As families across Greater Lansing prepare for another school year, one of the community's most anticipated back-to-school celebrations returns with a day filled with hope, generosity, and unforgettable memories. Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, under the leadership of Bishop Dr. Ed Rockett, will host Pilgrim Fest 2026 on Saturday, August 29, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 5200 Pleasant Grove Road in Lansing. The annual community festival has become a signature event that brings to

Courtesy Photo: First Lady Bonita Mitchell As communities across the nation celebrate Black Music Month and honor the powerful role music plays in healing, empowerment, and social change, gospel recording artist, author, entrepreneur, and First Lady Bonita Mitchell is using her voice to launch a movement rooted in faith, resilience, and restoration. Through her new single, "Believe, Don’t Give Up," Mitchell is inviting individuals and families to rediscover hope through the B

For Angel Taylor, investing in young people is more than a calling, it is a lifelong commitment to building stronger families and communities through education, mentorship, and service. As the leader of the Reading Readiness Summer Camp hosted at Christ’s Kingdom Builders Church and Community Center, Taylor works to create meaningful opportunities for youth to learn, grow, and discover their potential. The free summer program provides academic enrichment, cultural education,

Art has the power to tell stories, spark conversations, and bring people together. Few artists embody that belief more fully than Sera Renee’. A multidisciplinary artist, creative entrepreneur, and founder of Contrasted Content, Sera Renee’ has built a reputation for creating immersive artistic experiences that challenge perspectives and celebrate human connection. Her work spans painting, body art, public installations, community engagement projects, and live artistic perfor

Courtesy Photo: The Honorable Judge Wanda Stokes. 30th District Circuit Court Ingham County Michigan For decades, Judge Wanda M. Stokes has been a respected leader, advocate, and trailblazer whose work has helped shape communities throughout Mid-Michigan. Her distinguished career in law, public service, and community leadership has earned her recognition as one of the region’s most influential voices for justice, equity, and opportunity. Throughout her career, Judge Stokes ha

On Saturday, May 16, 2026, my son Liam and I had the pleasure of attending the 27th Annual Against All Odds “Wings of Hope” Brunch, held at the MSUFCU Building in East Lansing, Michigan. From the moment guests walked through the doors, the atmosphere felt warm, uplifting, and filled with purpose. Purple butterflies, soft floral arrangements, and messages of hope decorated the room, serving as beautiful reminders of transformation, survival, and strength. It was more than jus

Courtesy Photo: A voice born from purpose, not pressure. Makayla Cain represents the next generation of storytellers, where courage meets calling and personal truth becomes a global conversation. A Legacy Rooted in Wisdom Makayla’s voice is not just a breakthrough, it is part of a lineage. In a previous Chronicle feature, “Remembering How to Raise Our Children: A Talk with Dr. Eugene Cain ,” he spoke to the importance of intentional parenting, community responsibility, and th

Courtesy Photo: Gospel Powerhouse Kierra Sheard shares the Personal Trials that Transformed Pressure into Purpose with Gospel Sensation Kirk Franklin Kierra Sheard: Finding Her Voice Beyond Legacy, Loss, and the Weight of Expectation There are names that carry history. And then there are names that carry expectation. For Kierra Sheard, both have walked hand in hand since the very beginning. Born into gospel royalty as the daughter of Karen Clark Sheard and niece to the legen

Courtesy Photo: Verna Dorsey Holly she built a life grounded in love and legacy, raising three children while shaping countless others through her work. There are some names that don’t just belong to a person, they belong to a sound, a spirit, a movement. Verna Dorsey Holley is one of those names. Born on April 29, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan, Holley’s life has been a living composition, one that blends discipline, faith, culture, and the unmistakable power of music. Long befo

The Reality of Cancer Treatment I reached remission quickly, but enduring years of chemotherapy, spinal taps, and biopsies taught me what survival truly means. It also revealed why new therapies are changing the journey for many. Five months after giving birth to my first child, I was hospitalized for three weeks due to T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). When I was discharged in March 2020, the world was shutting down. COVID-19 was spreading, public guidance was sti

