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

Photo Credit: Gettys Image-Louise Little, mother of Malcom Little (Malcom X) During Women’s History Month, we honor women whose courage, intellect, and leadership have shaped history, even when their names remain unfamiliar. One such woman is Louise Little, political activist, educator, and the guiding force behind Malcolm X. Born in Grenada in the late 1890s, Louise Little grew up in a family that valued education and self-determination. Fluent in English, French, and Creole

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

Photo Credit:The Chronicle Media Group Yanice Carter spent some time in the chair at Dr. Evelyn Lucas-Perry’s office, and it was more than an appointment, it was an experience. From the dentist to the staff, the care, professionalism, and attention to detail all felt intentional. You can always tell when a team is operating in excellence, and that day, I felt it. As a publisher, I have the honor of telling powerful stories, but every now and then, one becomes personal. Dr. Ev

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

Photo Credit: Getty Images — Jayne Kennedy at the news desk, breaking barriers as one of the first Black women in sports broadcasting and redefining what presence looked like on television. Before it became common to see women covering major sports, there was Jayne Kennedy. In the 1970s, Jayne Kennedy broke barriers as one of the first Black women in sports broadcasting, stepping into a male-dominated industry with confidence, intelligence, and undeniable presence. Photo Cred

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:Terra Riley, founder of SisterHood Excellence, is honored for empowering women and youth through mentorship, faith, and community leadership. Some women build platforms. Others build people. Terra Riley is doing both. As Founder of SisterHood Excellence (S.H.E.), Terra has created a space dedicated to connection, growth, and transformation for women and girls of all ages. Since its founding in 2017, S.H.E. has been rooted in one powerful truth: sisterhood is es

Courtesy Photo:Erica Lynn, founder of The Village Lansing, is honored for her work in public health, community advocacy, and violence prevention in Women Making History 2026 Real leadership doesn’t always start with a title. Sometimes it starts with paying attention. For Erica Lynn, her work has always been rooted in community, long before it had a name. With over 22 years in public health, Erica has dedicated her career to understanding how environment, access, and lived exp

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

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: 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: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