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

March 9, 2026, LANSING, Mich. — The Lansing/East Lansing Chapter of The Links, Incorporated will host the 2026 White Rose Gala, “A White Rose Legacy: Friendship, Service, and Impact,” on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 5:30–9:00 p.m. at Eagle Eye Golf and Banquet Center, 15500 Chandler Road, Bath. One of Mid-Michigan’s premier celebrations of leadership and philanthropy, the evening will bring together leaders from business, nonprofit, education, legal, and civic sectors to re

In Lansing, some families quietly shape the future of their communities through generations of service. The Taylor family is one of them. From youth mentorship and literacy programs to cultural dance and community outreach, the work of Dr. Lee Taylor, AnJanette “Ms. Angel” Taylor, and Heather Taylor reflects a shared belief that when women invest in their communities, entire generations rise. Together, their work spans more than five decades of leadership rooted in education,

Courtesy Photo:Corean Canty, founder of Speak More Human and co-founder of Shift to Play, helps leaders and organizations strengthen communication, culture, and connection by empowering people to find and use their authentic voice. Some leaders build businesses. Others build movements in how people think, communicate, and show up in the world. For Corean Canty, leadership begins with one powerful idea: OUR VOICE MATTERS. A seasoned communications strategist, speaker, and peop

Too many Black women carry the weight of families, careers, communities, and expectations while ignoring the signals their bodies are sending. Fatigue, headaches, dizziness, burnout, these are not weaknesses. They are warnings. Rest is not a luxury. It is survival. National Day of Rest for Black Women March 10 is recognized as the National Day of Rest for Black Women, a day meant to remind us of something many of us have been conditioned to ignore. Rest. Black women have long

Courtesy Photo: Meet Ali Bennett, Founder and CEO of Grassroots Giving, launched the Lansing-based initiative in 2023 to help first-generation entrepreneurs connect with the resources, knowledge, and community support needed to build sustainable businesses. In every generation, there are people who recognize that the systems around them were never designed for everyone to thrive. Instead of waiting for change, they begin building something new. For Ali Bennett, that moment ca

Courtesy Photo: Stacy Leatherwood Cannon M.D. For more than 26 years, Dr. Leatherwood -Cannon has dedicated her career to caring for children and strengthening communities through medicine. Today she serves as a Senior Staff Attending Physician at Henry Ford Health and a champion for childhood wellness. Some people discover their calling over time. For Dr. Stacy Leatherwood Cannon, the calling came early. At just four years old, she already knew she wanted to become a pediatr