How Tom Gores, Detroit Pistons initiative helped growing Flint nonprofit’s move to new facility

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FLINT, Mich. — Smiling teens were welcomed with a huge surprise this summer. 

After months of anticipation, 181 Teen Movement’s new facility on Flint’s northeast side opened its doors to the community. The new 5,000-square-foot facility features freshly painted walls, meeting spaces and a basketball court. 

“I’m so excited; this is a fresh start for everyone here, and it looks really cool inside,” said A’myia Thompkins, who entered the 12th grade this fall. 

181 Teen Movement was one of five Flint-area organizations to receive $5,000 grants as part of the Tom Gores-sponsored “Be Impactful” initiative this past season. The organization used the donation to buy paint and supplies to renovate the space. 

Gores, who owns the Detroit Pistons and was raised in the Flint area, started the initiative in 2021 to create positive change through investments in education, youth development, health and community programs, with an emphasis on expanding opportunities for underserved communities. 

“The grant we received from Tom Gores was a big deal because his name means a lot to us, and it went toward fixing up some of the space in our main area and adding technology, including some of the TVs,” 181 Teen Movement Executive Director Leo Robinson II said.  

The “Be Impactful” initiative, which will continue in the upcoming season, has served 25 organizations in the Flint area since its inception, donating more than $120,000. The program has impacted nearly 600 individuals and operates under the Pistons Community mission, which aims to use basketball as a vehicle for positive change across education, health and social responsibility. 

181 Teen Movement is a faith-based space for teens that focuses on providing solutions, building confidence and supporting personal growth through various programs and events year-round. 

To commemorate the opening of the new facility, the organization sponsored an end-of-summer bash with contests for prizes, rock climbing, bounce houses and an ice cream truck, all with the intent of letting kids be kids for the day. Participants were allowed to bring guests, and quickly the basketball court was filled with teens shooting, dribbling and playing with 15 basketballs donated by the Pistons. 

“With 181 Teen Movement, our hope is that teens make a 180-degree turn in their lives, and we want them to bring a friend along with them on that journey,” Robinson said. “It’s not always fun doing things alone, so we welcome them to bring friends from outside the program to do something positive.” 

Robinson added: “It takes a village to put this on. It’s encouraging that the Detroit Pistons, people from the community and city are all here so these teens can see they are cared for, valued and belong.” 

From dust to 181 

In February, the space looked different. 

Dust covered the floors, and painter’s tape lined the walls of the space that was once a former church. But volunteers spent months painting, cleaning and renovating to give it a new life. 

Thompkins is just one of the teens who regularly attends 181 Teen Movement programming and spent weekends and many days of summer vacation volunteering so the building could be ready for the school year. 

“It makes me feel warm inside, knowing that I did something, and I put a piece of my heart, hard work and dedication into a building that everybody is going to enjoy,” Thompkins said. 

For an organization that serves up to 150 teens weekly, Robinson sees great importance in providing a safe space for kids. 

“I was born and raised in this city and could have gone anywhere with my degree from Central Michigan University, but I wanted to come back here and lift up my city,” Robinson said. 

He added: “As a teenager, I always was looking for programs like this, and this is why I’m here. My children are a part of this, and I see the progress it has made in my children, and I wanted to bring that to the neighborhood as well.”  

A game-night experience 

Gores and the Pistons organization also give each grant recipient a game-night experience. Groups are bused from Flint to watch the game in a Little Caesars Arena suite filled with food and merchandise. Pistons dancers and mascot Hooper visited each group, and the kids are escorted down to sit courtside to take in the atmosphere. 

“I believe it changed the trajectory of some of the teens’ lives because they experienced something they’ve never experienced before,” Robinson said.  

Detroit Pistons Chief People Officer Nicolet Lewis added: “For many children, the experience is extraordinary and memorable. It offers a joyful break from daily challenges and reinforces that people beyond their immediate circle genuinely care about their well-being and future.”  

Gores personally greeted the 181 Teen Movement teens to their game night.  

“Meeting him made me feel like someone like him is actually doing something for us and helping out,” Thompkins said.  

The initiative serves as a way for Gores to give back to the community where he was raised after immigrating from Israel as a small child. 

“Tom’s connection to Flint is deeply personal,” Lewis said. “He is committed to empowering the community that shaped him and recognizes the essential role local nonprofits play in supporting youth, families and neighborhoods.  

“The program reflects Tom’s commitment to uplifting Flint and supporting organizations that directly serve its residents.”  
 

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