April is
itself, blooming again after a long season of rest.
Connecting Communities
Growth Through Expression and Connection
A Legacy Rooted in Wisdom
Makayla’s voice is not just a breakthrough, it is part of a lineage. In a previous Chronicle feature, “Remembering How to Raise Our Children: A Talk with Dr. Eugene Cain,” he spoke to the importance of intentional parenting, community responsibility, and the values that shape future generations.
His perspective centered on a simple but powerful truth: Children become what we consistently pour into them. That philosophy is clearly reflected in Makayla’s journey. But this legacy is not carried by one voice alone.
Her grandmother, Dr. Maxine HankinsCain, has long been a pillar of strength, compassion, and insight within both her
BWL Resource Fair
Louise Little: The Radical Mother Who Raised a Revolutionary Leader COMMUNITY & CULTURE
MVAA offers suicide first aid training
hen it comes to keeping the lights on in Lansing, the Lansing Board of Water & Light is helping power the community. In a recent episode of The Sunday Chronicle, I sat down with Dick Peffley, General Manager of BWL, to talk about leadership, community
There are some names that don’t just belong to a person, they belong to a sound, a spirit, a movement. Verna Dorsey Holley is one of those names. Born on April 29, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan, Holley’s life has been a living composition, one that blends discipline, faith, culture, and the unmistakable power of
Courtesy Photo: Verna Dorsey Holly she built a life grounded in love and legacy, raising three children while shaping countless others through her work.
Courtesy Photo: A voice born from purpose, not pressure.
Makayla Cain Feature
Verna D. Holley Tribute
BLACK HISTORY
April 20th, I Still Hear You
— A Daughter’s Tribute to the Morning Mayor, Larry ‘Jay Price’ Carter —
April 20th, I Still Hear You A Daughter’s Tribute to the Morning Mayor, Larry “Jay Price” Carter
April doesn’t ask me to grieve…it reminds me to listen. Because your voice never left. It just changed rooms. From radio waves to memory… from microphones to movement… from you to me.
They call this National Poetry Month, but for me…
I Know I Can: The Legacy of Jay Price & Carolyn Carter
J
Even in silence… I still hear you.
it’s the month I hear you the clearest. In the way I speak with purpose. In the way I carry your name like responsibility.
In the way I build something that refuses to be small.
Scan to read full story
ay Price was more than a radio voice, he was a storyteller, a leader, and a builder of community connection. As a media executive, radio personality, and co-founder of The Chronicle Newspaper, he used his voice to inform, uplift, and bring people together.
Alongside him was Carolyn Carter,
Seeing a Dream in Real Time
Scan to read full story
There are some people who don’t just live life… they build something that keeps living after them.
Larry “Jay Price” Carter was one of those people. With a career spanning more
than 50 years in radio and journalism, he wasn’t just part of
Scan to read full story
This is where it started. This is why it continues.
Larry “Jay Price” Carter, known as the “Morning Mayor,” was a pioneering voice in Lansing media and co-founder of The Chronicle News.
My Trip to the Pedal Pop Cafe:Comfort Food, Community, and a Touch of
Legacy | A Chronicle News Small Business Spotlight
BY YANICE Y. CARTER
Petal Pop Cafe is more than a new restaurant, it’s a story unfolding right in the heart of Lansing.
Located on West Ionia Street, the cafe officially opened its doors on March 26, bringing with it a unique blend of comfort food, community connection, and cultural homage.
The name “Petal Pop” isn’t just catchy, it’s rooted in history.
The building once housed Belen’s Flowers, a floral shop operated for over 60 years by Lucile Belen, a former Lansing City Councilperson and a pioneering woman in both business and civic leadership. Her legacy lives on through the café’s floral-inspired theme, a quiet but powerful reminder that this space has always belonged to strong women shaping the community.
Owner Syreeta Brown has taken that legacy and given it new life. Her vision? Comfort food with a twist. From
Building the Bridge, Expanding the Vision: How MBK Metro Lansing Is Creating
Pathways for the Next Generation
In Lansing, something intentional is taking root. Not just another program. Not just another initiative.
But a movement grounded in access, accountability, and opportunity.
At the center of that movement is My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Metro Lansing, part of the broader My Brother’s Keeper Michigan network, working to ensure that boys and young men of color are not just seen, but supported, guided, and equipped to thrive. This work is not accidental. It is structured. Strategic. Necessary.
Originally launched under the national MBK initiative inspired by Barack Obama, the model has been adopted locally to meet the specific needs of Lansing’s youth, creating direct pipelines to mentorship, career exposure, and life-building resources. But here in Lansing, the vision doesn’t stop there.
A Hub Built for Access, Not Barriers
R.E. Olds Transportation Museum hosts Lecture Series on the History and Future of Michigan Racing
LANSING, Mich. — On May 9th at 3 PM, the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum will host its next lecture series on the “History of Future of Michigan Racing. “This event will feature a panel presentation on the history and future of Michigan racing, with a focus on the evolution of driver safety. From the early years of leather caps (if any protection at all) to equipment that measures a driver’s sweat loss and the vehicle's overall performance, our panelists will showcase how and why these evolutions in racing occurred, and what is possibly in store for the future!
