A glimpse of The Changemakers Center before its grand opening tonight

By Nicole Wadkins
Staff Reporter

There is a new installation on the third floor of the Gannon Building that has been in the works since 2023. The space is named The Changemakers Center, and it will be celebrating its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony today, Feb. 18, from 5 - 7 p.m.

The center highlights 30 African American inductees and shares how their story and vision shaped the Lansing community both in the past and present.  

The center started out as an idea by former trustee Andrew Abood, who suggested LCC should have an installation to honor African Americans from the Greater Lansing area who have contributed to the community. LCC Chief of Staff Layne Ingram said that, from the beginning, “we knew that we wanted to create a space that is on par with other sculptures, installations, and remodels on campus. I think this is something that everyone at LCC can be proud of.”

The center is made up of six walls, with each one designed to be engaging for the viewer. “You’ll find a mix of visual displays, interactive elements, and thoughtfully curated narratives that bring these changemakers to life,” Ingram said. “It’s designed to be self-guided, so visitors can move at their own pace and focus on the stories that resonate with them.”

Visitors are first greeted by the “Welcome Wall,” which has a large LED display of rotating messages. This space also includes the center’s highlights, as well as donor recognition.

The next wall is the “Legacy in Motion” wall, which uses a full length-LED display to take visitors through Lansing's history. There are photographs, quotes and video clips—from civil rights marches to artistic achievements—serving as a tribute to those who left their mark on Lansing.

There is also “The Changemakers Chronicles” wall, where visitors can explore the lives of the 30 inductees in depth through touchscreens. Visitors can view biographies, photographs, videos and fun facts for each changemaker.

Another wall named “The Trailblazer Zone” offers a way for visitors to test their knowledge through touchscreen games. Available games include trivia and “Did You Know?” questions, as well as a game exploring the timeline of Lansing’s history.

Next is the “Echoes of Excellence” wall, which showcases rotating artifacts, each tied to the city's history. There is also a monitor providing further context for each item.

Finally, the last wall is named “Lansing Through Time,” where people can look at 180 years of history starting from 1847. People can explore how the city has evolved over the decades, and visitors can also provide suggestions for future inductees by scanning a QR code. “I think that there are students who will walk into the space and be immediately impacted by the stories from their community,” Ingram said in an email. “And I hope that it gives them a feeling of pride and a boost to their confidence to let them know that they, too, can be changemakers.”

The 30 inaugural inductees include figures like currently Michigan Senator Sarah Anthony, Los Angeles Lakers player Earvin “Magic” Johnson, civil rights leader Malcolm X, beloved local DJ “Metro Malik” Brown, and former LCC president Paula Cunningham—all of whom have a Lansing connection. Every three years, focus groups representing a wide range of perspectives will choose new inductee(s) to be added to the center. “These groups met several times to thoughtfully consider which inaugural individuals best represented our community’s values and history,” Ingram said. “We also conducted follow-up sessions to identify gaps in our initial approach, and that collaborative feedback directly informed additions to the center.”

Since the center is technology based, the contents will continue to evolve. As new inductees are added, there will be continued exploration into how to keep the experience of the center engaging to the community. "This might include incorporating different media formats—perhaps audio storytelling elements or rotating exhibition features that allow us to dive deeper into specific stories,” Ingram expressed in an email. “The goal is for each visit to offer something new while maintaining the integrity of the overall narrative.”

After the grand opening on Feb. 25 from 5 - 7 p.m., the center will be open to the public on Wednesdays from 5 - 7 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Visitors without a StarCard can enter through the Gannon Ramp’s 3^rd floor entrance.

Ingram sees this new exhibit on LCC’s campus as a way to connect people from all walks of life to the history of the Lansing area and the community here. “I hope that [The Changemakers Center] means a lot to the community—that they see themselves represented through our changemakers,” Ingram said. He also hopes the community will “learn about the history of Lansing through the African American Community.”

The Changemakers Center may be the newest addition to the college, but it won’t be the last. Ingram teased in an email, “This year, we’re particularly excited about two new outdoor installations we’re planning, though we’re keeping the details under wraps for now—we want the reveal to be impactful!” Those future projects point to more effort in creating spaces on campus to foster connection and engagement with the Greater Lansing community.

Those interested in learning more about The Changemakers Center can visit the website to find more details or come to the grand opening event this evening.