Courtesy Photo:Jonathan McReynolds. Anchored in transparency, brilliant songwriting, and emotional maturity, Closer reflects where Jonathan is today—spiritually, creatively, and purposefully. Nashville, TN) - March 27, 2026 - GRAMMY, Dove, & Stellar Award-winning gospel singer/songwriter, Jonathan McReynolds releases a brand new album today, Closer (Live in Chicago) . Recorded live in his hometown of Chicago, the 13-track project captures the raw emotion, spiritual depth, an

Courtesy Photo- ( L to R) Jan Henderson, Yanice Carter and Brenda Henderson. Connection, community, and celebration all in one frame. March 19, 2026, BATH, Mich. — There are events you attend, and then there are moments you feel. The 2026 White Rose Gala, hosted by the Lansing/East Lansing Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, was one of those moments. Held at Eagle Eye Golf and Banquet Center, the evening brought together leaders across business, education, healthcare, law,

This Women’s History Month, The Chronicle News proudly celebrates 30 extraordinary women whose leadership, courage, and commitment to community are shaping the present and inspiring the future. Across Michigan and beyond, women are building businesses, leading classrooms, strengthening families, mentoring young people, and advocating for change in ways that impact entire communities. Some lead from boardrooms. Some lead from classrooms. Some lead quietly through service, ment

Courtesy Photo: She didn’t just live… she nurtured, she guided, she held it all together. Mosetta Carter, a legacy of love that continues to grow. There are women who live quiet lives… and then there are women whose lives echo through generations. Sis. Mari Mosetta Nunley-Carter was not just a matriarch. She was a foundation. Born April 9, 1909, in Panola County, Mississippi, to the late Malachi Nunley and Nennie Hughes-Nunley, Sis. Carter entered this world as part of a line

Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., a towering voice in the fight for civil rights and social justice, dedicated his life to uplifting communities and challenging systems of inequality. His message, “Keep Hope Alive,” remains a guiding call for generations continuing the work of justice and freedom. For more than half a century, the name Jesse Jackson has echoed through the halls of justice, church sanctuaries, college campuses, and city streets across America. His voice, steady

Courtesy Photo: Kiara Dumas, founder of Kingdom Mind Design, is honored in Women Making History 2026 for empowering women through photography, faith, and personal transformation. Sometimes purpose doesn’t arrive all at once. It unfolds. For Kiara Dumas, that journey has been one of growth, faith, and transformation. After nearly nine years as a dispute specialist in the tech industry, Kiara made the bold decision to step into a new chapter, one rooted in creativity, healing

Courtesy Photo:Dr. Joan Thomasina Jackson Johnson (In Loving Memory) A visionary leader, clinical psychologist, and former Director of Human Relations and Community Services for the City of Lansing, Dr. Johnson dedicated her life to uplifting communities through advocacy, healing, and service. Her legacy continues to shape the city she served with compassion, brilliance, and unwavering purpose. There are some people whose impact doesn’t end when they leave…it echoes. Dr. Joan

Not just a family. A formation. Not just success. ;A standard. Grace in their posture. Precision in their work. Power in their presence. They don’t just carry a name, they expand it. They don’t just enter rooms; they redefine excellence. The Lucas-Perry women refined. Respected. Revolutionary. There are families…and then there are institutions disguised as families. The Lucas-Perry legacy is one of those rare, powerful stories where love didn’t just endure, it multiplied… int

Courtesy Photo:Dr. Farha Abbasi, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Michigan State University, is a leading voice in mental health advocacy, empowering women to break stigma, prioritize wellness, and reclaim their power. Visibility Is Viability. And She’s Making Sure Women Are Seen. There are women who work within systems…and then there are women who challenge them, reshape them, and refuse to let them stay broken. Dr. Farha Abbasi is the latter. An Associate Professor of P

Courtesy Photo:Meet Candace Phillips, owner of CandyShoppe Hair Studio and CEO of CandeCollective, a beauty industry leader empowering women through entrepreneurship and mentorship. She uses her platform to uplift communities and inspire the next generation of women leaders. For Candace Phillips, beauty has never been just about hair and style. It has always been about confidence, culture, and helping people step into the best version of themselves. A Lansing native, Candace