MISSION CONTROL: Building Resilient Neighborhoods with Glenn Wilson
**Building Community, Impact, and Resilience: The Mission Control Podcast with Glenn Wilson**
The *Mission Control Podcast*—hosted by Paul Schmidt of **UnoDeuce Multimedia**—has become a platform for nonprofit leaders to share how they “make it happen” in their communities. In one particularly inspiring episode, Schmidt sits down with **Glenn Wilson**, founder, president, and CEO of **Communities First Incorporated**, to explore what it takes to transform neighborhoods, build resilience, and spark meaningful change.
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### From Football Dreams to Community Builder
Before he was a nonprofit executive, Glenn Wilson dreamed of playing professional football. His plan was simple: make it to the NFL, then return to his hometown of Flint, Michigan, to help rebuild the neighborhoods he loved. When injuries ended that dream, he pivoted—bringing the same grit and vision to a new playing field.
Through years of experience in healthcare, transportation, and public service, Wilson recognized a deep need for affordable housing and community revitalization. With encouragement from his wife, Essence, he sold his business and committed three years to see what impact he could make. Fifteen years later, **Communities First Incorporated** has grown into a regional powerhouse for social and economic change.
> “I really wonder if I can do something in our community that would have lasting change.” — *Glenn Wilson*
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### Launching in a Recession: Faith and Tenacity
Starting a nonprofit in 2008—at the height of the recession—wasn’t for the faint of heart. As Wilson recalls, “Everybody told me I was crazy.” While others focused on demolition and downsizing, he saw potential in old buildings and struggling neighborhoods. His vision took shape with the **Oak Street Senior Apartments**, one of the first adaptive reuses of a school building for affordable senior housing in the country.
For the first four years, Glenn and Essence ran the organization themselves, doing everything from finance to fieldwork. Their perseverance paid off—laying the groundwork for what would become one of Michigan’s most respected community development nonprofits.
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### Building on Financial Integrity
Wilson believes that the difference between dreamers and doers often comes down to one word: **accountability**. Early in the organization’s journey, he prioritized fiscal responsibility—hiring a contract CFO and conducting a full audit on just $10,000 in the bank.
“Fiscal responsibility is one of the things that usually keeps nonprofits from excelling,” Wilson says. That decision built trust with funders and opened doors for future growth. Today, Communities First employs over 40 staff members across multiple states.
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### The Power of Storytelling
As both Wilson and Schmidt agree, storytelling is at the heart of effective leadership. For Wilson, it’s about connecting emotionally—sharing not just what the organization does, but *why* it matters.
“Your best salesperson is you,” Wilson notes. “If you can’t tell people why they should walk alongside you, you need to find someone who can.”
By being transparent about his own experiences—like losing a home to a fire—Wilson has helped others see the human side of the housing crisis. Storytelling, he says, turns empathy into action and recruits allies who believe in the mission.
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### Flint’s True Story: Resilience Over Ruin
Flint has faced its share of challenges—from the decline of GM to the water crisis and COVID-19—but Wilson refuses to let those hardships define the city.
“You can either be the person to impact your environment or you can let your environment impact you,” he says. “I choose to impact my environment.”
Under his leadership, Communities First has emphasized collaboration—working alongside other nonprofits, civic leaders, and residents to foster resilience and renewal.
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### Entrepreneurial Spirit in a Nonprofit World
Wilson’s business background has shaped his nonprofit philosophy: to be **mission-focused but business-minded**. He teaches that a sustainable nonprofit must operate like a smart business—strategically managing income, expenses, and talent while staying true to its core mission.
“It’s about being mission-focused, but being business-minded as a nonprofit,” he explains. “At the end of the day, it’s still a business.”
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### Communities First’s Three Pillars
Wilson describes Communities First’s work through three interconnected pillars:
1. **Economic Mobility** – Helping families build wealth through financial education and advocacy.
2. **Equitable Real Estate Development** – Creating and managing affordable housing through innovative projects, such as transforming old schools and factories into livable spaces.
3. **Engaged Communities** – Hosting more than 90 community events annually, advocating for policy change, and fostering civic engagement across Michigan and beyond.
With projects spanning Flint, Lansing, Detroit, and even Indiana, Communities First adapts to each community’s unique needs while maintaining its commitment to equity and inclusion.
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### Leading Through Service and Collaboration
Beyond his work at Communities First, Wilson serves on numerous boards—including the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan and the Mass Transportation Authority. For him, board service is about adding value and learning from others.
“You’re supposed to serve on boards because it means something to you, and you feel like you can add value,” he says.
These experiences have deepened his understanding of the intersection between community needs, corporate responsibility, and public policy—further fueling his commitment to collaborative leadership.
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### Lessons for Nonprofit Leaders
Fifteen years into his journey, Wilson offers timeless advice for nonprofit professionals:
1. **Lead with Your Story** – Authenticity inspires action.
2. **Balance Mission and Money** – Sustainability requires both purpose and prudence.
3. **Value Collaboration** – Collective wisdom strengthens communities.
4. **Stay Passionate** – Let the work energize, not exhaust, you.
5. **Invest in Talent and Technology** – Efficiency and skill drive long-term success.
> “We can focus on the good or we can focus on the bad. I choose to impact my environment.” — *Glenn Wilson*
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### Why Glenn’s Approach Matters
Wilson’s journey from aspiring athlete to transformational leader embodies what *Mission Control* is all about—ordinary people doing extraordinary things through purpose-driven work. His blend of vision, storytelling, and disciplined strategy offers a roadmap for nonprofit leaders everywhere.
For anyone looking to start or sustain a mission-driven organization, Glenn’s story is proof that **community impact begins with personal conviction**—and grows through collaboration, resilience, and relentless belief in what’s possible.
To learn more about Communities First Incorporated, visit [communitiesfirstinc.org](https://communitiesfirstinc.org).
Listen to the full conversation on the *Mission Control Podcast*, available on Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.
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**“You have something to say. We just got to figure out how to channel that and how to get it out.” — Paul Schmidt**
Together, Wilson and Schmidt remind listeners that progress happens when passion meets purpose—and when people keep showing up to build better communities, one story at a time.
