Written by Tanya Terry
Channelle Dismond, founder and president of the Flint-Genesee County Community Cotillion, recently discussed the inaugural Flint Genesee County Community Cotillion program with the Courier. The cotillion features activities this year and include a debutante ball in 2027.
“It’s such a wonderful event for young ladies to participate in,” said Dismond. “It gives them an opportunity to create new relationships and to also be in a space to find new mentoring opportunities. Also, the information that’s going to be provided throughout the program is information that helps to build on the information that they’re receiving in school and at home, and even perhaps providing them information that they don’t already have access to.”
Though this is the first year for the Flint and Genesee County program, Flint has a long history of cotillions dating back to before 1942. Several individuals who helped organize Flint area cotillions of the past have heled make the Flint-Genesee County Community Cotillion possible in 2026 by serving on its planning committee, where they share knowledge and insight.
The current program emphasizes inclusion by removing ethnic restrictions and accommodating financial needs, learning disabilities and absent parents by providing stand-in parents.
Participants must be high school sophomores, juniors or seniors attending Genesee County schools, with sophomores and juniors needing at least a 2.5 GPA and seniors a 3.0 GPA, though the committee encourages applications from those who don’t quite meet these thresholds. Participants must also complete 10 – 15 hours of community service and submit a one to two-minute self-introduction video.
The program’s mission honors cotillion tradition, celebrates young women’s debut into society and prepares future leaders through college prep workshops, scholarship presentations, self-defense training and mental wellness instruction.
Confirmed workshops and facilitators include College Prep and Flint Promise with Lottie Ferguson on 9/27, Gracefully Prepared: College Living 101 with Shelbee Blanks and Chanelle Turner on 12/13, Etiquette and Social Grace with Cheryl Price-Dickson and Chanelle Turner on 11/14, Public Speaking with Tryphena Clark and Amari Steward on 10/11, Financial Education with Rhoda Woods on 2/21, Resume Building with Venetia Petteway on 10/18, Mental Wellness with Chia Morgan, Mindfulness with Theresa Roach and Nutrition with Brenda Crowder on 1/17, Self Defense with Quiana Powell on 10/25 and Sign Language with Melecia Scott on 11/15 (Virtually), 12/13 (Virtually), 1-17(Virtually), 2-21 (In-person), 3-14 (In-person) and 3-21 (In-person).
There will also be workshops with facilitators on Scrapbooking & Fascinator Making, and dance rehearsal will be facilitated by Porcha Clemons.
Community service the young ladies will take part in through various partnerships include food box packing with an area organization, creating tie blankets for a local nursing home, adopting a family for Thanksgiving and collecting feminine hygiene products for a women’s shelter.
The April 3, 2027 debutante ball at St. Michael’s Conference Center will feature father-daughter dances, mother-daughter sign language performances, presentations of debutantes’ bios by MCs and a traditional deep curtsy. All debutantes receive scholarships applicable to their education.
Interested individuals can register through the website https://flintgeneseecountycommunitycotillion.com/ where recommendations from teachers, counselors and pastors are encouraged. Please note the deadline to register has been extended to September 30, 2026.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available for local businesses and organizations through the website.
The Flint-Genesee County Community Cotillion is part of the International League of Black Cotillions.
