SIPI Newsletter - Summer, 2026

Look around...hope is happening.

At SIPI, we have the privilege of seeing firsthand what happens when passionate people, strong organizations, and committed partners put their visions to work. We see ideas become programs, vacant spaces become community assets, emerging leaders find their confidence, and partnerships create opportunities that once felt out of reach. Witnessing that work gives us hope, and inspired us to create a place where more of those stories can be shared. 

At SIPI, we believe hope is only the beginning. Through partnership, service, and shared action, we work alongside organizations and leaders to turn hope into vision... and vision into something real.

In this issue, you’ll meet the leaders who turned a seven-week cohort into a lasting network of support; see a vacant Saginaw school taking shape as a vibrant center for children and families; and visit a Civic Park initiative transforming underused land into food, jobs, leadership opportunities, and renewed neighborhood pride.

You’ll also meet SIPI’s summer interns, follow a young Flint artist learning how to turn talent into opportunity through mentorship, hear from an entrepreneur whose journey has taken her from mentee to mentor, and catch up on new events, connections, and opportunities growing throughout the Flint entrepreneurial ecosystem.

These stories are different, but each shows what can happen when vision is met with action, service is rooted in relationship, and people choose to move forward together. Whether you are a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, educator, funder, volunteer, business owner, or advocate, thank you for being part of the community making this progress possible.

Because hope isn't just something we believe in, it's something we build, together. And as you'll see in the stories ahead, hope is happening.

 Every organization arrives with different challenges.

Some are searching for sustainable funding. Others are building stronger boards, planning for succession, growing programming, or creating strategic plans.

This spring, leaders representing organizations across Flint, including ReImage Collective, Invisible Giants Legacy & Leadership Foundation, The Cookie Girl Foundation, Artdillo Studios, Flint Film Foundation, Village Information Center, Court Street Village Nonprofit Housing Corporation, the International Center of Greater Flint, Empower HER PATHAway, and St'Art- came together for SIPI's Spring 2026 Unity in Action “Good Trouble” Cohort.

While each participant had unique goals, they quickly discovered something in common: None of them were meant to solve these challenges alone.

Throughout the seven weeks, the structure of the cohort guided participants through nonprofit governance, fundraising, strategic planning, board development, stewardship, collaboration, and organizational sustainability. But perhaps the greatest lesson wasn’t found in a workbook, it was found in one another.

Participants challenged one another, shared vulnerabilities, celebrated wins, brainstormed solutions, and built relationships that will continue long after the cohort ended. Rather than simply strengthening individual organizations, the cohort strengthens the nonprofit ecosystem itself.

As one participant shared during the final session, "We don't own people. We experience them." That simple statement became a reminder that lasting impact is built through authentic relationships.

The final assessment reflected what everyone in the room experienced firsthand: this group didn't lack talent or ideas, it already possessed vision, structure, execution, care, and leadership. The opportunity was learning how those strengths could work together.

Good Trouble wasn't about creating better organizations. It was about creating better partners. And that's exactly what happened.

Interested in participating in a future SIPI cohort? Register for our Fall Cohort here! 

We are grateful these Unity in Action Cohorts are supported by the Ruth Mott Foundation.  

Meet the Cohort Series Preview:

George Conway of ReImage Collective

"Collaboration starts by listening."

Thank you to Flint Film Foundation, and Good Troubles Cohort member, for producing this content and sharing these stories.

FEE Mentorship Pilot Program
Supports Youth Entrepreneurial Growth

When Elijah Lynch joined the Flint Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Mentorship Program, he wasn't looking for someone to teach him how to paint.
 
As a talented young artist entering his senior year at Flint Southwestern Academy, Elijah already knew his craft. What he wanted was something many entrepreneurs struggle to find: someone with real-world business experience who could help him turn his artistic talent into lasting opportunity.
 
That search led him to Jim Ananich.
 
As the first youth participant in the FEE Mentorship Program, Elijah brought a unique perspective to the cohort. Already building an artistic portfolio and expanding his online presence, he wanted to better understand the business side of creativity while challenging himself to learn from someone with years of experience navigating leadership and community relationships. With intentional pairings to mentors, using tools like the DISC Assessment, to create better outcomes, Elijah was paired with Jim Ananich.
 
"I wanted to see if this was something that would help me expand my business knowledge and try something new with someone who has a lot of experience," Elijah said. What he didn't expect was how connected Jim was throughout the Flint community.

Tell us a little about yourself and your business.
Hi, I'm Veronica Triplett. I'm an author, publisher, speaker, and entrepreneur. I own Triplett Publishing, where I create books, journals, and educational resources that help people heal, grow, and walk in their purpose. My mission is simple: turn pain into purpose and give people practical tools to change their lives.
 
What motivated you to sign up as a mentee?
I knew I had passion and vision, but I also knew I didn't have all the answers. I wanted to learn from people who had already walked the path. I wanted someone who could challenge me, help me grow, and show me what I couldn't see on my own.
 
What were some of the biggest lessons you learned?
I learned that success isn't about having the perfect plan, it's about consistency. I also learned the value of relationships, asking questions, and being willing to grow. Sometimes your biggest breakthrough comes from simply staying committed.

• 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ to ¾ cup sugar or honey, adjusted to taste
• 6 cups cold water
• ½ cup fresh mint leaves
• Ice
• Lemon and cucumber slices for garnish