2023 Recipient Bios

Jan and John Munn, real estate agents with Berkshire Hathaway, are recognized for their exemplary work in business in East Lansing. Jan and John Munn have been a tremendous asset to East Lansing, in particular East Lansing Public Schools and Michigan State University Athletics. Their hard work in the real estate industry has also garnered much appreciation. They have provided guidance to many clients who were in the market to purchase real estate and the Munns have in-depth knowledge of the East Lansing School (ELPS) system. They have served the community in many capacities for over 30 years. Their dedication to ELPS, particularly in the athletic realm, has served as inspiration for other community members to get involved. Jan currently serves on the East Lansing Education Foundation Board. The Munns’ professionalism and high energy-approach has served as the cornerstone of our community. The Munns have worked together as a realtor team with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Tomie Raines Realtors for over 30 years. While the Munns service home buyers and sellers throughout the greater Lansing region, their focus has often been on selling homes and assisting buyers in East Lansing. Because the Munns live in East Lansing and love this community, they represent to others what a good place East Lansing is, persuading them to locate here. Their experience sells East Lansing to future buyers. Their wealth of knowledge about the housing market, schools and neighborhoods has brought many people to our community. In addition, when an East Lansing resident sells their home, they often have turned to the Munn team because they trust them and know they will work hard to help sell their home. 

Laura LeDuc is recognized with a Community Crystal Award for her immense dedication to sharing her time and talents with the community and for helping so many children and families in East Lansing. Laura is the powerhouse behind East Lansing Trojan Aquatics, an organization that she co-founded in 2015 with former East Lansing High School swim coach Ron Marsh. The organization is dedicated to teaching area children to swim and inspiring in them a passion for competitive swim, while cultivating a community that is based around aquatic sports in swimming, diving and water polo. Trojan Aquatics is a great program for young people to thrive, build relationships, be active and have fun. Laura has helped create an organization where all children feel welcome. She has worked to create a level playing field for more children to participate, regardless of skill level. Scholarships are provided for families who need assistance in paying the activity fees. Laura believes that all children should have the opportunity to develop aquatic skills. Laura does all of this as a volunteer. All fees received by Trojan Aquatics go into paying the assistant coaches and paying for pool rentals. Laura donates, conservatively, more than 20 hours a week to coaching, teaching, mentoring, communicating with families, and organizing and running meets with other area swimming groups. Laura does all of this in addition to working as an attorney in legal education at Cooley Law School and being a mother of two. She has long experience with coaching at the college level and is a passionate recreational soccer player. 

The first ever Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Crystal Award winner is Skin Studio 211, which is also the first Black Woman-owned spa in East Lansing designed to provide specialized beauty care for people of color. Specialized care for Black people and people of color was something that was missing in East Lansing. Skin Studio 211 has gone above and beyond expectations by providing a place for groups that have historically been overlooked. Among their clients are women who have religious restrictions, who are provided with a comfortable space to receive beauty treatments. Lansing is no longer the only option for so many in the community to find the beauty care they need. Skin Studio 211 owner Lorin Cumberbatch is a mother, business leader and a bright and upcoming star in business. She is a 2021 graduate of the Lansing Economic Area Partnerships (LEAP) One & All program. In addition, she was included in the 10 Over the Next Ten Awards by the Lansing Chamber of Commerce, one of the Lansing 5:01 young professionals expected to make a significant community impact and was a recipient of a 2023ATHENAPowerlink business grant. Although Lorin had already established a store in Lansing, she saw the opportunity to support the community in East Lansing as well and opened a second store. Skin Studio 211 is a great example of a business that has created a sense of belonging in our community. 

ST. VINCENT de PAUL—ST. JOHN'S CHURCH STUDENT CENTER

St. Vincent de Paul and St. John’s Student Center have been chosen to receive the Community Crystal Award for their tireless efforts in serving the East Lansing community and college students on a weekly basis. This organization provides food weekly to the residents of East Lansing and international students at Michigan State University, both through the Food Cupboard and the Mobile Food Cupboard. This organization dedicates hours of volunteer time to ensuring that they can support members of our community. During the Christmas season, they adopt families to provide Christmas meals for the entire family, not just the children. They have also recently launched a Returning Citizens Program, designed to help men and women who have re-entered society after incarceration. All of this is done with great joy and compassion for the people that they serve. St. Vincent de Paul—St. John’s Church Student Center often goes above and beyond to deliver food to individuals who are unable to come to the cupboard, and those who are not able to come to the cupboard during its open hours on Saturdays. As a volunteer-run organization, they are feeding the people of this City one family and one person at a time, always looking for ways to expand and help those in society that don't have the bare essentials.