Legacy Lives Here: Grand Opening and Inaugural Ceremony at the Lansing Community College Changemakers Center
- Yanice Y. Carter
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
A Living Tribute to Those Who Help Build Greater Lansing
Courtesy Photo-Lansing Community College Changemakers Center
LANSING, Mich. — History does not sit quietly on shelves. It moves. It breathes. It gathers in rooms where people come together to honor those who made the way possible.
That spirit filled the Downtown Campus of Lansing Community College as leaders, families, students, and community partners gathered for the ribbon cutting and inaugural induction ceremony of the new Changemakers Center, an interactive exhibit dedicated to preserving the legacy of those who shaped Greater Lansing.
This was not a ceremonial nod to the past.
It was preservation. And promise.
Located in the Gannon Building, the Changemakers Center is a state-of-the-art storytelling space featuring immersive displays, digital archives, historical timelines, and multimedia exhibits designed to connect past leadership to present momentum. Visitors do not simply read plaques. They engage with
legacy.
Photos By the Chronicle Media Group. (L to R) 1- Rev Dr. Melvin T. Jones, wife Minister Sallie Jones and Chronicle News Junior Executive Liam Carter. 2. LCC Trustee Angela Mathews with Liam Carter. 3-Chronicle News Publisher Yanice Carter with LCC Trustee Chatum Taylor and son Liam Carter.
And on opening night, that legacy was officially honored.
Arts, Sports, and Culture
• Dr. Willie Davis
• Metro Melik
• Earvin “Magic” Johnson
• Julian VanDyke
• Michael McFadden
• Brian Whitfield
From global athletic excellence to cultural storytelling and creative leadership, these honorees represent Lansing’s influence far beyond city limits.
Business
• Gregory Eaton
• Michael Burton
• Paula Cunningham
• Joel Ferguson
These business leaders represent vision paired with execution. Through entrepreneurship, financial leadership, development, and corporate strategy, they expanded opportunity, built economic infrastructure, and helped position Greater Lansing as a region capable of growth and influence. Their work did more than generate revenue. It generated access, stability, and pathways for others to succeed.
Public Service and Social Justice
• Sarah Anthony
• Rev. Michael Murphy
• Calvin Jones
• Richard Letts
• Ruby Wilson
• Malcolm X
• Cyril McGuire
These honorees carried the responsibility of advocacy and public leadership. Through legislation, community organizing, civil rights work, and moral courage, they confronted inequity and worked to reshape systems that once excluded many. Their impact reminds us that justice is not accidental. It is pursued, defended, and sustained by those willing to stand firm when it matters most
Education
• Dr. Eugene Cain
• Dr. Eva Evans
• Olivia Letts
• Dr. Maxine Hankins Cain
• Dr. Robert Green
• Barbara Roberts Mason
• Hortense Canady
• Lady Margaret Groves
• Shirley Rodgers
These educators and advocates helped shape institutions, mentorship networks, and pathways to opportunity that continue to impact students today.
Faith-Based and Community Organizations Honorees
• Georgia Brown
• Marilyn Rogers
• Rev. Melvin T. Jones
Through faith, service, and civic commitment, these leaders strengthened neighborhoods and nurtured generations.
Photo By Chronicle Media Group-LCC Changemaker Center Inductee Marilyn Rodgers with P.E.E.R.S. Leadership Board and City of Lansing Mayor Andy Schor
Mayor Andy Schor delivered remarks on behalf of the City of Lansing. A formal resolution was presented by Councilmember Tamera Carter. Partner organizations including LAFCU and the LCC Foundation joined in recognition, followed by a ribbon cutting alongside the Lansing Chamber of Commerce.
The Center also invites the public to “Add a Legacy,” encouraging community members to submit stories, archival materials, and nominations to continue expanding Lansing’s documented history.
Because history is not frozen in the past. It grows when we tell it. The Changemakers Center stands as a reminder that Lansing’s story was not built by accident. It was built by visionaries, educators, organizers, artists, athletes, pastors, and everyday leaders who chose impact over applause. And now, their names live in permanence.