LANSING — Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills) has invited two Senate District 12 local heroes to attend the governor’s annual State of the State address with her on Wednesday — Elizabeth Kelly, Executive Director of HOPE shelters, and Dr. Letha Hopkins-Powell, principal of Whitman Elementary School.
“I feel that it’s important for me to recognize our local heroes who are doing incredible work back in our communities,” Sen. Bayer said. “It’s an honor to be able to bring Ms. Kelly and Dr. Hopkins-Powell to the Capitol, where the decisions we make have a direct impact on the people they serve in our community.”
Kelly has served as the director of HOPE, or Helping Oakland’s People Everyday, for nearly a decade. The organization provides two programs for homeless individuals in northern Oakland County. She has won numerous awards for her work with HOPE, including the 2019 Zonta Club Leadership Award. Kelly also hosts “A Wilder World,” a weekly PBS show, which is the only regularly broadcast program that focuses on disability issues.
Dr. Hopkins-Powell is a dedicated leader with more than 30 years of experience in Pontiac’s education system. She has established new programs at the school, including weekend tutoring sessions for students who need help reading and helps cultivate a culture of excellence in the community. Dr. Hopkins-Powell received an Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery in 2018 for her work as assistant principal at Pontiac High School, where she worked to provide students with a learning environment in which they could succeed.
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