Phyllis Sykes and Adil Mohammed

00:04 Hello, my name is Phyllis Sykes. And today is Wednesday, August 14th, 2019. We are located in Flint Michigan and I am here with the interview were of this story Idol Muhammad.

00:24 And down our relationship to one another is really really special. But right now we are co-founders of the International Center of Greater flint, and that's that's our relationship now.

00:41 Pixie bob is growing that we're friends now, but yeah.

00:45 Okay, this is Autumn Muhammad. I'm 58 years old. Today is Wednesday, August 14th, 2019. We are in Flint Michigan and my interview partner is Phyllis Sykes who's the co-founder with me of the International Center of Greater Flint. I've known Phyllis for 5 years and dumb.

01:10 So I'd say developing ongoing relationship.

01:20 Okay. Alright. I know I know this is different though. We know we're working together and now I just sit and go through this experience of you interviewing me and is having this conversation being recorded and I think it's a special. What I wanted to do. Today is focused on the International Center that seems to be where we got together, but

02:08 I also want to get it personally. I want to get a little bit of sense of the backstory of you personally, even though I know I spent a lot of time with you and we talked in general about various things. I'm curious to know a little bit about

02:29 Video from you know, where you grew up with your experience was like what your life was like growing up and it just kind of how you came to where you are today and then we'll move maybe then we can talk about the International Center. And then what do you see as the future work of International Center is going to be okay. Okay, so talk about so you want me to go back to the beginning 6. Now, I am a Flintstone born and raised here in the family of four mother and father in the two sisters and brother and you know, we were any typical you do middle-class family my father migrated here from the south because they had jobs. I think his hood, Arkansas Arkansas both parents cuz they knew each other and

03:29 She was a teacher my father worked in the shop and you know, they provided a a living for their family. So, you know, we were amongst other like-minded members of a community and at that time that was the norm your father was either a GM employee or government employee and then a lot of times they were teachers, you know, edging the women that were educated married men that had those kind of guys they were so I'm in that with my mother. She went to Arkansas A&M college. Okay, and you know married my father. So were you born in Arkansas play came here? Okay, and then had me of my mother and father's Union my father had previously so I have a half sister.

04:29 So we lived over over there now really right across street from where I stay now. There's any of these senior citizen Apartments, but at the time it was you know, I was going to ask you how far are you living now from Beaufort Street, and then we move tonight's okay, but you know, they tore down a lot of that because of the expressway is for them, but we live there and then we move to where my mother still lives now today in the house. And so, you know, we went to appears, you know, cuz at the time I remember we had to move and so I remember this, you know kids listen to stuff. It's all remember the conversations that my parents had about where to move. And so that was when the housing restrictions for African Americans is lifted in the you know, the fair housing act. So then you know the city of flint kind of opened up for African Americans

05:30 And I can remember as a kid going to look at these different homes, you know a different parts of the community.

05:37 And my mother there was one incident where we went to look at a house over off 4th Street street from where I'm at now.

05:47 They were my parents. We looked at the house and the next day the house got bombed. And so it was it was but it was like that because you know that, you know, they didn't want you know what I mean, but I was leaving bombed. Well it was I don't know. I mean that what that's that's what my mother said. It was a accident that I don't think the house was totally, you know, dilapidated whatever but that kind of, you know, violence still was happening as a result of blacks looking to go in other parts of your community.

06:22 So I'd rather bomb the place then. Yeah, I just sent the message the message going with my parents to look at these different houses in the white neighborhoods. So but anyway, they they ended up where we are. And that's where several people from 5th Street moved tonight sweet cuz we all had to move, you know, of course, it was one of those areas where it was predominantly white and then we blacks moved in that we know the white Exodus excetera excetera. But anyway, so we settled there had to go to different schools and at that time the schools are being integrated, so I went to pierce Elementary and you know, that was when we were integrating peers.

07:17 And but it was you know what I didn't really know it because that's all I knew.

07:26 In terms of you know, I don't know it didn't seem like we were really in a grading seem like me and my friends we were at the school and that was about it. Well, I guess that I guess that shift happens or decades probably the shift in terms of integration. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, Nicole integration instantaneous, but I totally mental in Temecula. What are the key things? I remember my father saying what he was looking at moving as he wanted his kids to go to the school. That was nearby that's how you made your choice in terms of where you live you where you're all right.

08:26 So why you no looking back? I had a great childhood because I had friends that were all of like mine in the same neighborhood. We went to the same school and then some of us were raised in the same church. I didn't know them at the time but when we got to be friends are schools, like all God church, and so so yeah that was so it was pretty you know, it was it was you know, I really typical to me childhood my because my mother was a teacher's we were exposed to a lot. You know, we were exposed to Baba sushi with no education with big choice. I mean, I think it's 6th graders going to college. I know what college was but how did that happen for you?