Join Professor David Ferguson of MSU’s Department of Kinesiology, John Gentilozzi, Technical Director of 3GT Racing, and Jordan Krell from Bosch Engineering as we explore the evolution of Michigan racing.
Participation in the lecture series is covered by general admission to the museum. General
Admission: $10, Seniors (65+): $7, Youth (12 to 17): $7, Children (under 12): Free.
Veteran: $7 / Active Duty: Free, Members: Free.
The MBK Metro Lansing initiative is helping lead the development of a community-based Opportunity Hub, a space designed to connect young people directly to programs, professionals, and possibilities. This is where ideas meet execution. Through partnerships and collaboration, the Hub brings together organizations that are already doing the work,
About the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum (REOTM)
The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum is located at 240 Museum Drive, Lansing, MI 48933. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday 12
Understanding the health care system can be complicated, but finding the right health care provider shouldn’t be. McLaren Greater Lansing connects you with trusted doctors for checkups, screenings, and ongoing care—so you can stay healthy and feel your best.
Learn more at mclaren.org/medicaidmatters.
Understanding the health care system shouldn’t be. McLaren Greater Lansing and ongoing care—so you can stay
Understanding the health care system can be complicated, but finding the right health care provider shouldn’t be. McLaren Greater Lansing connects you with trusted doctors for checkups, screenings, and ongoing care so you can stay healthy and feel your best.
Learn more at mclaren.org/medicaidmatters.
MVAA offers suicide first aid training
Learn more at mclaren.org/medicaidmatters.
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (MHSP) team hosted two LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) trainings in March. Attendees learned how to recognize signs of suicide, offer lifesaving intervention support and connect people to safety.
“ASIST is more than a
Learn more at mclaren.org/medicaidmatters.
Understanding the health care system can be complicated, but finding the right health care provider shouldn’t be. McLaren Greater Lansing connects you with trusted doctors for checkups, screenings, and ongoing care—so you can stay healthy and feel your best.
training – it’s a powerful way to bring communities together around a shared responsibility to look out for one another,” said MVAA MHSP manager Erika Hoover. “We’re not just building individual skills; we’re creating networks of people who are prepared to recognize when someone is struggling and step in with confidence and care. We’re proud to help equip our
communities to become suicide-safer, one conversation at a time.”
Founded in 1983, LivingWorks is the world’s leading suicide prevention and intervention training organization. The public service corporation provides Scan to read full story
EMERSON GREEN + KING | Episode 20: College Grad Cookout
BY AL SMITH
Man… it’s crazy to think my college days are decades behind me. But every time I’m on a campus, I feel that same energy.
You see it in the students.
You feel it in the families— especially those celebrating their first kid going to college.
That pride hits different. But I’ll be honest, I worry too. Because a lot of us were sold the same story:“Go to college, get a job, buy a car… you made it.”
I believed that. Got my first job at a nonprofit. Money was low, but my dreams were BIG. So what did I do? Went and bought a car. Not just any car, A gold convertible. Clean. Shiny. Beautiful.
Problem? It cost more than I made in a year But at the time… it looked like success.
Fast forward a few years—
The car was falling apart… and I STILL owed money on it.
That lesson humbled me. Everything that looks good ain’t good for you.
That’s why this episode hits. Sometimes the “gift” isn’t really a gift…
…it’s a warning. Now more than ever, we’ve got to teach our young people how to win with money—not just how to spend it. And yeah, I’m still grabbing a to-go plate
family and the broader community. In a Chronicle feature highlighting her work and evolving passions, she spoke to the importance of purpose, healing, and continuing to pour into others at every stage of life.
Together, Dr. Eugene Cain and Dr. Maxine Hankins-Cain represent a foundation rooted in wisdom, intention, and love, a foundation that has clearly shaped the path Makayla now walks.
Surrounded by a family deeply committed to her growth, Makayla’s foundation is rooted in both strength and nurturing. Her father, Khari ‘Needlz’ Cain, brings a legacy of creativity and vision, while her mother, Manana Cain, has been a steady and essential force in her day-to-day development, advocacy, and care. Alongside her grandparents, Makayla’s story becomes more than individual success, it becomes a living example of what happens when belief meets action.
Her father, Khari “Needlz” Cain, is not only a Grammy-winning producer but a visionary storyteller in his own right. His journey through music, creativity, and purpose has been one of evolution and impact, shaping not only culture
but the environment in which Makayla was raised.
From Personal Story to Global Conversation
What began as a deeply personal journey has now become a global conversation. Since its debut on Netflix, Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World has gone far beyond the screen, earning national recognition, international acclaim, and a growing legacy rooted in advocacy, family, and the power of being heard.
Directed by Julio Palacio, the documentary tells the story of Makayla Cain, a teenager with a rare form of autism who was once believed to be unable to communicate. For years, her voice remained locked inside, until everything changed.
