Lansing Community College

Join us in celebrating the momentous lives of important Changemakers and Trailblazers from within the African American community who have been instrumental in building opportunity for other African Americans and adding value to the entire greater Lansing community through their extraordinary work and service.

Lansing Community College is proud to honor and recognize these individuals and their multi-generational impact on our community through the creation of a dynamic new space for public celebration and appreciation. Housed on the third floor of the Gannon Building on the college's Downtown Campus, this walkable new venue will immerse visitors in a rich, interactive, and visually engaging experience connecting them with Lansing's distinguished history of contributions by African Americans.

 

  • The Story

    Since Lansing's first Black resident called Michigan's Capital City home in 1847, countless others have followed. They built and created transformational legacies across the business, education, arts, sports, culture, public service, and faith-based enterprises that have lifted and sustained Lansing.

    An idea to create a space on LCC's Downtown Campus honoring and recognizing Greater Lansing African Americans and their contributions to the community by Trustee Andrew Abood, at a 2023 LCC Board meeting, sparked a college and community-wide conversation to determine how and where to best acknowledge the enduring influence these noteworthy individuals have made in Mid-Michigan. Through a generous seed donation from Trustee Abood and official project approval from the Board of Trustees, $200,000 was designated to locate and design a space on the college's Downtown Campus to hold the installation.

    The college presented the Trustees with three location options; an outdoor area, a standalone sculpture, or an indoor technological installation. The indoor technology installation was selected.

    Once the type of space was chosen, work began to identify an appropriate campus location and the inaugural honorees. Focus groups made up of community members representing various backgrounds and industries, facilitated by LCC's External Affairs Division, gathered on numerous occasions to share ideas for location and names of potential inductees.

    african american commemoration view from n stair

    Ultimately, the third floor of the Gannon Building was selected to host the College's newest cultural space. The recently renovated building, with its interactive displays, student artwork exhibits, modern technology, and expansive food court, creates a welcoming and inspiring space for students and community members alike. It is expected that the new space, dedicated to honoring the many African Americans who helped shape our city, will bring thousands of visitors to LCC's Downtown Campus for years to come.

  • The Space

    The immersive and engaging space will give visitors the chance to explore and learn about the rich contributions of Lansing area African American leaders past and present, and how their work, ideas, sacrifices, service, and leadership have shaped communities, created opportunities, and built lasting legacies for minority communities.

    The space is designed with a flowing, elegant floorplan intended to draw visitors in, and the interactive features within the accessible kiosks will push the limits of today's technology without interfering with the stories themselves. The experience will be complimented by guest seating, various stunning displays, and a massive fluorescent acrylic chandelier comprised of over 400 interlocking pieces, suspended from mirrored panels above.

  • Inductees

    Celebrating Local Changemakers and Trailblazers

    From Earvin "Magic" Johnson's success on the hardwood to his philanthropic efforts in the Lansing community, to Senator Sarah Anthony's leadership in the fight for equity and opportunity, to Dr. Eva Evans' work in education, to Gregory Eaton's transformation of the soul food landscape in Lansing, the space will commemorate, celebrate, and honor our local African American Change Makers and Trail Blazers.

    Honorees will be selected across five categories:

    • Business
    • Education
    • Arts, Sports, and Culture
    • Faith & Community Based Organizations
    • Public Service and Social Justice

    As a technological installation, we have envisioned the project as an ever evolving and changing space with the ability not only to celebrate the past, but to stay current with the times, trends, and addition of trailblazers yet to come.

    The inaugural class of inductees will include thirty-two individuals.

    Education

    Business

    Arts, Sports, & Culture

    Faith & Community Based Organizations

    Public Service & Social Justice
    Olivia Letts Joel Ferguson Julian VanDyke Georgia Brown Willard Walker
    Eva Evans Paula Cunningham Metro Malik Rudy Wilson Shirley Rodgers
    Hortense Canady Magic Johnson Michael McFadden* Rev R. Melvin T Jones (Union Baptist) Marilyn Rogers
    Barbara Roberts Mason Gregory Eaton Brian Whitfield Larry Mitchell Trice* Debra Plummer
    Sara McGuire Michael Burton* Jazmin Anderson   Michael Murphy
    Lady Margaret Groves       Sen. Sarah Anthony
    Maxine Cain       Calvin Jones
    Dr. Eugene Cain       Richard Letts
    Dr. Willie Davis       Dr. Robert Green

    *Deceased

  • Get Involved

    Naming Opportunities

    Gift amounts can be paid in one gift or can be spread over a maximum of five years payable to the LCC Foundation.

    • Overall naming of the entire space
      ($500,000/Lifetime)
    • Five (5) separate walls to be named (three remaining)
      ($50,000/Lifetime)
    • Hanging Sculpture
      ($50,000/Lifetime)
    Small Gift Recognition Opportunities:

    You, your family, or your organization can also be involved in celebrating the rich history of African Americans in our community. Smaller gift options provide an opportunity to have your name or your business name memorialized on an engraved plaque mounted within or at the entrance to the space. Donor name plates will be affixed along the main entry wall of the space and come in three sizes based on the gift amount.

    • Large Plaque (7 in x 4 in): $10,000.00
      Five lines of text; 2 in x 2 in logo accepted
    • Medium Plaque (6 in x 3 in): $5,000.00
      Four lines of text; 1.5 in x 1.5 in logo accepted
    • Small Plaque (5 in x 2 in): $2,500.00
      Two lines of text
    • Commemorative Bench Plaque: $1,000.00
      Two lines of text
    Learn More

    At Lansing Community College, “art and history happen here.” LCC is home to over 25 sculptures and more than 1,000 pieces of art throughout its campuses. Walls in classrooms and hallways are adorned with facts and figures, images of wildlife, aircraft, maps, religions of the world, cultural themes, and more. Over the years, significant effort has been made to ensure that inclusion and belonging are at the core of all we do—including the creation of spaces that are welcoming, inviting, and representative of the people and history being displayed. This new space is yet another place on campus for students, faculty, staff, and the Greater Lansing community to belong and explore.

    For more information on Barrier Breakers: Changemakers and Trailblazers, please contact Cathy Zell at zella3@lcc.edu.