09:26 There you go. What career path you took a nap and you know, and it's funny cuz a friend that I was really close with we didn't all we all went our separate ways. It's kind of interesting cuz we didn't say like Lysol go to one college, but I my father really wanted me to go to a black highlights cuz he was really into you know self-empowerment and he wanted me to go to Sis cuz at the time fist University in Tennessee State and Howard were the priests me your black colleges and I was like, you know, I dunno I dunno I was following my boyfriend. He went to Central Michigan visited Central Michigan nice and clean. It was two miles away. And then it is really with the worst mistake and you're I regret my college choice because it was night with an institution.

10:26 That we really was not welcoming for African Americans, you know, they were just recruiting. So I really didn't have that experience. But then what about your career choice was just kind of floundering cuz I didn't know what I wanted to study all my friends were in social work or business and I like neither one of those so I was taking classes experimenting and I took a journalism class and I was like ding ding ding. That's me. That's too short. So that part I really don't know that much about you, but I do know that you're done some journalism stuff, but I guess we haven't talked all about experience, So I came out as got out of school and there was a radio station. That was new here. Wdzz was new

11:26 Buy for black doctor, very prominent doctors and they see what's going on there. And I don't know why or what but I wanted to be on here and I bug the program director cuz I wanted to be the reporter so I bug them bugs and bugs and he was impressed with my aggressiveness in my persistence and down. So I got to be a reporter on the radio and it was really a big deal to do with a new station and you know, it's really a big deal in the community at that time. So so I not got a chance to meet all these, you know important people doing that. I enjoyed that enjoy that immensely I did that about 2 years and then I got a job offer as a anchor reporter at channel 25 and then I did that I did that for about six months and so they didn't like me or I should say that.

12:26 It didn't work out so I had to leave so I could probably do some research to find some old. Yeah, you know, I would love to find some to yeah, Well, I have some I have some on VHS whatever now if I can get that, you know transposon to write I enjoyed the job because I thought it was something different everyday when I did radio Auto I remember

13:02 Being so excited at night time when I go to bed. Okay, and you didn't know so you would found find out what you're going to be working always so excited about my job that I was everyday. I was invited to go job because I didn't know who I was going to meet who I was going to interview. And so I know what it's like to have a job that you really really like and you know, so excited that you can't wait to go in the next day Granite some of that was cuz I was young. So anyway, then I

13:41 Black 25 and then I was jobless and then looking for a job. I got the director's assistant director of communications for United Way. Okay, so I was able to use those skills to do PR and I was really would I study with journalism when I was in college and I'll be late at school cuz United Way with big very very prominent in the community. So once again, I still interacting with Flint's so-called movers and shakers cuz they were all chairperson board and committee chairs stuff like that bank presidents and GM folks. So that was you know, and then I left there and then the chancellor is it at the time of U of M. I had applied for a job at Channel at U of M for the public television station cuz they used to have the public station here Channel 28.

14:41 And I wanted to get back into television and so I didn't get that job until I had a lot of folks in the community that were lobbying for me to get that job and sell for whatever reason. I didn't sell the chance or felt obligated to offer me something. So he said, you know, you want to come work for me, you know and so is a lobbyist and I was kind of obvious. What the hell is that? So I'm so then I went working for him is the government relations officer for U of M. So that was like it wasn't me, you know, cuz I had to deal with those dodo head politicians that learned then these guys are so whatever that and then and then he left I left and and then I did contractual work. I did schools. Do you know several projects in the in the county?

15:41 Grant funded projects that I did one was school to work which is through the Genesee Intermediate School District. And then I did something with the Genesee collaborative and then Federal program Department of Justice weed seed so I've had contractions but they were like what they were specific but they were not so I'm curious. How did that

16:14 You are obviously, you know because of the work you do with the international center. Now, did you were you came to that through some experiences and had some exposure you've had two different cultures different countries. So how did that happen that eventually brought you to the work that you're doing the same to me? Well it was so it was always it was always present in terms of my curiosity.

16:48 To The World At Large and the people that make up the world and it was initiated. I think I think I should is with you when I in high school when I went to Madrid with a Spanish class. So that was a first exposure. So they're kind of Kindle something that ignited something and I remember it because I said all I'll do this again, you know, I'll do this again. So that was the beginning and then I went to college and then I met people being an international student at college and so I just kind of connected with him because I was always thinking how must it be to

17:40 Come here from wave wave far away where they come from SSI just like Billy. How do you do that? I was always interested and kind of sympathetic and empathetic because of their way from home. So what was that Curiosity because you didn't go too far from home. Experiences, like like people traveling so far. I don't know. I never thought about you know, that although good because I kind of wanted to do that but it didn't but I just always but I always enjoy talking to people and I was always drawn to them and they were drawn to me, you know, they will come by always make friends with your curiosity about their experience.

