Watch the 2021 Shining Light Awards ceremony
Welcome to the 2021 Shining Light Awards ceremony. Press play to watch the virtual awards event in the player above.
The Shining Light Awards, presented by the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition and the Detroit Free Press, recognize regional leadership in metro Detroit. They are named after three leaders in metro Detroit — the late Neal Shine of the Free Press, the late Eleanor Josaitis of Focus: HOPE and former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. Learn more about the honorees below:
Neal Shine Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership
Isaiah "Ike" McKinnon has been a lifelong leader.
He led Detroit's police as their chief, led Detroit’s citizens as deputy mayor and led college students as a professor. McKinnon has also been a thought leader. He forever challenged, inspired and sometimes pushed those around him to share his vision of a better Detroit.
He didn’t keep to himself his vision for a region of less racism, violence and ignorance. He lived his vision in how he led others, and in how he spoke, wrote and broadcast that vision — on the "Today" show, "Oprah" and the History Channel, in three books he wrote, and on the Free Press opinion pages in occasional guest columns, most recently about how best to reform policing.
For McKinnon’s five decades of sharing his vision, the Detroit Free Press and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition have chosen him for a 2021 Shining Light Award. McKinnon, 78, and still working every day, will receive the Neal Shine Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership. Read more about Ike McKinnon.
— Bill Laitner
Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Leader Award
As a medical resident in Detroit, Dr. Asha Shajahan asked one question and made one phone call that may have changed the trajectory of the lives of her 16-year-old pregnant patient and the teen's daughter.
She learned her patient would be dropping out of school. When she asked her why, the teen gave an answer she'll never forget.
The teen walked to school through a neighborhood that was unsafe. People would hoot and holler at her and sometimes throw things. She didn't want to put her baby through that.
Shajahan said she told the teen: "You know what? We can take care of this."
The doctor called the principal's office. Transportation to and from school was arranged for the teen and toward the end of her pregnancy, she did distance learning.
About three years later, the teen came into Shajahan's clinic in Macomb County with her 2-year-old daughter. She wanted to say thank you, and to let Shajahan know she graduated, got a job, moved into her own place and her daughter was in day care.
Shajahan, graduate medical education director of health equity and health disparities for Beaumont Health, is this year's winner of the Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award. Read more about Dr. Asha Shajahan.
— Christina Hall
Dave Bing Future Leader Award
As Robert Reaves thought about where to go to college, Wayne State University was at the top of his list. So it's no surprise that the two-time graduate currently working on a third degree from the Detroit school is active in the school's alumni community and works at the medical school.
It's also a natural fit with Reaves' philosophy on giving back to the community.
"I chose organizations that played a meaningful role in my life," said Reaves, 32, of Detroit. Those organizations include Ronald McDonald House Charities Detroit, Michigan Opera Theatre and the Alzheimer’s Association.
When Reaves gets involved, he goes all in. His skills and talents have allowed him to play key roles in several Detroit organizations and he's hoping to join others.
Those abilities are why Reaves is this year's honoree for the Dave Bing Future Leader Award. Read more about Robert Reaves.
— David Jesse
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How to celebrate the 2021 Shining Light Award honorees
