Page 12 - LRCC April 2021 Focus

2020 ATHENA Leadership

Award Recipient

laine Hardy, the City “Elaine Hardy’s dedication and commitment
of East Lansing’s first have been instrumental in advancing the
Diversity Equity Inclusion cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion within
Administrator and Chair the City of East Lansing and throughout the
E of the Dr. Martin Luther King region,” said Tim Daman, president & CEO,
Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan, has been LRCC. “She has worked tirelessly through
named the 2020 ATHENA Leadership the years serving others, mentoring youth, and
Award recipient by the Lansing Regional advancing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
Chamber of Commerce (LRCC). Elaine King Jr. She epitomizes what the ATHENA
formally received the award during a special Leadership Award is all about.”
televised ATHENA Awards program on
Thursday, March 25. When informed of her Tristan Wright serves as vice-chair of the
selection, Hardy said her first reaction was MLK Commission and, in that capacity, has
shocked. worked with Elaine for more than a decade.
She says Elaine Hardy emulates the meaning
“I am still a little bit shocked and blown away, behind the ATHENA award.
grateful and honored that people would even
consider me for such a recognition,” said Hardy. “She continues to demonstrate great passion
“I can’t believe I get to be in this elite group of and zeal in all her roles whether it is at the
people who have done amazing things in this MLK Commission, the Hannah Community
community.” Center, and as diversity, equity and inclusion
administrator for the city of East Lansing,”
To those who have known and worked with said Wright. “She works heartedly and knows
Hardy throughout her career, her selection as that in whatever she does, she is here to serve
an ATHENA recipient comes as no surprise. She is one of the most selfless others and not be served.”
“Elaine has been a consummate professional in her individuals I have ever come “She is an outstanding human being, a woman of
leadership positions with the City of East Lansing, across. Everything she does is to faith with great character and integrity,” said Tony
and she is very deserving of the Lansing Regional Baltimore, who serves with Elaine on the Dr. Martin
Chamber of Commerce’s ATHENA Award,” said help somebody else that is in need. Luther King Commission of Mid-Michigan and
George Lahanas, city manager of East Lansing. “Her She does it day-in and day-out. was one of the people who nominated Elaine for
service to the East Lansing community spans almost the award. “She is someone who not only leads from
two decades, including serving several years as the People don’t even know most of the front but also the back. The work she has done
coordinator of the East Lansing Hannah Community what she does.” for the betterment of people and youth has been
Center and, more recently, stepping into an important, tremendous.”
new role as the City’s first diversity, equity and
inclusion administrator. The ATHENA Award certainly reinforces the exceptional Elaine Hardy has been dedicated throughout her life to serving others, particularly
service and leadership that she has provided to our community and region.” at-risk teens. Her commitment to serving was shaped by several mentors starting
with her mother, who raised eight children alone.
Mark McDaniel, president & CEO of Cinnaire has worked with Elaine, serving as
voluntary chair of the MLK Commission, said Elaine’s selection would allow the “After getting all the kids dressed and out of the house, my mother would go to
community to know who she is and what she does for the community. work at a community center called the Neighborhood House,” said Hardy. “She
volunteered eight hours a day for ten years before they hired her as a full-time staff
“She is one of the most selfless individuals I have ever come across,” said McDaniel. person. She worked as a ceramic’s instructor, teaching sewing classes and running a
“Everything she does is to help somebody else that is in need. She does it day-in and soup kitchen. She instilled in all of her kids a sense of being a part of a community
day-out. People don’t even know most of what she does.” and being a force to give back to the community.”

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