Flint Art Project Honoring Victims of Violence Wins National Recognition

A Community Heals Through Brushstrokes

In a city that has weathered decades of hardship, a Flint-based program found a way to transform grief into something lasting — and the rest of the country took notice. Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County has received a national award from Crime Stoppers USA, Inc. The award recognizes the organization's community initiative, "HeART to Canvas," a project that created space for healing, remembrance, and community connection through art.

The honor was presented during the annual Crime Stoppers USA Training Conference held September 17–20 in Washington, D.C., which brought together 208 program members representing 94 Crime Stoppers organizations. Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County board President Tim Jones and Vice President Rachel Nanni were among those in attendance.

Art Born From Loss

The idea originated about a decade ago when Adrian Montague, executive director of Doxa Development, saw a painting of a crime victim in Julie Lopez's office at the Flint Police Department — a victim who had died in his teens after a hit and run — and suggested helping families of crime victims through art. That seed grew into something remarkable. Over the course of several months, local artists worked with families impacted by violence to create portraits that honor the lives of loved ones lost.

Lopez described the process: local artists were brought together and paired with family members, the artists asked questions, got to know each other, talked about their loved ones, and then created an art piece specifically for them. The results were deeply personal. "I was thankful to give the artist pictures of my husband, and she brought those pictures to life. I smile every time I look at his portrait," said Marcia, widow of Ramone McQueen, whose 2007 homicide remains unsolved.

Beyond the Tip Line

The HeART to Canvas gallery debuted at the Genesee County Community Safety Resource Fair at the Berston Field House. The project later expanded into film. Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County, Doxa Development, and Stacks Creative produced a screening of HeART to Canvas — a 13-minute film that honors and commemorates loved ones through art. After the screening, attendees took part in a moderated panel discussion with participating families and artists to further explore their stories and the themes conveyed through the artwork.

Executive Director Julie Lopez framed the award as proof that crime prevention organizations can do more than field anonymous tips. "We are incredibly honored to receive this national recognition. HeART to Canvas represents what Crime Stoppers can be when we look beyond the tip line and ask what our community needs. At Crime Stoppers, we believe safety and healing go hand in hand." She extended thanks to all participating families and artists, Doxa Development, and Stacks Creative for helping bring the project to life and for capturing these stories through video and photography.

A Model Worth Replicating

Lopez said the project has had a meaningful impact on participating families, noting that family members have said that when they look at the art, they have a good feeling about their loved one who they lost to violence, and that it has touched their lives in many different ways. That emotional resonance is precisely what caught the attention of national judges.

For a community still working through layers of trauma — from the water crisis to persistent violent crime — HeART to Canvas offers a model that other cities might look to adopt. Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County has now demonstrated that public safety organizations don't have to choose between fighting crime and nurturing the people left behind by it. The national spotlight on this initiative may be the push other communities need to try something similar.