A Note from the Publisher | Carrying the Light Forward

As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting not only on what this year demanded of us but on what The Chronicle rose to become.

This was a year of expansion and endurance. A year where stories traveled farther, voices grew louder, and our responsibility as a community newspaper deepened. From Lansing to Detroit, Jackson to Grand Rapids, The Chronicle continued to do what it has done for nearly four decades: document our lives with care, tell our stories with truth, and hold space for voices that deserve to be seen and heard.

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In 2025, we strengthened partnerships, expanded coverage, and leaned fully into the work of community journalism. We celebrated Black history not as a sidebar, but as a central narrative. We uplifted local businesses, artists, students, elders, and organizers. We covered moments of joy and moments of grief, understanding that both belong in an honest record of who we are.

This year also reminded us that legacy is not something we inherit passively. It is something we actively carry forward. Founded in 1986, The Chronicle was built on the belief that our stories matter. In 2025, that belief did not waver. If anything, it sharpened.

As we enter this holiday season, marked by Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah, the theme of light feels especially fitting. Light shows up in the pages of this paper every time a young person is affirmed, a community effort is recognized, or a truth is told with integrity. It shows up when we choose connection over division, and accountability over silence.

To our readers, advertisers, partners, contributors, and community members: thank you for trusting The Chronicle to tell your stories. Your support allows us to remain independent, rooted, and committed to the communities we serve.

As we look ahead to a new year, we do so with gratitude, clarity, and purpose. The work continues. The light carries on. And The Chronicle remains here, doing what it has always done, connecting communities, one story at a time.

— Yanice Y. Carter-PublisherThe Chronicle