Q: What first inspired you to get involved in volunteer work?  

Dominique Strong: One of the avenues that got me into volunteering was organizing a kickball game at Brennan Park—this was probably 20 years ago. A group of friends and I had originally put the game together right on the street, but I had the idea: ‘Why don’t we take this to Brennan Park?’ That’s the neighborhood we were all from, and it gave the young people something to do. Convincing my friends to bring the kickball game to the park sparked me to get involved in different capacities. 

That experience eventually led me to becoming a park adopter of Brennan Park through a program called Keep Genesee County Beautiful. Brennan Park is what started it all for me. 

Q: You’re the founder and executive director of Uma Strong Marshall Outreach (USMO). Can you tell us about its mission and what led you to start the organization?  

DS: USMO was rooted out of Warming Bodies Through Love, our social service initiative. That program birthed USMO and laid the foundation for the work we do today. USMO’s mission is to empower and enrich youth ages 5 to 12 through mentorship, computer literacy, and reading and writing programs—which exist to produce confident and wholesome attitudes. 

We operate in three main capacities. First, Warming Bodies Through Love is our annual social service program, providing free winter attire—including a brand-new coat, five pairs of socks, five pairs of gloves, and hats—to children from birth to age 17 in families experiencing economic hardship.  

Second, we run a free Chromebook rental program that’s available 365 days a year for families who don’t have access to a device at home. This effort was launched during COVID with support from the Greater Flint Urgent Relief Fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and United Way—and it’s still going on to this day. 

Q: As Vice Chair of the Neighborhoods Small Grants Advisory Committee, what have you learned about the power of community-led projects in Flint and Genesee County?  

DS: It inspires me to collaborate, collaborate, collaborate, collaborate. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel, but there’s a need to strengthen the wheel. Being a part of this committee, I have learned the importance of collaborating within groups and organizations, which I have been doing for the last six years. It makes everything so much easier when you’re trying to build within the community.  

For example, our summer reading program now partners with the Genesee Intermediate School District. I met their Early Childhood Development team at the Connect the Blocks Flint Neighborhoods Summit, and we’ve been connected ever since. I’ve also collaborated with Bountiful Love Church for Warming Bodies Through Love during their Thanksgiving Dinner. Being part of the committee is understanding the importance of collaboration and making your community initiative even stronger than what you anticipated it to be.  

Q: What does your role on the committee mean to you?  

DS: It’s important to me as a resident to make sure our voices are heard, especially on the grassroot level, because that’s where I started.  I value this role because it gives me great joy to know that I’m silently playing a role with their community building efforts for their neighborhood.  

I just love reading the different proposals and seeing all the amazing projects and ideas. We have some amazing people in Flint, Michigan, doing great things for their neighborhood.  

Q: Is there one project that you’ve seen as vice chair that really stands out to you?  

DS: The Martin Luther King Peace Garden. I remember when they first started working on that project, and how the Neighborhoods Small Grants committee supported it through the years. To see it now, it just looks so relaxed, and I have utilized it. It makes the neighborhood stand out as a whole. Seeing the turnaround of that neighborhood and the residents playing the role of upkeeping it... it is beautiful.

Q: It is National Volunteer Month, and you’ve mentioned these amazing initiatives like Warming Bodies Through Love. Why are volunteers important to make these initiatives happen? 

DS: If it weren’t for the volunteers, I would not be able to complete the task. Especially with Warming Bodies Through Love, I have a set number of volunteers that come back every year, because they believe in the mission and goal of USMO. It brings them great joy to see families leave with a smile. They play a vital role with completing tasks and showing up—engaging with the youth and families that we serve. I wouldn’t be able to build without them. Volunteerism is something that we build our programs around because those programs wouldn't be able to thrive for as long as they have, if it wasn't for the volunteers.

Q: How has being a volunteer shaped you personally?  

DS: Volunteering has shaped Dominique Strong in many ways. My volunteer spirit has led me into my current role as Vice Chair of the Flint Housing Commission. I know my purpose and my drive are to change the narrative for Flint in many ways and also to help move Flint forward. I'm a giver at heart, and I wanted to show up for housing and help change that narrative and move that forward for our residents. 

Q: If someone wants to be a volunteer, what advice would you give them?  

DS: They must identify who they want to work with, because there’s a lot of groups that work with children, elders, and families. I would advise them to attend a Flint Neighborhoods United group meeting. If they are looking, that is one of the first places to go get acclimated with groups, organizations, or churches that may be along the lines of where they want to volunteer. Go, and when you leave, you’re going to leave with a handful of volunteer opportunities.  

And above all: Be the change you want to see in your community.