Flint Community Schools marked a historic milestone on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with the official ribbon cutting of The Brownell-Holmes STEM Academy Campus. This momentous occasion represents the first new build for the district in more than 50 years, highlighting a renewed commitment to innovation, student success, and the future of Flintās children.
āToday we celebrate the ribbon cutting for the entire Brownell-Holmes STEM Academy Campus. A place that represents hope, vision and progress for our city and our scholars,ā said Flint Community Schools Superintendent Kevelin Jones.
Students, families, staff, alumni, and community partners gathered alongside district leaders, local and state officials to celebrate this transformational addition to the Campus of Brownell STEM Academy & Holmes STEM Middle School Academy. The excitement was infectious as speakers reflected on the significance of the project and what it means for the generations of scholars who will soon walk its halls.
The Brownell-Holmes STEM Academy Campus is more than a renovation. It is a reimagining of what schools can mean for scholars, families, and the Flint community. It represents the belief that education should not only prepare scholars for the future but also inspire pride, strengthen neighborhoods, and create opportunities that ripple across generations.
āIt is so heartwarming to think about all the good things that are going on in Flint, driven by the people of Flint,ā said Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-Michigan). āThis campus is another chapter in this incredible story and I am proud and grateful to be invited to join you as we cut this ribbon.ā
Our new community education campus reimagines the way we educate our scholars by creating pathways for lifelong learning. The campus features a state-of-the-art early childhood center, serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Scholars transition seamlessly into Brownell and Holmes STEM academies, where curiosity and innovation are fostered during the school day, and through community education. When combined with The Cube @ Brownell-Holmes, the campus creates a model for the future of community education in Flint.
Campus Improvements
Transforming this campus into a modern, thriving, and inspiring place for learning required both vision and investment. Thanks to a unique blend of public and private funding, we were able to reimagine the future of the Brownell-Holmes STEM Academy Campus.
More than $26 million, federal ESSER dollars, allowed us to renovate classrooms, improve HVAC systems, install new roofing, update furniture, and ensure that every learning space is safe, resilient, and responsive to post-COVID needs.
āWe have renovated classrooms, gyms, athletic fields, and playgrounds throughout this campus, creating spaces that inspire learning, and standing proudly at the heart of it - is The Cube,ā said Superintendent Jones.
But it was the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, granting over $14 million, that took the vision even further. Their support made construction of The Cube, state-of-the-art playgrounds, athletic facilities, new facades and an early childhood center possible.
Together, these public and private contributions have helped transform two school buildings into an innovative STEM campus, serving scholars from 6 weeks old through adulthood.
Community Co-Design
Flint Community Schools partnered with the Flint Center for Educational Excellence and the Brownell- Holmes Neighborhood Association to implement a community co-design model where parents, scholars, staff, and neighbors come together to dream, design, and plan the future of the campus. Their voices shaped every decision, from classroom design to playground layout, ensuring that the renovation reflected the needs and hopes of the community itself.āØāØ
āWe are so excited to be part of this and we learned that people can be trusted,ā said Jeanette Edwards, President of the Brownell-Holmes Neighborhood Association.
This was not a project done for the community ā but with the community, and because of that, every scholar who walks onto this campus can see themselves and their dreams reflected in its design.
Brownell Early Childhood Center
The Brownell-Holmes STEM Academy Campus begins its commitment to education at the very start of a childās journey, as young as 6 weeks old. Our Early Childhood Center is the product of strong partnerships between Flint Community Schools, the Early Childhood Collaborative, Genesee County Community Action Resource Department, and Genesee Intermediate School District, offering families a single, trusted place for early learning and care.
This center offers:
Great Start to Readiness Program
Early Head Start
Early Childhood Special Education
Head Start
The early childhood education wing features a gross motor room and is directly adjacent to The Cube, providing children and families with access to the shared space and helping to build important associations with the Brownell-Holmes STEM Academy Campus from a childās earliest days.
Superintendent Jones emphasized that this is about the children. āFrom our littlest learners starting at 6 weeks old in early childhood care, to our eighth grade learners preparing for their next stage of their journey, this campus provides a seamless pipeline for excellence,ā he said. āWith a focus on STEM, we are equipping Flint scholars to lead, to innovate, and thrive in a changing world.ā
By housing these services on one campus, families have easier access to high-quality early education that builds a strong foundation for lifelong success.
Athletic & Recreational Spaces
The new Brownell-Holmes STEM Academy Campus focuses on recreation and play for scholars and community residents of all ages.
Features:
A new competition-ready track for training and athletic excellence
A football and soccer field
A walking path that creates a purposeful connection between the community and campus
Two new state-of-the-art playgrounds, designed by scholars at Brownell and Holmes STEM academies
New pickleball and basketball courts
These spaces invite both scholars and the community to stay active, connected, and engaged.
The Cube @ Brownell-Holmes
At the very heart of the campus stands The Cube @ Brownell-Holmes, a stunning 5,000-square-foot facility that is unlike anything else in the Flint area. Designed as the central hub of campus and community life, The Cube is more than a building. It is a gathering place where ideas, relationships, and opportunities come alive.
āIt's a hub for in school and after school enrichment for our scholars, and when the school day ends, it also becomes a gathering place for our community. A space for adult meetings and engagement that keeps this campus alive, with purpose,ā said Superintendent Jones.
During the school day, The Cube offers flexible spaces for learning, collaboration, and enrichment. After school, it transforms into a vibrant community hub where neighborhood association meetings, afterschool programs, and community events can take place.
In partnership with the Flint Center for Educational Excellence, The Cube will offer robust community education and afterschool initiatives. By co-locating the administrative offices of the Brownell-Holmes Neighborhood Association at The Cube, our model ensures that all services offered are guided through deep ongoing collaboration between schools, community organizations, and neighborhoods to create communities where everyone thrives.
With its state-of-the-art technology, open design, and welcoming atmosphere, The Cube symbolizes the vision of uniting school and community into one shared future.
The Brownell-Holmes STEM Academy Campus represents an exciting investment in Flint Community Schools to facilitate innovative learning for our scholars as we RE-ENERGIZE THE PRIDE, RENOVATE THE PLANS, REBUILD THE POSSIBILITIES, and REPURPOSE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE!
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