Flint kids and teens asked to share ideas for strengthening their community by Oct. 9, 2026
Flint, Michigan – The second round of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Youth Choice Awards is open for applications.
The Mott Foundation launched the Youth Choice Awards earlier this year as part of its ongoing centennial celebration. The awards offer young people in Flint the opportunity to compete for and award 100 grants of $1,926 each to invest in the future of their schools, organizations and community.
So far, 50 grants have been awarded to projects ranging from mentoring, art and sewing clubs to mental health initiatives, a youth business pop-up and an in-classroom food pantry. The application deadline for the second round of Youth Choice Awards is Oct. 9.
“Flint’s young people know what they need,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation. “We’ve been so inspired by the projects already proposed, and we’re excited to see what Flint kids want to see happen with the next round of awards.”
One of the $1,926 grants from the first round helped Patrice Howard, a Flint student participating in the youth entrepreneurship program at Powers Catholic High School, attend the NYC Experience, a four-day educational trip to New York City, as part of the Next Gen Fellowship Program.
“Receiving this support has shown me how one opportunity can lead to so many more,” said Howard, who attended a New York Fashion Week show and toured the Fashion Institute of Technology to learn about college pathways in design, fashion and creative business fields.
Howard added: “This support isn’t just helping us attend a trip. It’s giving us experiences, connections and confidence that can continue to open doors long after this opportunity is over.”
As with the first round, the second round of Youth Choice Awards will operate as relay grants. This means the winners chosen from the last week of the first round of applications will choose the first set of winners for the second round. Those winners will then select the next week’s winners — and so on — until all remaining grants are awarded.
Eligible participants include K-12 students who:
- attend a school within the city limits of Flint.
- attend a school that’s part of the Network for School Excellence.
- participate in a program at a community-based organization in Flint that has 10 or more actively enrolled students and 501(c)(3) status.
Schools and nonprofit organizations can apply for support for up to three projects. Those that received grants in the first round are eligible to apply again.
An adult advisor or teacher must submit each application. For more details and to apply, visit mott.org/youth-choice-awards.
