For Angel Taylor, investing in young people is more than a calling, it is a lifelong commitment to building stronger families and communities through education, mentorship, and service. As the leader of the Reading Readiness Summer Camp hosted at Christ’s Kingdom Builders Church and Community Center, Taylor works to create meaningful opportunities for youth to learn, grow, and discover their potential. The free summer program provides academic enrichment, cultural education,

For Vera Riley, success has never been about choosing between creativity and entrepreneurship. Instead, she has built a path that allows her to embrace both. Known throughout the community for her music and uplifting spirit, Riley has also found success as an independent consultant with Jafra Cosmetics, where she combines beauty, mentorship, and business ownership to empower others. Her journey with Jafra began by watching her mother build a successful career with the company

Few individuals have dedicated as much of their lives to education, leadership, and community service as Dr. Maxine Hankins-Cain. Born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, Dr. Hankins-Cain built a distinguished career spanning more than four decades in education. Throughout her professional journey, she served as a classroom teacher, academic coach, principal, Director of Elementary Education, and Superintendent of Sankofa Shule Public School Academy, helping shape the lives of c

Courtesy Photo: The Honorable Judge Wanda Stokes. 30th District Circuit Court Ingham County Michigan For decades, Judge Wanda M. Stokes has been a respected leader, advocate, and trailblazer whose work has helped shape communities throughout Mid-Michigan. Her distinguished career in law, public service, and community leadership has earned her recognition as one of the region’s most influential voices for justice, equity, and opportunity. Throughout her career, Judge Stokes ha

Courtesy Photo: Deborah Allen, Founder and CEO Spotlight Lipstick For Deborah Allen, beauty is about much more than makeup. It is about confidence, self-love, and helping women recognize their value at every stage of life. As Founder and CEO of Spotlight Lipstick, Allen has built a beauty brand specifically designed for mature women. Through lip products, skincare, education, and encouragement, Spotlight Lipstick helps women over 40 embrace their beauty, confidence, and wisdo

Courtesy Photo: Elyse Ribbons, founder of Chengdu Teahouse in Lansing, is honored for building community through culture, tea, and connection As The Chronicle News celebrates 40 years of community impact, culture, and connection, guests attending the VIP Experience will have the opportunity to enjoy a special tea service presented by Elyse Ribbons of Chengdu Teahouse. Known for her passion for tea education and cultural exchange, Ribbons has spent years introducing people to

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