Rev. Dr. Reginald Flynn discusses his Holistic approach to Community Economic Development

February 2, 2023
This interview with Rev. Dr. Reginald Flynn, founder and President of North Flint Reinvestment Corporation, (NFRC) is the first installment of Everything Co-op's commemoration of Black History Month.

The theme for Black History month 2023 is Black Resistance. The
theme explores how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial profiling, and police killings.” Given the tumultuous times we are living in, our team felt that it would be soothing to begin our celebration of Black History Month with a spiritual leader, who preaches, promotes and practices the Nguzo Saba Kwanzaa principles Ujamaa, cooperative economics and Kujichagulia, self-determination. Rev. Dr. Flynn shares how he has used a (w)holistic approach to community economic development, and self-empowerment.

Rev. Dr. Flynn is known as a visionary leader who is a vocal advocate for spiritual renewal, economic self-sufficiency, and political empowerment. He authored his first book in 2010, “So You Think Your Church Isn’t Big Enough,” a resource guide for pastors and small congregations interested in launching community economic development ministries in distressed neighborhoods. He has committed his professional and Spiritual career to rebuilding and transforming lives and communities.

In 2009, the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation was established by Dr. Flynn, former senior pastor of Foss Avenue Baptist Church, as a community catalyst to improve the quality of life among low-income families residing in north Flint. By implementing a (w)holistic, place-based, neighborhood revitalization strategy, NFRC sought to dismantle intergenerational poverty through the establishment of high-quality early childhood and elementary education initiatives, economic development enterprises, and financial literacy and wealth building programs. The corporation is comprised of a grass-roots network of public and private sector partners committed to rebuilding and revitalizing economically distressed neighborhoods in North Flint.