During a time of year when many people are laser-focused on goal-setting, Communities First, Inc., decided why not add some arts and crafts to that process?
For the second straight January, Communities First hosted a Community Vision Board Party at Coolidge Park Apartments on Flint’s westside. The event on January 9 was open to anyone in the community, and more than 50 people of ages ranging from kids to seniors participated.
Vision Board parties became popular during the pandemic, as a way for people to interact either virtually or in a socially distant environment while still participating in a community building environment where they discuss and share goals. Ashley Strozier, the family mobility coordinator for Communities First, said that last year’s party was such a success, they decided to bring it back again this year.
“The goal of the evening is to help our friends in the community map out their goals for the year,” Strozier said. “If you think about the times during COVID, we all were isolated at home. And people are having all these vision board parties, you would’ve thought that maybe everybody had a chance to experience those, but we found out that they didn’t. So a lot of the folks that attended last year, that was their first time ever doing a vision board. And then we met people from all different walks of life, people dealing with some struggles, some challenges, and some folks looking just to change things around. So the way that we had it all map out, it was very engaging, very fun, but very intentional.”
The event began with a short presentation from Strozier and Phillip Walker II, program associate for Communities First. They had attendees participate in activities to envision things that went well for them in the previous year, things they’d like to change, and think deeply about the actions required to accomplish any goals they have. Afterwards, each table had magazines and other materials to construct “vision boards” based on goals or actions they identified to highlight them in a visual way. But the tables were set up to encourage people to visit other groups, share supplies, and start conversations about their goals and meet other people. There was also a virtual version of the event for people who couldn’t attend in-person.
“It’s actually lots of fun because you see people of all different ages, all different backgrounds, all working on the same thing, making goals so that by the end of 2026 they can say they achieved them and knocked them out,” Strozier said.
Antonio Sweeney, a Flint native and student at Morehouse College, hadn’t planned to attend the event but was invited and the concept sounded intriguing to him.
“Vision boarding has definitely been something I’ve been doing since going back early, since middle school, so it’s like going back into that career mindset and what do I want by 2026 to look like,” Sweeney said. “Me being in college at Morehouse College, with this being my senior year and going into the next semester, it’s like, where do I see myself?”
Sweeney said that, even if being in a room with people you don’t know well and talking about vulnerable things like changes you want to make in your life, it is valuable to just be at peace with that discomfort.
“You have to start being uncomfortable,” Sweeney said. “There’s an old saying that, diamonds are made from pressure, right? And so in order to get to those different types of next levels, you have to ask yourself what are those sacrifices you’re gonna make and what are gonna do to get there?”
Communities First, a nonprofit organization founded in 2010, is focused on community building through economic development, affordable housing, and programming that improves quality of life for residents. In addition to several significant housing developments, including Coolidge Park Apartments, the organization also does several family-friendly events throughout the year that provide cultural and artistic experiences, promote financial literacy, and create networking opportunities.
Currently, their African American Film Series is airing at the Flint Institute of Arts and an upcoming comedy show at the Flint Farmers’ Market on January 24. Their latest events are listed on their website.
“We want people to know what they’re doing tonight is just a catapult into making things happen, whether it is being better managing your finances, setting some health goals, working towards being organized, whatever it is that it would take for you to be successful in 2026, you have the ability to map it out, make a plan,” Strozier said. “Everything starts by making a plan.”
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