UM-Flint's Tendaji Ganges to Lead Community Conversation

Tendaji W. Ganges, executive director of University of Michigan-Flint's Office of Educational Opportunity Initiatives is one of the presenters in a program hosted by the Best Project entitled "Yours, Mine, Ours: Perspectives and Conversations."

It will be an interactive day of conversations, presentations, and public dialogue to build bridges of understanding that are culturally significant, inclusive, responsive, and collaborative. The event features noted authors and scholars to facilitate community conversations.

The event will take place Tuesday, May 7 at the Riverfront Banquet Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ganges will be joined by Valaida Fullwood, author of Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African-American Philanthropists; Jacob
Hess and Phil Neisser the co-authors of You're Not as Crazy as I Thought —But You're Still Wrong: Conversations between a
Devoted Conservative and a Die-Hard Liberal; and, Ozzie Rivera, Director of Community Engagement for Southwest Solutions in
Detroit.

This is a unique opportunity to engage with dynamic facilitators to refresh and develop insights and skills to work collaboratively across nonprofit, private, faith-based and public sectors.

"We have to engage the community to develop a dialogue that brings about constructive changes," said Ganges. "We can't change unless we communicate."

The Best Project is a program of the United Way of Genesee County. It is an initiative that works with partners and agencies to strengthen the nonprofit sector of Flint and Genesee County by providing access to high-value learning opportunities and expert consulting resources. It is supported by four local funders: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Ruth Mott Foundation, and United Way of Genesee County.

There is a fee of $35 per person to attend the event. For more information on the event please contact Jenni Dones with the Best Project at 810-232-8000.