Featured photo:
Navigators Tiara, Estella & Jennifer at Play Safe Stay Safe event at Kennedy Center
Written by Tanya Terry
Cinco De Mayo is a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration held on May 5 in commemoration of the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862.
“It’s become an American holiday,” said Aurora Sauceda, Michigan United public health navigator.
“A lot of people don’t know why they’re celebrating,” Sauceda added.
Michigan United will be a Farmer’s Market on May 5, the day of this celebration.
The organization will be raffling books, Fitbit fitness tracking watches and other items. No raffle tickets will be required to participate.
Traditional Mexican music will be played, including mariachi music, which is often played at restaurants, weddings and other celebratory events.
Sauceda also stated Michigan United is an organization that stands for justice and dignity.
“We feel really strongly anytime we hear any of our community, especially the Black and brown community, is incarcerated,” she added. “Sometimes it’s for a reason. Sometimes it’s not for a reason, but they didn’t have enough money to represent them and end up incarcerated. We know that many of our young individuals end up spending a lot more time in prison than they should.”
Therefore, Sauceda said Michigan United will be circulating a petition to try to get the Good Time Initiative on the ballot so people can vote that these individuals can get time reduced for time spent studying, for good behavior or doing those things that will help them get back into the community and be productive.
Sauceda stressed the initiative would only affect certain individuals.
“We’re advocating for individuals who really are sorry for what they did or they know they don’t belong there,” Sauceda stated.
The complete wording for the initiative will be on the petition for anyone interested in learning more or signing it.
Michigan United navigators are all grassroots leaders in their own communities, according to Sauceda. Their goal is to get as many people vaccinated as possible.
Sauceda said those who remain unvaccinated are not only at risk themselves, but may come in contact with those who most vulnerable and pass COVID-19 to them.
“It’s just crucial and so very important that we realize the virus can kill.”
In addition, Sauceda said her son has tested positive for COVID-19.
“The first time he got it he got really sick,” Sauceda explained. “He hadn’t been vaccinated yet. This was a year ago, and there are times when he doesn’t smell anything. Some individuals have those long term effects they continue to deal with after having had COVID.”
Starting in January and February last year, when very large vaccine events were being held locally, Michigan United would assist by greeting, checking in patients or giving information about the vaccine. The organization also assisted by making appointments for church’s vaccine clinics.
In February of 2022, Michigan United received funding for nurses. They were able to start having their own vaccine events, while still assisting when needed at other vaccine events. Michigan United also sends staff to homes for home visits as a team, or along with the Genesee County Health Department at times.
Michigan United is partnering with Michigan State University to produce a podcast. This coming Sunday the podcast, “Taking it to the Streets, Healthy Conversations For Us by Us” will feature the topic Mothers Who are Nurses. The podcast can be viewed Sundays at 3:30 p.m. on Flint Innovation Solutions’ Facebook page or on the Flint Solutions YouTube channel.
The organization has also been meeting with the Flint Water Crisis attorneys in order to make sure Flint community members are responding to their letters or contact the lawyers.
“There were over 60,000 claims and only about 6,000 have responded to their claims.”
An extension was requested to give people more time to respond to the letters.
Michigan United will be at the Flint Farmer’s Market not only this Thursday, but the following Thursday, as well, at 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. each day.
Look out for a complete schedule of Michigan United vaccine and vaccine information events to be in the Flint Courier News in the near future!
