Contact: Emily Springer, Communication Manager, Communication and Information Technology, University Outreach and Engagement, sprin116@msu.edu

For nearly 30 years, Robert “Bob” Brown has worked alongside community members, organizations, and leaders in Flint, Michigan, to develop sustainable, collaborative solutions addressing challenges in the community he calls home.

As an associate director in the Center for Community and Economic Development’s Flint Office (CCED) housed within the Office of University Outreach and Engagement (UOE), Brown has spent the past 13 years demonstrating the power of grassroots advocacy by bringing researchers and community members together, building lasting partnerships, and helping communities create strategic solutions that support long-term social and economic growth. 

Prior to his role with CCED, Brown was associate director at UOE’s former University-Community Partnerships department, where he cultivated partnerships between MSU and community stakeholders and fostered collaborative initiatives focused on long-term social and economic development.

“Through his unwavering commitment to partnership, Bob has helped build trust between Michigan State University and the Flint community,” said Kwesi Brookins, vice provost for UOE. “His impact will continue to be felt through the relationships, programs, and collaborations he cultivated over decades of service, and we look forward to building on these partnerships for years to come.”

For more than 10 years, Brown has served as the vice chair of WOW Outreach, a Flint-based community action organization, working with founder Kenyetta Dotson, director of community-based implementation and engagement for MSU’s College of Human Medicine, to improve neighborhood outcomes and under-resourced communities.

“Bob has always been a bright light and beacon of hope for individuals, families, and the community,” said Dotson. “He has consistently helped people recognize their strength and value, believing everyone has something meaningful to contribute. His work in Flint has empowered people to see their worth and become part of the solution, and his lasting impact will continue to ripple through the community for years to come.”

During his tenure at MSU, Brown embraced Asset-Based Community Development, a model that focuses on identifying and mobilizing existing strengths, resources, and capacities. He also adopted Strategic Doing, a methodology for leaders, organizations, and communities to address challenges by quickly leveraging networks and turning conversations into action.

These approaches became the foundation for Neighborhoods Without Borders, a community-led initiative co-founded by Brown and Flint community partners in 2012. The initiative works to tackle systemic racism, improve the quality of life for neighbors, and build strong relationships across diverse groups in Flint neighborhoods, focusing on equity and action.

Prior to working at MSU, Brown served in several leadership roles with the United Way of Michigan, including interim president and CEO, senior team leader for United Way services, and director of agency services. Through these positions, he helped guide the organization’s strategic direction, supported community service agencies across the state, and strengthened collaborative efforts to expand the impact of community-based programs.

In a note to colleagues, friends, and community partners, Brown credited his time with CCED and MSU as shaping his professional and personal accomplishments as a university representative and a Flint resident.

“Most importantly, the meaningful relationships I built at the university and throughout the community have stayed with me,” Brown wrote. “These relationships were grounded in mutual growth, trust, and authenticity, with a focus on what one can give rather than what one can get. They continue to inspire my ongoing self-discovery and growth.”

He continued, saying, “My commitment to community building will continue into retirement. I will never give up on the great people and city of Flint. You all have inspired me, and for that I am eternally grateful.”

Though Brown is retiring from MSU, his commitment to Flint and the relationships he built there remain central to the next chapter of his life. He is set to retire in July of this year.