LANSING, Mich. — There’s a difference between telling young people to dream… and actually giving them somewhere to go. The My Brother’s & Sister’s Keepers Alliance of Metro Lansing, known as MBSK 517, is choosing the second. Through the launch of the Lansing Opportunity Hub, the organization is creating a structured, intentional pathway for youth to connect directly with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and organizations ready to invest in their growth. This is not just anoth

Courtesy Photo: Shemeika Barney, owner of Meika’s Boutique N More in Lansing, Michigan, embodies the very confidence she inspires in others, creating a space where style, self-expression, and empowerment come together for women in the community. Confidence as Currency: Shemeika Barney Is Dressing Women for More Than the Moment There are women who follow trends… and then there are women who create spaces where confidence becomes the standard. In Lansing, Michigan, Shemeika Bar

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:Carolyn Carter Before the titles, before the legacy, before the lives she would touch… there was this moment. A young woman, full of light, already becoming who she was called to be. Silent strength. That is the phrase that comes to mind when I think of Carolyn (Hill) Carter. Not loud. Not attention-seeking. Not chasing recognition. But steady… faithful… foundational. Born on June 22, 1951, in Great Lakes, Illinois, to Willie L. Hill and Emma Garland, Carolyn’s

There is a quiet kind of power that doesn’t announce itself. It builds. It studies. It finishes. And then… it lifts others across the same finish line. Dr. Frances D. Carter-Johnson embodies that power. A distinguished policy researcher, data analyst, and educational consultant based in the Washington, D.C.–Baltimore region, Dr. Carter-Johnson has built a career at the intersection of research, equity, and opportunity. Her work spans federal agencies, academic institutions, a

Courtesy Photo:Elyse Ribbons, founder of Chengdu Teahouse in Lansing, is honored for building community through culture, tea, and connection in Women Making History 2026. Sometimes reinvention is not a setback. It’s an invitation. After spending decades living and working in China, Elyse Ribbons returned to the United States with a decision to make: how do you begin again? Her answer was both simple and powerful, create space. In 2024, she opened Chengdu Teahouse in Lansing’s

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. Terra DeFoe, Founder of De’Cole & Associates, is honored in Women Making History 2026 for her leadership in policy, civic engagement, and community impact across Michigan and beyond. Some leaders seek recognition. Others build impact that speaks for itself. Dr. Terra DeFoe is firmly the latter. As Founder and Managing Partner of De’Cole & Associates, Dr. DeFoe has spent decades shaping policy, empowering communities, and creating pathways where barriers on

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: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

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:Ashlee Willis, Founder and CEO of Michigan Premier Events and Ms. Lansing 2026 – Candidate for Ms. Michigan Corporate America, has spent the past decade bringing organizations, leaders, and communities together through meaningful, professionally curated events across Michigan. For Ashlee Willis, leadership begins with connection. As the Founder and CEO of Michigan Premier Events, Willis has spent the last decade helping organizations across Michigan bring their

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- 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

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

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

Photo by Chronicle Media Group-Rhonda Stokes, Master Stylist and educator, is the founder of Rhonda’s Reflections. Licensed since age 18, she combines decades of salon expertise with hands-on apprenticeship training, preparing the next generation of stylists for State Board certification and sustainable careers in beauty. When it comes to transformation, Rhonda Stokes does more than style hair, she builds confidence strand by strand. A licensed cosmetologist since the age of

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