Featured photo: Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Potbury and Executive Director of Friends of Berston Bryant “BB” Nolden
Written by Tanya Terry
The fourth Genesee County Crime Victims’ Resource Fair will be held at Berston Field House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14.
Bryant Nolden, executive director of Friends of Berston recently told the Courier it was held three years prior to the pandemic, but because the last two years it was not held due to COVID-19.
“We’re very excited to have it here this year in person back at Berston,” he said.
Nolden originally had conversations with Julie Lopez, and she wanted to have the Crime Victims’ Resource Fair in an area centrally located in the city of Flint.
“Berston being right on the main bus line and being a known place here in the community, it just made sense to have it here,” Nolden explained. “We have different organizations and different groups that actually provide resources for the community to be able to take advantage of if they’ve been victims of crime or victims of domestic violence-whatever the case may be. Having the Resource Fair here allows the necessary resources to come to them instead of them having to go to where they may be located at.”
Over 20 agencies will be onsite to provide these resources for victims for any type of crime.
“It could domestic violence. It could be sexual abuse. It could be robbery. Some people may know about homicides. There’s a lot of different things that people could be able to come and get the necessary resources to help correct whatever they’re dealing with or to be able to or be able to help out in some situations that may be happening in the community.”
Bryant said a couple years ago a woman came to the Resource Fair that had been a victim of domestic violence.
“She was able to come and talk to someone from the YWCA, and through those conversations she was able to move away from the domestic violence piece she was dealing with. The last that I heard, she is doing very, very well and in a healthy relationship. It’s all because she was able to come and talk to someone that was able to help guide her in the right path to move away from what she was dealing with.”
Besides helping provide resources for those dealing with domestic violence, the YWCA will be there to assist sexual assault victims.
“We do know that Voices for Children is going to be here to help the adolescents with issues they may be dealing with, and I’m very excited about that. We’re going to have CMH, Community Mental Health (known as Genesee Health System). They’re going to be here helping people with anything they may be dealing with as it relates to mental illness-because we know sometimes mental illness and crime goes hand in hand because those folks are not getting the services they need.”
McGruff the Crime Dog will be in attendance, and there will be fun giveaways as well. Light refreshments will be served.
“It’s going to be fun, and I just hope quite a bit of the community come and take advantage of the resources and the ability to have it in north Flint. My hope is that they come and get the information they need to deal with whatever they may be dealing with, or whatever somebody in their family may be dealing with.”
Victims Resource Fair for the young-and the young at heart!
