Page 13 - LRCC April 2021 Focus

Hardy says she was also greatly influenced never finished grappling with the Civil War,”
by Muhammed Ali and Congressman John said Hardy. “We never answered the morality
Lewis’s lives and lists a number of local mentors question around slavery. We never denounced
including Paula Cunningham and Kim it as a country in a way that we could put the
Coleman. notion of it to bed. I think we are now on
the precipice of an emergent America can
Elaine began her professional career in Lansing acknowledge the ugliness of slavery and be
in 1993 at the Downtown Lansing YMCA. accountable for it, heal and move on.”
While there, she piloted the development
of one of the region’s most successful teen Elaine Hardy and the MLK Commission Board with Myrlie Evers-Williams (seated) the widow of Elaine is the current chairperson of the Dr.
development programs. She remained with Medgar Evers, the slain civil rights activist from the 1950s. He was the national field director Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-
the YMCA as the director of youth and family for the NAACP. She was the speaker at the 2017 MLK Day of Celebration. Michigan, representing the City of East
programs until 2001 when she went to the Lansing. Her passionate dedication to and belief
City of East Lansing as the coordinator of the in the legacy of Dr. King drives and motivates
City’s newly established community center, her to find ways to honor his legacy in her life
then still under construction. She is still actively by serving others. The MLK Commission is
involved with the YMCA of Lansing. She most well noted for his signature celebration on
serves as the Director of the YMCA of Lansing the third Monday in January. The group holds
“Y” Achievers Program, a hugely popular and activities throughout the year, including a series
well-respected college readiness, leadership of community conversations, supporting an
development, and mentoring program for teens. annual college tour for middle and high school
students, provide educational scholarship
Over the past two decades, Elaine has support for graduating high school seniors,
helped expose over 3,500 at-risk teens to host trips to historic civil rights events and
historically black colleges, college programs, landmarks.
and professional careers during the annual Elaine is credited with leading efforts to turn Lansing’s annual MLK Day of Celebration into one
Y-Achievers college immersion tour. She works of the finest in the country. “We also work hard at preserving Dr. King’s
tirelessly to encourage students to pursue legacy promoting the beloved community by
college as “the next step,” often reminding encouraging our members and the community
them that a college education should not be to be serving and not forget they can be a voice
an optional life choice. Her work annually for someone who doesn’t have a voice,” said
involves personally working with teens and Hardy.
their families, planning and coordinating one
of the mid-Michigan region’s most successful “What she has been able to do lead the MLK
college tour programs, and speaking to groups Holiday event and turn it into one of the best,
about the importance of mentoring. Elaine largest events of its kind in the country are
says her desire to serve at-risk teens grew out unbelievable,” said McDaniel. “I went to a
of her own life as an at-risk teen. similar event in Atlanta and expected it to be
much bigger than ours. Lansing was hands-
“I grew up on public assistance with a single Elaine Hardy with former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder and Elaine’s son Malcomb (l) and down absolutely the best, well-coordinated,
parent in a bad neighborhood, and I wasn’t daughter-in-law Shaylen (r). most meaningful, and impactful event.”
supposed to make it out of there,” said Hardy.
“It was part of who I am that makes me feel a Elaine’s other community involvement includes
privilege to be able to work with youth.” serving as a lodging committee advisory
board member to the Greater Lansing Area
In 2008, Elaine was responsible for escorting Convention and Visitors Bureau, Trustee of the
twenty students to the historic Presidential Sigma Phi Beta Education Fund, and YMCA
Inauguration of America’s first African of Lansing.
American President-Elect Barack Obama.
She says it was one of the proudest moments “Elaine has service in her DNA,” said Paula
of her life. Cunningham, state director, AARP Michigan.
“Whether it’s working with the community
“When I was born, there was no constitutional to provide services, mentoring young college
provision that protected my right to vote,” said students, or being a foster parent, Elaine’s
Hardy. “In my lifetime, I have had the privilege Elaine took a group of young people to Washington in 2009 for the historic inauguration of the heartbeat is fueled by service.”
of going to vote for a Black man and a woman nation’s first Black president, Barack Obama.
for president, and a Black woman for vice Elaine says she will never stop serving the
president. It wasn’t lost on me that not that long ago, my mother and grandmother young people she dearly loves. Her advice to young leaders seeking to make their
were barred by poll tax and Jim Crow from going to the polls.” mark in the world is to be authentic and go after their passion.

When Barack Obama was elected, Hardy felt a sense of urgency to be there. Several “You should be committed to hard work, and while you are doing all those things,
students on the journey shared their pride in being part of what they recognized you should always find time to give to someone or some organization,” said Hardy.
as a historic moment in the nation’s history. Elaine believes the Obama presidency
was transformative for the nation. Elaine has been a resident of East Lansing, Michigan, for the past 30 years. She
is the mother of two adult children, Jasmine, 38; and Malcomb, 36; and two bonus
“What it has brought to the consciousness of America is the realization that we sons, Ayden, 9; and Asher, 4. n

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