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

Courtesy photo:Dr. Tareva Watts, CEO, Founder, and Clinical Director of Inspired Faith Counseling and Consultation in Lansing, Michigan. A clinical therapist, author, and mental health advocate committed to building healed generations through faith-centered wellness and emotional healing. Some women build platforms. Some build brands. And some build people. Dr. Tareva Watts is doing the sacred work of building healed generations. As CEO, Founder, and Clinical Director of Insp

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

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- 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

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-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-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

Ayanna D. Neal, Lansing native and Senior Litigation Attorney at Grewal Law PLLC, continues to make Black history through landmark litigation and survivor advocacy. Justice is not abstract for Ayanna D. Neal. It is personal. It is local. And it is lived. A Lansing native, Neal has built a legal career rooted in accountability, institutional reform, and survivor-centered advocacy. For more than twenty years, she has used the courtroom not just as a workplace, but as a platform

Photo credit: Scientific American-Dr. Nia Imara peers into the cosmos through a research telescope, continuing a legacy of Black brilliance in science while expanding access and imagination for the next generation of STEM scholars. Dr. Nia Imara is one of the rare voices in science who doesn’t just decode the universe , she people-izes it. She’s an astrophysicist and professor who weaves culture, creativity, and cosmic curiosity into a message bigger than herself. Why She Mat

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when heartbreak gets a headset and a book deal — look no further than Logan Taylor. The author of In My Eyes: Searching for Self-Worth didn’t just turn her story into pages… she turned it into momentum. Logan’s journey isn’t about finding perfection it’s about finding truth. From navigating the messy, sacred terrain of self worth to standing tall as an indie author with something real to say, she’s proof that vulnerability is strength dres

Courtesy Photo-With a steady smile and an open heart, Deon Patton, Master Barber and owner of Cut N' Edge Barber Salon, leads his shop with intention, respect, and care for the community In many communities, the barbershop is more than a place for a haircut. It’s a classroom, a refuge, a confidence builder, and sometimes a second home. At Cut N' Edge Barber Salon, that truth is lived out daily through the steady hands and steady heart of barber and owner Deon Patton. I first