18:40 India Americans were not open Netflix open, I think maybe one of the reasons why you and I cannot connect at work. All right at the first meeting is because I'm kind of similar in that way. I don't have like I can to make sometimes initiate the conversation and sometimes to a fault like what I say something inappropriate and then they're like, you're a stranger to me what you saying that so, okay. So yeah, you're right when when people see something gen-y curiosity than they're more willing to engage. So so that's always been the case. That was a school. Then I came back to Flint cuz I need to school away and then I came back to Flint and with the job that I had with the radio or television place and then again, I was interacting with people go all kinds of people but as well the International Community

19:40 And that was how I kind of got connected with the international institute at the time because I made a friend with a person that works there and she and I became friends. She was the program person. No, I interviewed her for something and then we just kind of hit it off so through her I got immersed in The Institute in the activity. That was a volunteer. So so that was a lie meme pause because you said International Institute, so

20:13 For somebody who may listen to this later on in the future. So what is the International Institute versus the International Center of Greater Flint. You're part of it was founded what 1930 something for all of the international residential place to go connect with Community get certain resources cuz it was One Stop Shop for real on citizenship language classes immigration processing all of that was done at the Ashland to to sew and everybody came there with we got his of whatever part of the world you came from you went there to get those services. So and then of course, you know what closed in 2007 as a result of I think like a funding and then the immigration that the community landscape change

21:13 You know and so, you know, it was just felt like well, maybe this not a need for those Services anymore and Anna and I remember thinking and what a Pity that you know, I was thinking that's so short-sighted. But and then you know you fast-forward 5 years and it was like where is The Institute the International Center of Greater Flint Ridge Waco found it right now in 2015. So I want you to talk about how that came about and talk about the work that the International Center of Greater friend is doing and then maybe hopefully we'll have time to get into what you see and forward the work of International Center. So you want to sell with it. So it all started with 19 in 2015. I think in August when I was sitting outside.

22:13 501 c 3 and I saw this group of Chinese students and they were walking down Saginaw Street it was evening and I would say all these are new students that have just come here from their Homeland to U of M Flint and they were walking and looking lost and again that empathy came over and is it like maybe it is maybe some of the steel toe fact that I haven't done it. What is it like a water crisis with International students, you know, you heard languages that you never heard before in downtown Platinum that was like a novelty and so but then it because I knew that there was no into International Institute. I was I will then what would it be so that it is so then I started talking to Folks at U of M Ann.

23:13 Was you a bam and some other is too too since that I talked to the chamber's you know it and I was like so you know, how are we in a reacting with these new residents and it cuz there's a lot to be gained by exchanging engaging with them. And so that's you know, so I was just asking people talk at having conversations and

23:40 And then I went to this one talk at the Islamic Center and it was in February and it was interesting topic. That's why I went it was perceptions of misconceptions of Muslims or something like that. That was really, you know, interesting us and let me go so I went and it was interesting and and then they had a Q&A afterwards and I participated with that and I said, you know love these kind of conversations would be really beneficial but if they were done more intimately, so if people could ask questions, I think I had a question. I want to ask I was kind of like this is stupid as a spice bugs and yeah, I can do no really so and as you know, I wrote that down on the cars.

24:35 And I get my suggestion you happen to get it cuz they collected all the comments and feedback and you got me and you called me and we added Cafe Rhema and boys and a few about I don't know if I was talking about. I was just saying, you know his opportunity. I don't know if I was thinking the center at that time, but it was like no we were not Thinkin Saturday. But yeah, we were wanting to do with Islamic Center engagement so often it just kind of evolved but I think it also came about because of the focus groups has one of the things that we did do was have those focus groups with the college students and we ask them directly.

25:35 What's your experience here? What could make it easier for you to transition? How can the community support you and from that information? It was Glenn that definitely there needs to be a place we can go and don't like again like another Institute and some of that basically The Institute shouldn't have closed it closed for financial reasons or whatever, but it shouldn't have but now here's was an opportunity and a need to bring it back. And so we kept pushing a capsule machine that would cap until it happened. But we little did we know that we would have the experience of what's Happening nationally, you know cuz my fingers when I tell people about the center and some of the things that we're doing look this is not really in response to the stuff that's going on Ashley. We've been doing this before all of this before the elections way before

26:35 Before anybody knew what happened so happens that this is a national kind of dialogue or issue with whatever and we just happen to be dealing with this way. I look at it a little bit as you know, a little bit of a counterbalance, you know, so yeah, it did national scale the immigration policy discussions and the political grandstanding is going on but I think it is a local level we have to kind of

27:12 Take a stat on where we where we stand as a community like flat and how we can.

