Courtesy Photo-The Honorable Judge Wanda M. Stokes, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge, brings decades of legal experience in both public and private sectors. Appointed in 2018 and re-elected in 2020, she is also a dedicated community leader and proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. There are women who study history. There are women who write history. And then there are women who stand inside it and move it forward. Judge Wanda M. Stokes is one of those women. Long

LANSING, Mich. – Mayor Andy Schor announced that he has released the City’s 2025 Annual Report, detailing major accomplishments, financial performance, and strategic investments that have strengthened the community over the past year. The full report is posted on the Mayor’s page on the city’s website.   The 220-page, comprehensive report outlines key achievements across public safety, infrastructure, economic development, housing, sustainability, and community services. It a

Courtesy Photo:Dr. Toni Glasscoe, Associate Vice President of External Affairs, Development, and K-12 Operations at Lansing Community College. That title is long. The impact is even longer. In partnership with the Executive Leadership Team, she leads community relations for the College, maintaining and strengthening relationships with business leaders, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders. Her work ensures that the mission of Lansing Community College is not ju

Courtesy Photo:Dr. Melody Angel, physician, entrepreneur, and founder of Full Well, whose second act reflects resilience, healing, and visionary leadership In 2012, Dr. Melody Angel lost her husband to suicide. She lost a 45-unit real estate portfolio. She faced bankruptcy in the aftermath of the housing collapse. Her daughter was seven years old. Many people survive seasons like that. Few decide to rise from them with intention. Dr. Melody Angel did not just rebuild. She too

Courtesy Photo: Sharon D. Rogers For more than four decades, Sharon D. Rogers has dedicated her life to strengthening children, families, and the very foundation of community. Her professional journey began in Kentucky, where she studied Home Economics with a specialization in Child Development at Murray State University . After graduating, she relocated to Lansing, Michigan, and began what would become a lifelong commitment to early childhood education and family engagement.

Courtesy Photo-Choose Lansing recognized 532 active CTAs and honored Cheryl Ward, CTA and owner of Time To Travel, as the CTA Star of the Year. LANSING, MICH. – March 3, 2025 – Choose Lansing ® held its annual meeting March 3 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing, sharing an update on the region’s tourism industry, local visitor economic impact and upcoming initiatives. The event highlighted a record year for hotel room nights, recognized the CTA Star of the Year and previewed prioriti

Courtesy Photo- Rae-Kel Moore, Owner and Funder of Sister Tah' Sister Some movements start with funding. Some movements start with a strategy. And then some movements start at a picnic table in the park, with tired mothers who simply needed space to breathe. In 2018, at Francis Park in Lansing, Rae-Kel Moore, known to many as “Lady Kellz,” did not set out to launch a movement. She was living her life as a single mother of four, balancing work, home, and the quiet weight that

By Chelsea Wooton Courtesy photo: A historic Quality Dairy Co. storefront in Lansing, where generations of families have shopped for fresh dairy and hometown favorites. There are convenience stores, and then there is Quality Dairy Company, a place where “running in for milk” often turns into donuts, chip dip, ice cream, and small-town rituals. As Lansing’s hometown institution approaches its 90th anniversary on March 11, Quality Dairy doesn’t feel old. It feels seasoned — ref

Courtesy Photo: Founder of Thread of Hope Records, Mitchell, who initiated the platform in 1999, is depicted here. Her mission focuses on healing and empowerment through music and performing arts, expanding into a movement which supports youth, families, and educators. For more than two decades, Bonita McAfee Mitchell has been using music not just as entertainment, but as intervention. As the founder of Thread of Hope Records, Mitchell launched her platform in 1999 with a mis

Photo Credit:The Chronicle Media Group-Representing the next generation of community storytellers, Liam Carter dives into hands-on learning at Impression 5. LANSING, Mich. — Creativity was in full force February 28 and March 1 as families gathered at Impression 5 Science Center for LEGO®Palooza 2026, the museum’s annual family-focused fundraiser. Presented by Impression 5 and supported by the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation and T-Fiber, the two-day event transformed the Science

