Community News

East Lansing resident Noel Garcia Jr. has been named by Lansing Community College Board of Trustees to fill one of its two vacancies on its board of trustees. With the resignations of trustees Andrew Abood and Ryan Buck, LCC names both Noel and Dr. Terrence Frazier to the board. They will fill these two seats until the end of 2024 and will have to run for the seat in November to retain these two coveted positions. Noel was chosen from among 25 applicants during a special meeting.

Well known in the community, Noel served with the Lansing Police Department for more than 25 years and held many positions within the Department. Noel has worked for the Wilson Talent Center as a Law Enforcement Program instructor for the last ten years. He joins Lawrence Hidalgo who has served on the board since 2014 as the only two Hispanic Latino’s currently on the board.

Lansing Community College Board of Trustees: Board of Trustees – Lansing Community College (lcc.edu)

History was made Wednesday evening as Trini Lopez-Pehlivanoglu was sworn in as the one of the newest Councilmembers and became the first ever Latina to serve on the Lansing City Council since the city was founded in 1847. 

Lopez-Pehlivanoglu won one of the two At-Large berths in the November 2023 election. Tamera Carter also was sworn in by Judge Kristen Simmons to the other At-Large spot and both Carter and Lopez-Pehlivanoglu will serve through 2027. 

Jeremy Garza who was first elected to represent the 2nd Ward on the City Council in November 2017, was unanimously elected by his colleagues to become the first Latino President of the Council since Tony Benavides in 2003. Benavides spent 20 years as a Councilmember and held the President’s office multiple times, the last of which was from 2002-2003. He would then become Mayor from 2003-2006. 

Also elected last night was Councilmember Ryan Kost who represents the City’s First Ward and Adam Hussain who was reelected to serve the 3rd Ward and was elected by his peers to be the City Council’s Vice President in a unanimous vote. Both Kost and Hussein will serve until the end of November 2027. 

“I think this is a very big honor, so thank you,” Garza said. “I will make sure that we are collaborative. I look forward to working with you guys. Let’s get to work.” Garza, who represents the 2nd Ward, was first elected to council in November 2017.

The 40th Annual Christmas Symposium came and went much like the previous 39 did. Plenty of renewals of friendship, a chance to meet new friends and great conversation.

I am often asked, what exactly is the Christmas Symposium? Some see it as a networking event. In its purest form, it really is a way to celebrate surviving another year before we head into the new year. What better way than to celebrate with old friends? And the beauty of this event, we gain some new ones so that once the new year does hit, we have a jump start on building relationships that might help either you or them.

Much thanks to the Latino organizations LLEAD Lansing Branch, Latino Business Conexión of Michigan, MI ALMA, Lansing Latino Health Alliance, State Representative Julie Brixie, and the Cafecito Caliente Group for helping to make this year’s edition a success.

Also, a big thank you to Hela’s Kitchen who served up some great Carne Asada showing many of us why are they are such a great restaurant to check out inside the Lansing Mall’s Food Court.

If you would like to connect to the Greater Lansing Hispanic Latino Business Community in 2024, the Latino Business Conexión of Michigan (LCBM) counts over 200 Latino owned businesses and professionals as part of its network. They were responsible for the October Latino Business Expo which was the first of it’s kind in the area with 60 vendors. A November mixer at UrbanBeat in Lansing brought together 140 folks from the community in partnership with the Cafecito Caliente Group.

Speaking of the Cafecito Caliente Group, we act as your tour guide to the Hispanic Latino community as we know the community better than anyone and put together the highly successful Cafecito Caliente Awards in March 2023 and is serving as the advisors to the Latino Business Conexion Organization.

Lastly, may your Holidays be filled with family, friends and hope as we head into 2024. Hopefully, many of you will not wait til next December to meet again.

¡Nunca es demasiado tarde para aprender inglés!

El Distrito Escolar de Lansing ofrece inglés como segundo idioma. Gratis.

Clases GRATIS para todos los niveles
– Clases de mañana, tarde y noche
– Preparación para
– Oportunidades de trabajo
certificado de finalización de la escuela secundaria
– Preparación para la universidad.

Para registrarse: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSeVZwAk0619ni…/viewform

https://www.lansingschools.net/academic…/adult-education/

EDUCATION AND AWARDS:

​The Honorable Julie A. O’Neill got her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, specialty in Juvenile Delinquency, from Michigan State University and her Juris Doctorate Degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Litigation Specialty, recipient of the Leadership Achievement Award. While in law school, Judge O’Neill served on the Association for Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) and represented the school on a National ATLA Trial Team; was a founding Executive Board Member of the Mock Trial Organization and served as the Editor and Chief of the Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law. 

While attending law school and studying for the Bar Exam, Judge O’Neill also worked three (3) years as a Law Clerk for the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), Michigan Attorney General’s Office, Tort Division (externship), and at the Livingston County Friend of the Court for one (1) year.

Facebook Page: Reelect Judge ONeill | Facebook

Website: Eaton County District Judge 56a | Reelect Judge Julie O’neill | Charlotte (reelectjudgeoneill.com)

To get involved: GET INVOLVED | My Site (reelectjudgeoneill.com)

To

Judge Kristen D. Simmons was appointed by the Governor to the 54-A District Court of Lansing in September 2019.  Judge Simmons has deep roots in the community, and has long been dedicated to a life of public service. Her experience includes serving as Litigation Manager for the Michigan Department of Corrections, a former Assistant Attorney General, former Assistant City Attorney and Legal Advisor to the Lansing Police Department, and former Public Defense Counsel in Ingham County, MI. 

She brings to the bench robust litigation and trial experience, having litigated countless civil lawsuits before the United States Federal Courts.   In 2013, she championed efforts to create a law clinic in collaboration with Lansing Community College and Legal Services of South Central Michigan with the goal of providing legal resources to low-income families.

Judge Simmons was awarded “Nation’s Best Advocate”: Top 40 Lawyers under 40, by the National Bar Association in 2021, “Top 40 under Forty” by Hampton University in 2020, Ingham County’s Top 5 Attorney under 35 in 2017, and the Rising Star Attorney by the Davis-Dunnings Bar Association in 2015.

Judge Simmons serves as a Commissioner for the State Bar of Michigan. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links, Incorporated, the Association of Black Judges-MI, Michigan District Judges Association, The National Bar Association, Women’s Lawyer Association, the Ingham County Bar Association and she is a Past-President of the Davis-Dunnings Bar Association.

When she is not wearing a robe, Judge Simmons serves as director of the youth choir at her local church, where she also serves on the worship team. She is a certified Zumba instructor. She also serves as a mentor to many youth and young professionals.

For more information or to support Judge Kristen Simmons: https://www.votejudgesimmons.com/