Through the use of a letter board, Makayla began spelling out her thoughts, revealing not only her ability to communicate, but the depth of her intelligence, emotion, and awareness. What followed was not just a breakthrough.
It was a transformation. Scan to read full story
This month, we honor Autism Awareness, National Poetry Month, and Earth Day, but more importantly, we honor what connects them all, the beauty of expression, in every form it takes.
In this issue, we are proud to highlight the remarkable journey of Makayla Cain, a young woman whose story is redefining what it means to be heard. Once unable to communicate verbally, Makayla found her voice through determination, support, and innovative tools, proving that communication is not limited to sound, it is rooted in spirit, intelligence, and resilience.
Her story reminds us that awareness is not just about recognition, it is about respect, access, and the willingness to see people fully.
We also celebrate legacy through the life and music of Verna D. Holley, whose voice carried culture, history, and harmony across generations. Like poetry, her impact reminds us that what we create
has the power to outlive us.
And right here at home, we continue to witness the strength of community through efforts like the Lansing Board of Water & Light Resource Fair, where connection meets care. In a time when many are navigating financial and personal challenges, access to resources is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
April calls us to be intentional.
To listen more deeply.
To care more consciously.
To plant seeds, in our communities, in our children, and in ourselves, that will grow long after this moment has passed.
Because whether it is a child discovering their voice, a poet shaping words into meaning, or a community coming together in support, the message is the same: Growth is happening. And we all have a role in nurturing it.
music. Long before stages were set in her honor, she was already shaping voices, nurturing talent, and preserving a sacred musical tradition that refuses to be forgotten.
From Detroit Roots to Lansing Legacy
Holley’s journey began with a foundation in education and excellence. A graduate of Northern High School, she went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Wayne State University, followed by a Master’s degree from Michigan State University. But degrees only tell part of the story.
Her true calling unfolded in the classrooms and concert halls of Lansing, where she served as a fine arts director at J.W. Sexton High School. There, she did more than teach music, she cultivated confidence, discipline, and voice in generations of students.
Because anyone can teach notes. Ms. Holley taught meaning.
The Sound of Spirituals, The Soul of a People
As pianist and musical director of the Earl Nelson Singers, Holley
stepped into a role that would define her legacy.
Founded in 1963, the ensemble became known for its powerful interpretations of African American spirituals, songs born from struggle, resilience, and unshakable faith. Under Holley’s direction, these weren’t just performances. They were living testimonies.
She carefully selected sacred songs of enslaved people, preserving a musical lineage that carries both pain and power. Each note honored history. Each performance told a story.
And through it all, Holley stood at the center, steady, intentional, and deeply rooted in purpose.
Beyond the Stage
Even after retiring from Lansing Public Schools, Holley never truly stepped away from music. She continued teaching piano from her home, passing on her gifts one student at a time.
Her involvement in organizations Scan to read full story
sponsibility, and one of the organization’s most impactful initiatives, the Biannual Community Resource Fair.
“We’ve done this since 2021, and it’s been very successful,” Peffley shared. “To date, we’ve brought in more than $4 million to help our customers pay their bills.”
The upcoming Community Resource Fair will be held at the Alfreda Schmidt Community Center and is designed to connect BWL residential customers and greater Lansing residents who may be behind on their bills with critical support services.
4 The event is free and open to the public
4 No pre-registration is required
4 Assistance is available based on eligibility and funding
4 Event Details
4 Wednesday, April 15 4 3–6 p.m.
4 Alfreda Schmidt Community Center
5825 Wise Rd., Lansing
This effort is not happening in isolation. It is powered by collaboration.
More than a dozen organizations, including:
United Way of South Central Michigan
Greater Lansing Food Bank
Capital Area District Library
Capital Area Transportation Authority
Consumers Energy
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Women’s Center of Greater Lansing Scan to read full story
Chronicle Kids Coloring Corner
I KNOW I CAN:
THE LEGACY OF OUR COMMUNITY
Real People. Real Careers. Real Possibilities.
“I Know I Can” is a Chronicle Kids community book series that introduces children to real people in our community—helping them see what’s possible for their own future.
I KNOW I CAN BE A JUDGE What Is “I Know I Can”?
What would YOU do as a judge?
I would help people by:
“I Know I Can” is more than a coloring book—it’s a community-powered project designed to inspire children through real stories and real representation.
Each page highlights leaders, professionals, and changemakers from our own community, showing young readers that their dreams are not far away—they are already within.
Through storytelling, creativity, and connection, Chronicle Kids creates a space where children can see themselves, believe in themselves, and begin to imagine their future with confidence.
Celebrate 40 Years of The Chronicle
The Chronicle News is celebrating 40 years of community storytelling with a powerful Legacy Showcase and Gala in Lansing.
This immersive event will feature a community marketplace, live music, cultural dance performances, a fashion showcase, and a keynote address from Judge Wanda Stokes.
The evening will also mark the official launch of the “I Know I Can.” Chronicle Kids initiative—connecting legacy with the next generation.
Join us Saturday, June 6, 2026
Use code LEGACY25 for 25% off the price of ticket.
When we come together, we turn the page to a brighter future.
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