FLINT, Mich. (Dec. 17, 2025) — Starting early next month, Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) and local health care experts and leaders are kicking off a series of events to support Genesee County residents access health care options that meet their needs. On a bi-monthly basis, these “Community Health Care Forums” will take place at different locations around the county, co-hosted by and featuring in-depth conversations with the Greater Flint Health Coalition’s Jim Ananich and Genesee Health Plan’s Jim Milanowski, along with additional rotating special guests. On-site partners will also be available to provide information and resources to attendees.
“Accessing health care shouldn’t be difficult, but as many of us are painfully aware, this is frequently the case for folks across the county and here in Michigan,” said Sen. Cherry. “By helping residents understand their health care options, troubleshoot barriers, and connect with real solutions, we can improve access to care for every Genesee County resident. That’s our hope and goal with this series, and I’m eager to start getting these underway so that community members can get the critical support they need from the systems and services available to them.”
The first event in this series will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Genesee Health Plan, 2171 S. Linden Rd., Flint, MI, 48532. Along with Sen. Cherry, Jim Ananich, and Jim Milanowski, this series will also feature Michelle Estell, health officer from the Genesee County Health Dept., who will focus specifically on health care access.
“I’m looking forward to meeting Genesee County residents throughout this experience, directly offering them the education and resources they need to take control of their health,” said Ananich, president and CEO of the Greater Flint Health Coalition. “Residents deserve to know all the health care options they have available to them, and how to access them. My hope is that this series shows residents that we care and that we are here to support them.”
“Genesee Health Plan’s position has always been to educate and inform our community members on their health care options and resources so they can make informed decisions about their health,” said Milanowski, president and CEO of Genesee Health Plan. “GHP is happy to be hosting the first of many forums to ensure our community understands potential changes and how they could be impacted, including knowing their health benefits, how to use them and keep their coverage. It’s crucial that we come together like this and provide an informational forum for community members to access.”
To register and find more information on these events and stay updated on future ones hosted by Sen. Cherry, visit SenateDems.com/Cherry/Events.