On February 24, the Genesee District Library will recognize the 2022 Black History Month honorees with a virtual event that will air on ABC12. Created in 2002 by the Genesee District Library, this annual celebration of notable community servants highlights three inspiring individuals and one organization selected by the Black History Month Brunch Advisory Committee.
The contributions of the following people will be recognized.
Award of Excellence Recipients
April Cook-Hawkins
Cook-Hawkins is the executive director of Alternative Solutions Development, LLC., a total life transformation platform. She is a wife, mother, business owner, City of Flint Commissioner, community advocate and First Lady of Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church.
A certified Professional Life and Transformation Coach, Cook-Hawkins has over 12 years of experience enhancing the performance of her clients and organizations.
During the Flint Water Crisis, Cook-Hawkins’ church developed the Flint4000 program to assist senior citizens and the homebound population who didn’t have access to clean drinking water. She has hosted marches to end gun violence in Flint, women’s conferences to build up and encourage women, and worked to end the saturation of liquor stores in the city.
During the early stages of the COVID pandemic, she handmade over 5,000 masks to help the residents of Flint and went on to create her business, Fabrics of Faith, to help prevent the spread of COVID nationwide.
Danielle Green
Danielle Green founded and directs the non-profit organization, Empower, which works to improve the lives of youth and women through education, encouragement and exposure.
Serving on the Flint Community School Board and the Board of the YWCA of Greater Flint, she is also the author of the Hey Girl book series.
Green has received numerous awards for her work including the Community Dedication Award, Phenomenal Woman Award, Top 25 Women in Business Award, Courageous Women Award and the Living Legend Award.
She holds a general studies degree from Mott Community College, a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Wayne State University.
Lisa Horne
A licensed clinical social worker, Horne serves as Director of Community Ministry at the First Presbyterian Church of Flint. She is also a counselor at the Gerholz Christian Counseling Center and has a private practice. In addition, she serves on the Board of Crossover Outreach and the McFarlan Charitable Trust.
Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Saginaw Valley State University and a Master’s in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University, Horne is an inductee of the Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame.
Horne is a member of Ebenezer Ministries and an honorary member of First Presbyterian Church of Flint.
Partner in Progress Award
Recipient
Ladel Lewis, Ph.D.
Founder, Sarvis Park Neighborhood Association
Founded and led by Dr. Ladel Lewis, the Sarvis Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA) works to champion the Sarvis Park community. They have hosted several events, concerts, neighborhood cleanups and other activities over the last two years to help residents get to know each other and learn about resources available to them in the community.
In 2020, they created Sarvis Park Community Day as a collaborative effort with the SPNA. They also pioneered the Caribbean Beats & Eats Festival at Sarvis Park.
In conjunction with Harambee Wellness, the SPNA started the Fitness in the Park program offered from June to August. They provided free professional photos in the park through NAG photography. In addition, they resurrected National Night Out in Flint in collaboration with Nation Outside, the City of Flint and the Michigan State Police.
Another Sarvis project is to bring more lighting to the Sarvis Park area. With a grant from Genesee County Habitat for Humanity and in partnership with the Michigan State Police Light it Up program, free solar lights will be installed in the neighborhood as a crime prevention tool.
Dr. Lewis is a member of the Flint City Council and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. In 2016, she coordinated pro-bono need assessments and water distribution efforts during the Flint Water Crisis. She partnered with Bottles for the Babies to create “The Dos & Don’ts of Flint Water” and “Healthy Foods to Combat Lead.”
Dr. Lewis holds a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University.
