To combat a cancer rate in Genesee County that outpaces the state’s, a group of organizations has aligned to provide free cancer screenings on Jan. 31.
The National Minority Quality Forum will host Flint Forward, a community town hall followed by a free mini clinic designed to address long-standing gaps in cancer prevention and early detection in North Flint.
The town hall will introduce efforts to expand access to presymptomatic and early cancer screening—helping identify cancer risk before symptoms appear—through new clinical and community partnerships. These efforts are part of NMQF’s broader Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative, which focuses on improving outcomes by detecting cancer earlier, when treatment is often more effective.
Immediately following the town hall, the free mini clinic will provide residents with access to health screenings, cancer screening education, and referrals, along with additional health and community resources. The event responds to persistent health access challenges in North Flint that have continued in the years following the Flint water crisis.
“As a nurse leader and community health advocate, I am deeply concerned about health outcomes in Flint and across Genesee County,” said Dr. Latressa Gordon, director of public health for Michigan United, one of the organizations helping to put on the event. “Public health data shows that Genesee County continues to experience higher cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to Michigan overall, with Flint experiencing elevated rates of cancers such as lung, prostate, stomach, and colorectal cancers. Black and Brown residents continue to carry a disproportionate burden of late-stage diagnoses and poorer outcomes.”
The Jan. 31st event’s health screenings are to detect cancer in its early stages in order to improve survival rates. Michigan State University last year was awarded a $400,000 grant to study Flint’s rising cancer rates.
“This work is about prevention, equity, and ensuring that every resident — regardless of race or background — has a fair chance at early detection and a healthier future,” Gordon said.
Michigan United is a multiracial, statewide coalition organized to dismantle the root causes of racial, economic, and gender inequity through deep leadership development, people-centered campaigns, and bold policy change. Learn more at www.miunited.org.
For more information about the Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative in Flint, go https://shiftcancer.org/flint-michigan/.
Mini clinic service offerings include:
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Free health screenings
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Vaccines (while supplies last)
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Health education
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Water distribution (while supplies last)
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Food access and community giveaways
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Live music and on-site community engagement
The event is free and open to the public.
WHAT: Flint Forward Community Town Hall and Free Mini Clinic, focused on expanding access to presymptomatic and early cancer screening, health education, and preventive services for North Flint residents.
WHEN: Saturday, January 31
Registration: 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Town Hall: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Free Mini Clinic: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Flint Development Center, 4121 Martin Luther King Avenue Flint, MI 48505
