Flint renames senior center after late councilman Eric Mays

Flint, Mi – The town has renamed a just lately just lately just lately extracted senior citizen in honor of a metropolis councilor who represented the world the place it has been positioned for greater than 10 years.

Mayor Sheldon Neeley and family members of the late Eric Mays unveiled an indication within the heart on West House Avenue on Tuesday 18 March and adjusted it from the Hasselbring Senior Middle within the Mays Senior and Group Service Middle.

“On behalf of the household I wish to thanks all for popping out for this dedication,” stated Reginald Mays, a brother of Eric Mays. “It’s an honor for this household to be right here and to be included on this dedication. We look ahead to persevering with to assist the middle.”

Hasselbring stood within the heart of a tug of battle during which town was concerned and a non-profit operator who supplied companies within the Stadsgebouw for 9 years.

The town took the constructing again after a lawsuit earlier this month, and the previous non -profit operator – additionally referred to as Hasselbring Senior Middle – moved to James E. Kennedy Christian Life Middle on West Pierson Street.

The Hasselbring group continues to work with financing a provincial senior companies -Millage, and town has additionally utilized for financing for each the Mays and McKinley facilities.

McKinley beforehand operated as a senior heart, however has not supplied these packages or companies for a number of years.

Neeley stated on Tuesday that the seniors of town are “coarsely deprived” as a result of the state of emergency managers have decreased companies and closed the group and senior facilities greater than ten years in the past.

The mayor referred to as Mays a champion for the world with the middle that now bears its identify.

“This area is your area,” stated Neeley. It’s the area of the folks. That is our heart. That is our metropolis and we’ve got to work collectively. ‘

The Senior Middle was initially named after Walter T. Hasselbring, a board member of town parks, florist and businessman in Flint, in line with town. The encompassing park nonetheless bears the identify of Hasselbring.

Samuel Stewart, a member of the brand new advisory board of the middle, stated on Tuesday that he’s thinking about serving to the Mays Middle recuperate to assist town the place he labored as a firefighter.

“It is virtually like Gumbo – I name it right here in Flint,” stated Stewart. “The recipe is that everybody makes use of their very own particular love and dedication to make issues occur to enhance Flint.”

“I used to come back right here every so often. I used to be not a member who all the time got here, however I see the adjustments. They’re very optimistic.”

Center director Gennois Wiggins stated she is striving to convey packages and companies that seniors need.

“One of many issues we initially did was a small focus group … Speaking with a number of the seniors, their households, who attempt to discover out what they need, they’ve enjoyable,” stated Wiggins, who labored within the heart 20 years in the past as a programmer.

“The seniors have modified (since then) …,” she stated. “I can not simply give them bingo – though they nonetheless love bingo – however I simply cannot give them sitting packages. They need motion … so it’s a must to plan who they’re.”

Mays served his third time period within the Flint Council when died on 24 February 2024. He was a political lightning distance, identified for his outgoing conduct, widespread contact and collisions with different councilors and metropolis officers.