Photo Credit-The Chronicle Media Group-Generations aligned. My son Liam Carter is standing among men who model confidence, discipline, and care. This is what community mentorship looks like in action. Last weekend at the Lansing Mall, something shifted in the atmosphere. It wasn’t just a workshop. It wasn’t just photo ops in front of a branded backdrop. It was a room full of men choosing to rewrite narratives. Young men showed up for the 2026 Suited 4 Success Etiquette Worksh

Courtesy Photo-William Lawrence, Candidate for United States Congress. LANSING, Mich. – The end of January marked one of the strongest performing months for William Lawrence’s campaign for Congress since its launch.  Strong volunteer energy, fundraising and major endorsements signal huge momentum for the grassroots campaign heading into the 2026 election year.   “This year is off to a really exciting start and we’re just getting rolling,” said William Lawrence. “We’re the ca

By Chelsea Wooton Courtesy Photo-For 30 years, across 41 states and more than 1,000 venues, Dr. Khalid el-Hakim refused to wait for history to be told correctly. He put it on wheels and brought it directly to us through the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. Lansing, admission is free, but the truth you’ll encounter is priceless. Dr. Khalid el-Hakim didn’t wait for history to be told correctly. He put it on wheels and brought it to us. Lansing, admission is free. The truth is p

Courtesy Photo-Oluwaseun “Sean” Sipeolu, Founder of Jollof Afro-Caribbean Lounge, is building more than a restaurant in Downtown Lansing — he is creating a cultural home rooted in connection, ownership, and legacy. Some businesses sell products. Others create experiences. Oluwaseun “Sean” Sipeolu did not open Jollof Afro-Caribbean Lounge to simply serve food. He opened it to serve culture. Founded in 2025 in the heart of Downtown Lansing, Jollof Afro-Caribbean Lounge is more

Courtesy Photo-From military service to the Michigan Supreme Court, Takura Nyamfukudza continues his mission to defend the Constitution and safeguard justice for all. There are lawyers. And then there are Constitutional warriors. Takura Nyamfukudza does not merely practice law, he defends liberty. In 2017, alongside his partner and friend Mary Chartier, he co-founded Chartier & Nyamfukudza, P.L.C., a firm devoted exclusively to criminal defense and closely related matters. Th

Courtesy Photo- LCC Trustee and Community Advocate Angela Mathews. Some leaders talk about impact. Others sign their name to it. Angela Mathews does both. Elected to the Lansing Community College  Board of Trustees in 2017 and again in 2022, she didn’t just win, she led the ticket, placing number one in votes across the tri-county area both times. That is not coincidence. That is community confidence. She made history as the first Black woman to serve as Board Chair for two c

Photo credit: Blair Stapp, 1967: Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, photographed in 1967, seated in a wicker chair holding a rifle and spear. The image became one of the most recognizable photographs of the Black Power movement, often symbolizing armed self-defense, though the Party’s community service programs were equally central to its mission. This image became iconic.  It  also became incomplete. Newton co-founded the Black Panther Party in Oakland, C

Courtesy Photo-Yanice Y. Carter, Publisher of the Chronicle News Black history is not something we dust off once a year. It is contested. It is challenged. It is rewritten in real time. And it is ours. For generations, the story of Black America was told without us, about us, and often against us. Movements were simplified. Leaders were caricatured. Resistance was criminalized. Community protection was labeled aggression. Brilliance was minimized. Complexity was erased. And s

Trustee Chatum Taylor, Member Experience Manager at Lake Trust Credit Union and Lansing Community College Board of Trustees member, advocates for financial empowerment and accessible education in Greater Lansing. Black history lives in the everyday work of leaders who choose service over spotlight. Trustee Chatum Taylor represents that legacy through finance, education, and authentic community advocacy. A Lansing native, Taylor has spent 23 years in the credit union industry

A Trailblazer in Military Leadership Trailblazing, historic, and barrier-breaking only begin to describe the military career of Colonel James E. Stokes (Ret.), a Lansing, Michigan native whose service reshaped what leadership looks like in the Michigan Army National Guard. Over more than three decades in uniform, Colonel Stokes shattered multiple racial ceilings. He commanded in a theater of war and earned historic honors. He led at the company, battalion, and installation le