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: Rhonda Stokes, owner of Rhonda’s Reflections in Lansing, Michigan, is redefining beauty through a commitment to healthy Black hair, strong branding, and empowering women to embrace the fullness of their crown. For more than two decades, Rhonda Stokes has been helping women rediscover the beauty and strength of their natural crown. As the owner of Rhonda’s Reflections Salon in Lansing, Michigan, Rhonda opened her doors in 1999 with a passion that began long bef

Courtesy Photo:Family and friends gathered in Detroit for “The Emerald City: A Celebration of Legacy and Love,” honoring the 43-year marriage of Lavel and Dr. Patricia Lucas-Perry. Some stories are not just about success. They are about legacy. When you listen to the story of Lavel and Dr. Patricia Lucas-Perry, you quickly realize their journey was never simply about careers or accomplishments. It was about building something enduring together, brick by brick, year by year, f

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

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: Lucianna Solis, Community Relations and Faith-Based Initiatives Manager for City of Lansing Mayor Andy Schor Some leaders arrive in their roles through career paths. Others arrive through lived experience. For Lucianna Solis, service has always been rooted in something deeply personal. Today, Solis serves as the Mayor’s Community Relations and Faith-Based Initiatives Manager for the City of Lansing, a role she officially stepped into in 2021. But her commitmen

Courtesy Photo:Judy Kehler, founder of Kehler Strategy Group, brings decades of leadership, financial insight, and strategic vision to the work of building stronger organizations and communities. Some women do not just lead organizations, they help reshape how communities think, plan, and grow. Judy Kehler is one of those women. As the Founder of Kehler Strategy Group, Judy brings decades of leadership, financial insight, and strategic vision to the table. Her professional pa

Courtesy Photo: Teresa A. Bingman stands in front of the open doors which lead to the courtroom where attorneys present arguments before the Michigan Supreme Court. From Oklahoma to Michigan. From Courtrooms to Community. Some careers are chosen. Others seem etched into one’s DNA. Watching Attorney Teresa A. Caine Bingman command the courtroom with grace and authority, it becomes evident that advocacy is not simply what she does, it is who she is. For Teresa A. Caine Bingman

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: 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

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

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

Courtesy Photo: Colonel James E. Stokes (Ret) National Guard 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, batta

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

For four decades, The Chronicle News has amplified voices, honored culture, and preserved the stories that shape our community. On Saturday, June 6, 2026, we invite you to celebrate this milestone at the Michigan Room at Lansing Community College. The 40th Anniversary Legacy Gala will be an unforgettable experience featuring a locally owned business showcase, a vibrant mix and mingle reception, live music and entertainment, a dinner experience, and keynote remarks from Judge

Courtesy Photo-Mr. Andrew Brewer Jr., the owner of Optimum Peace Home Healthcare, brings dignity, structure, and steady leadership to families who need more than services, they need reassurance. With a foundation rooted in compassion and a vision focused on community impact, Brewer is building something stronger than a company. He’s building trust. Long before he became a healthcare leader, Andrew Brewer Jr. was a seventh-grade candy striper. He did not volunteer because he

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