Xzavier Simon

Xzavier began writing for Flintside in late 2019, where his commitment to telling authentic community stories quickly evolved into a deeper calling to document the spirit and humanity of Flint. As a writer and educator, he has chronicled the lives of artists, educators, and changemakers throughout the region. In 2025, he stepped into the role of Interim Managing Editor, becoming the publication's first Black male and first openly LGBTQIA+ managing editor.

Beyond Flintside, Xzavier founded The Modern Queer, a multimedia platform sharing the stories of BIPOC LGBTQIA+ individuals, and has organized community events including Rainbow in the Rust and Queer Brunch @ Night. He also serves as Interim Associate Director of CMU GEAR UP, supporting first-generation and low-income students in pursuing higher education.

A native of the Beecher community, Xzavier approaches storytelling as an act of affirmation and liberation. When he's not writing or working in education, he can be found exploring K-pop, cooking, playing video games, or diving deep into Japanese culture.