All You Need is Love
On Feb. 14, 2024, we hosted our “All You Need is Love” bash to publicly celebrate the launch of the Flint Rx Kids program. Rx Kids is the first citywide cash program to support infants in the U.S. located in Flint, Michigan. Our goal is to provide all pregnant moms in the city with no-strings-attached cash of $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 each month throughout the baby’s first year. So far, we have over 300 successful applicants and have delivered over $396,500!
As part of the launch bash, the Flint Children’s Museum hosted a free day full of fun and family resources from community organizations. There was lots of excitement and love as families learned about community resources like EarlyOn Genesee County and Delta College – PBS branch, who gave out free books, and the For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum, who facilitated creature interactions with Rosie the turtle and a hissing African cockroach! A special thank you to our community organizations, the Flint Children’s Museum, and Genesee Health System for making this day such a wonderful event!
The celebration continued at the sold-out evening event at Flint’s iconic Capitol Theatre. Guests decked in red were greeted with special Rx Kids ice cream, Strawberry Sweetheart, crafted by the MSU Dairy Store, as they entered the venue. Co-hosted by ABC12 news anchor Dawn Jones and comedian Jerry Minor, the show started with a welcoming message from Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Associate Dean for Public Health and C. S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and co-director of Rx Kids, and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI).
“Thank you all for celebrating the launch of this historic effort that started here in Flint. … You are celebrating a collective love for our babies, … for our mamas, for our community, for an idea, for a vision of how better to care and love for each other,” said Dr. Mona.
“It’s happening – Rx Kids is happening. And it will change lives. And all of you are a part of that. …I’m not kidding when I say that the creativity, the commitment, the dedication from all of you, from this community, has made a difference not only here but it is leading the way nationally.” said Stabenow.
Following Stabenow’s remarks, Gene Sperling, senior advisor to the president and American Rescue Plan coordinator, and Erika L. Moritsugu, deputy assistant to the President of the United States, shared a special message from the White House:
“I send my warmest greetings to all those gathered in Flint, Michigan for the launch of Rx Kids,” states a letter from President Joe Biden.
“The tireless work of civil society and organizations like yours is a daily reminder of how, here in America, we see one another, we hear one another, and we strive to take care of one another. Our country faces many challenges, but with your work and our uniquely American outlook – restless, bold, and optimistic – there is nothing that we cannot accomplish.
As you celebrate this wonderful occasion, I hope you are inspired by the possibilities of what can be achieved in this great Nation. I look forward to seeing the positive difference you will make in your community.”
(Signed) Joe Biden
Vice President Kamala Harris wrote a letter sharing similar sentiments: “The creation of this program places Flint, Michigan, at the forefront of innovation in the fight to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. You all play a vital role in providing material support to our Nation’s most vulnerable and underserved communities. Please know that your work is creating an invaluable model for other cities and states to follow.”
Continuing the celebration of this historic program and movement, local and national performers shared their art and love for the Flint community. The show consisted of poetry and songs from the likes of Semaj Brown, Academy of American Poets Poet Laureate for 2021; Happy Birthday to Frederick Douglass, by Pulitzer Prize author David Blight; Frederick Douglass by Robert E. Hayden, read by Cassidy Towns-Boone and Alailah Weakley; local jazz and soul artist Feimstro; national hip-hop and spoken word artist Mama Sol, who shared her original Rx Kids song; and Grammy Nominee R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn.
The evening closed with special remarks from Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley.
“Moving forward here, in the city of Flint, the love for our kids is really important. We’ve heard the saying ‘it takes a village to save a child,’ but it takes a village to save a village. … Today, we are creating tomorrow’s history … (and) changing the way that society looks at Flint. We are doing a wonderful job here, but it takes each and every one of us. … We need to love each other more, better, stronger, and today we’re doing that with Rx Kids,” said Neeley.
Thank you to all who attended these incredible events, and to our generous sponsors who made them possible! Luke Shaefer, co-director of Rx Kids and director of Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, expressed: “This program is about helping families meet the high costs that come with a new baby, but it is also about walking alongside and showing our love to families in that critical first year.” We felt the love from you on Valentine’s Day, and we hope to continue spreading the love with our program! For more information about Rx Kids, please visit our website, FlintRxKids.com.
