Campaign Phone
8103098198
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Social Relations and Policy/Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University, Master of Public Policy Degree with a specialization in Urban Policy from University College Dublin
Experience
Joel has years of experience working in Flint to address critical challenges. Born at McLaren Hospital in Flint, he is passionate about his community. After graduating from Michigan State University, Joel worked in the Blight Elimination Division of the City of Flint. Over nearly three years he coordinated the response to more than 10,000 resident blight concerns and managed city involvement in more than 250 neighborhood cleanups. While working here Joel helped raise the rate of blight complaints being solved from 33% to more than 75%. For the last 5 years he worked at Communities First, Inc., bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in funds to Flint for new, quality housing, adding more than 150 new homes to Flint neighborhoods.
Community Involvement
Joel is deeply involved in the community. Today Joel serves as the President of Strong Towns Flint, a citywide volunteer group that advocates for a more walkable, vibrant, accessible Flint. He also sits on the board of Flint Fresh, a nonprofit committed to connecting farmers with those in need of healthy foods. Joel has served as past president of the board of Friends of the Alley where he led the 11-person board in organizing community programming like Alley Fest, ongoing beautification initiatives, and more. He also served on the board of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Downtown Flint, where he worships today. Joel is also a regular volunteer with Flint Neighborhoods United, the Levitt AMP Flint Concert Series, and more.
Campaign Message
Flint needs a city government that is focused on delivering for our neighbors. At City Hall, we need a laser like focus on creating safer neighborhoods, fighting blight, providing safe, clean, affordable water, growing our local economy with good paying jobs that can end the poverty we see across our community, and working together. Only when we focus on getting these essentials right can we grow our city and ensure that all of our neighborhoods have a bright future.
Endorsements
Endorsed by: Wantwaz Davis, former 5th Ward Flint City Councilman. Jim Ananich, Former Michigan Senate Democratic Leader. Dylan Luna, Flint Board of Education Treasurer. Terae King Jr., Flint Board of Education Trustee. Chia C. Morgan, Community Leader. Pastor Blake Strozier. Jeff Skigh, Flint artist. Claudia Croom, former Flint City Councilwoman. Chad Schlosser, Vice President of the Mott Park Neighborhood Association. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 948. Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union, Local 2 of Michigan. Laborers' Union Local 1075. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and HVAC Service Trades Local 370
A decade ago I worked in the City of Flint's Blight Elimination Office, where the office went from solving only 33% of complaints when I began to solving more than 75% when I finished. We doubled the number of neighborhood cleanups we supported, ensuring that residents had the support they needed for their own cleanup efforts.
Over the last 5 years I worked to help build more than 150 new, affordable homes in our city and organized dozens of free community events.
Most importantly, I have spent my life working closely with neighbors to bring change. It's imperative that as leaders we spend more time listening than talking, and I am committed to doing that as a councilman.
First, we need to be providing the best city services around. Whether that's faster 911 response times and safer neighborhoods, better roads, streetlight repairs, investments in our parks and recreation centers, or safe, clean, affordable water, residents deserve a city government that holds itself accountable and delivers high quality public services.
Second, we need to attract good paying jobs with a focused economic development strategy that will cut our poverty rate. So many of our challenges are downstream of a lack of good paying jobs, and we must focus on bringing real economic opportunity to Flint residents.
I always work to be open and available to our neighbors. On each of my flyers I list my cell number (810-309-8198) and that will not change. I am committed to meeting and talking with any resident, anywhere, at any time to discuss how we can solve challenges our city faces.
Additionally, I commit to holding regular Ward Town Halls where residents can come and discuss concerns and will be at neighborhood group meetings regularly to ensure that I am hearing directly from our neighbors. There's nothing more important than being accessible to those we serve.
Yes. All elected officials should be required to take an oath to abide by a formal ethics agreement covering conduct, conflicts of interest, and fiduciary responsibility. All elected officials should be held to the highest standard in a position of public trust and it is important that the public can hold their leaders accountable.
I believe that the role of a public representative is to actually serve the public. Elected officials should be focused on solving problems, working together, and making the lives of those we serve better. If elected, I promise to always keep that focus. We have challenges in our city, but I truly believe that we can solve them if we focus on delivering results, not fighting with one another. Whether that's attracting more good paying jobs, addressing vacant and blighted properties, or ensuring our neighborhoods are safe, we can solve these problems if we focus on working together to deliver solutions.
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