best. If you aren’t in Flint, check your area as several cities are coordinating donation efforts to bring water to Flint.

** Water donations are no longer needed.**

5) DONATE MONEY TO A CHARITY HELPING WITH EFFORT.

This allows local organizations to purchase water, filters, and supplies that are needed. The United Way of Genesee County is one great possibility and here’s their link to donate. Click here.

“The United Way of Genesee County has set up this fund for the purchase of filters, bottled water, emergency support services and prevention efforts. 100% of the fund is used for these projects and no Administrative Fee is assessed.”

UPDATE – February 2018

It’s been three years since our household has first started using a water filter. Things are getting better. Pipes are being replaced.  Businesses are moving back in. Vestiges of hope are being restored. Read more about our (Re)Construction. 

The post The Flint Water Crisis from the Eyes of a Citizen appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.