Shining Light Nominations Kick-off

On a beautiful spring day in Detroit, the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) Board of Directors had the honor of holding a reception co-sponsored by Wright & Company. MAC Board Member Marc Djozlija, James Beard nominated Chef and partner at Wright & Company, hosted the reception at the restaurant to celebrate the kick-off of nominations for the 2023 Shining Light Regional Cooperation Award honorees. As announced in the Detroit Free Press, a co-sponsor of this program since its inception, nominations are now being accepted.

Left to right: Marc Djozlija, Lee Graham, and Thom Linn

Joining us at the reception were four recent Shining Lights honorees, pictured below. These four women and all the honorees are an inspiration and a reminder that each of us has the power to make positive change.

Left to right: Gilda Jacobs, Charity Dean, Danielle North, and Asha Shajahan

The Shining Light Awards were launched in 2007 to honor individuals who are making important contributions to regional cooperation, progress, and understanding in metropolitan Detroit. Our purpose is to give broad exposure to people who are making difficult decisions to further regional cooperation and encourage others to follow in their footsteps. The awards are fittingly dedicated to, and named in honor of, the widely respected Neal Shine who promoted his love for Detroit and his vision for stronger ties among all metro communities during his 45-year career with the Detroit Free Press.

Left to right: Amy O’Leary, MAC President, and Carol Cain, Columnist, Detroit Free Press

The 2023 ceremony will be hosted by Carol Cain, Columnist, Detroit Free Press; Senior Producer & Host, Michigan Matters, CBS Detroit and Roop Raj, Evening News Anchor, Fox 2 Detroit. Also appearing at the ceremony, as she has since the beginning, to welcome attendees will be Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, MAC Co-Chair and an outspoken champion of the power of working together to ensure prosperity and quality of life in Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

LtR: Brian Dickerson, Detroit Free Press; Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive; Congresswoman Debbie Dingell; Carol Cain, Michigan Matters, CBS Detroit; Amy O’Leary, SEMCOG Executive Director and MAC President; Roop Raj, FOX-2 at the 2022 Shining Light Award Ceremony

Three awards will be presented on October 5, 2023, at Burton Manor in Livonia (tickets go on sale in August). Award categories include:

• The Neal Shine Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership, recognizing an individual in the public spotlight who is having a regional impact through collaborative and innovative efforts and demonstrating courage to improve the region, while promoting cooperation, progress, and understanding.
• The Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award, recognizing an individual who may not have yet received the widespread recognition they deserve for longstanding efforts to improve lives, communities and the region, through collaboration, cooperation, and understanding.
• The Dave Bing Young Leader Award, recognizing a young adult who is taking on a leadership role, having a regional impact, and is involved with enhancing understanding and cooperation within our metropolitan community. (Recommended 35-year age limit.)

I hope you join us on October 5, 2023, for the breakfast awards ceremony. In the meantime, if you know someone who is working to make Southeast Michigan a stronger and more cohesive community please nominate them for one of three awards.