Joel Arnold proudly calls Flint’s Carriage Town neighborhood home.

Born at McLaren Hospital, Joel has long been passionate about Flint and its neighborhoods. In his first job after college, Joel worked in the City of Flint’s Blight Elimination Division. Taking nearly 4,000 calls each year from residents concerned about blight in their neighborhoods and helping to organize hundreds of cleanups with neighbors across Flint, Joel had the chance to work side by side with the passionate people that make a difference in their neighborhoods. In this job, he worked with neighbors and partners to increase the percentage of resident complaints that were resolved within a month from under 40% to nearly 75% of complaints. 

Today, he’s a city planner, serving as the Planning and Advocacy Manager at Communities First, Inc. Here he works to make sure that no matter your background, everyone in Flint can find a decent, safe, affordable place to call home. In this role he has helped bring hundreds of new homes to Flint and invest in neighborhoods across the 5th Ward. With degrees from Michigan State University and University College Dublin, Joel has built a career in planning and community development, working in cities across Michigan and even spending some time in Philadelphia.

Joel is an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Downtown Flint, and he stays engaged politically—volunteering and working on campaigns throughout Flint and Genesee County to support progressive causes. Today he serves as a board member of Abundant Housing Michigan, Strong Towns Flint, and Flint Fresh. Joel also spent 4 years on the board of Friends of the Alley, helping to organize Alley Fest each summer and work to beautify Flint’s alleys 365 days a year. 

Outside of work and advocacy, Joel enjoys playing the trombone, cheering on MSU football and basketball, biking Flint’s trail network, and spending time with friends and family. He’s especially passionate about creating walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and believes cities are one of humanity’s best inventions—offering endless potential for connection, growth, and opportunity.