27:22 Leverage how we can leverage that but how we can continue doing what we've always done when we have the Institute right now though, everything's different. But at the at the at the center of it is we are welcoming Community always have been I get caught up in the other craziness outside, but you know, so yeah, so that's what I have to say. Also too when I you know until what kept me engaged and interested was aside from the Madrid is the travel that I did after that. And so I dunno travel quite a bit afterwards, you know some young adults and this is on your own personal the only trip that I did not pay for that was sponsored was do the Jewish Federation.

28:22 I sent a group of reporters to Israel. And so that was sponsored. But everything else was you know, that's right. So how how did those

28:41 How did those experiences play into the work that you're doing now? And the vision you have for icg have shaped my vision of the world.

28:55 Bye.

28:58 Understanding a realizing that we really have more of the same and then because in each and every place that I visited and I've been to South America, you know, Africa and Ali's Europe.

29:13 Everybody's the same. I never felt out of place even though I might have been an anomaly or you know, but the core I was always able to connect with the humanity in other people.

29:33 And be fascinated with the differences. So so you know, so it just expanded my my view of the world in my few people and

29:49 So I'm reminded of this verse from the Quran where it says we the Royal we know God is speaking through in the Quran we have created you into.

30:04 Countries and Nations or tribes something like that so that you may get to know each other. So so we purposely created you are just as one big one big massive, you know single cuz if everything I see the same that I'm not curious but I have always had a variety of friends first of all to open yourself up to have a relationship with someone that's totally different from you and I'm get that perspective instead of the same friends.

31:06 So let's was kind of wrap up because we have so how how do you see the International Center continuing the work that we've been doing right for the past 3 years 4 years. What kind of impact do you see it having in the Flint Community? What is your vision for it?

31:40 Well, I see it as being a significant resource place.

31:51 For Flint is it we developed a Rebrand itself? And it's not the same old flat with a Global Perspective in terms and not just looking at Slim in the surrounding area, but having a place where we can go beyond Flint in terms of how we exist as a community. And so I see the center is being the focal point of of making that happen by utilizing and you know, the resources that we have with the people that we have here and the people that we have here and making those kinds of connections with other parts of the globe and

32:47 You know it just being a an educational resource Multicultural hub for Flint and really serving as a connector to the the globe outside, you know, so that kind of real Pine the sky, but that's kind of what you're saying. It's

33:10 Flint already has the immigrants here quite a number will probably get a little bit more data and statistics on that in about a month as a resource that is being done.

33:24 But they're sort of hidden if you will write to hit in the isolated and insulated and that's because for and their number of reasons, but I'd like to bring them out and I feel comfortable to come out in the out in the open and be seen and engaged to be a part of it and still be maintained their identity identity. But if that's what makes everybody in two states, but we got to make it, you know safe with them, especially now I got to make it safe for them. And that's what some of the things that we've been doing have coming up. We hope to convey. It's like it's okay, you know when I'm riding my bike at this is Park and and there are these women with geha two jobs and their families.

34:24 Okay, and it's usually at 5 dinner time. Okay, and I'm riding my bike and I want to stop and say can I sit I talk to you on just find out the neighborhood friends say you know what, you know how to get here with the store and I don't you know, cuz I'm like what they probably they may be scared of me. I don't know me going through my head. So you think I should do you think I should stop? Yeah, I think I think you can use the timing is appropriate. I think you were the women are sitting at the table and the kids are playing on the playground and are you know it and so and when they walk and they didn't they all walk home and I see them usually when I'm at my mother's and they all you know, and I always make a point to speak to him. But I really would like to talk to him and just saying I think I should I think you should yeah, I'm sure they'll welcome into and then in the first minute he will know whether you know where that they're comfortable or uncomfortable.

35:24 Yeah, I got a picture of opportunity is just sitting there waiting for you by is right there my face. So yeah, I think so my advisors. Yes. I can do it, right? Okay. Well, I'm

35:44 This lot more to talk about where we're out of time. I hope that you know, my advice of my suggestion is with storycorps in Flint now, right if you have an opportunity to talk to some of these immigrants and these different groups see if they can, you know, get them to commit to an hour of their time that have these conversations. Maybe you can talk to that family and say hey, can I talk to you in for story cards? Okay figure out of yes, that's great. So next time I see them. Yeah. I want to thank you again personally for taking the time.

36:32 And

36:34 Want to wish you and has all the best. Thank you. I just was fun. Actually, I think it's a good thing until I'm glad we had this opportunity. No, thank you. Thank you for all the work you do. Thank you, okay.