ELAINE HARDY BEGAN HER CAREER AT THE DOWNTOWN LANSING YMCA AS DIRECTOR OF YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS UNTIL 2001.  HARDY THEN SERVED CLOSE TO 19 YEARS AS EAST LANSING HANNAH COMMUNITY CENTER COORDINATOR AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMISSION OF MID-MICHIGAN, TRUSTEE OF THE SIGMA PHI BETA EDUCATION FUND AND DIRECTOR OF THE LANSING “Y” ACHIEVERS PROGRAM, HELPING OVER 3,500 TEENS TO COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL CAREERS.  LAST YEAR, ELAINE WAS APPOINTED AS THE FIRST DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ADMINISTRATOR OF EAST LANSING.  SHE RECENTLY RECEIVED THE LIBERTY BELL AWARD FROM THE INGHAM COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION.