Making Democracy Work Award

League of Women Voters^®
of the Flint Area

This award celebrates a Flint area woman who has contributed to our community

The "Making Democracy Work" award celebrates a Flint area woman who is contributing to our community in a significant and meaningful way. The third annual "Making Democracy Work Award" recipient is Donna Rheaves.

2010 Award. 2009 Award. MDW Award.

2010 MDW Award

The third annual "Making Democracy Work Award" recipient is Donna Rheaves. She is a Flint native and has been active in community work for over 30 years. She has, during these years, worked to improve the physical, social, and economic well-being of families and young people in our community. Ms. Rheaves' s primary mission has been to educate young people so they can take control of their physical health and obtain the knowledge to be empowered so they can be a positive force in their community. She has served as President of the Urban Garden program, President of Hurley East Neighborhood Program, on the Advisory Board of the National Kidney Foundation, and is currently a member of the Children's Defense Fund. She has also worked with a local church to provide meals to needy families in Flint.

2009 MDW Award

The recipient of the second annual "Making Democracy Work Award" is Doris Sain. The Award honors an individual for her community service, for envisioning a way to improve her community as well as to mobilize others to work for change that benefits the broader community. Doris Sain was instrumental in creating the Court Street Village Nonprofit Housing corporation which provides quality, safe accessible, low cost housing for senior and low income members of the Flint area. Under her leadership, the Corporation has provided support for four neighborhood associations. She has been able to obtain financial support to fund these ongoing programs and secure the expertise of others to continue this work. Among her many accomplishments, while living in Beecher, she presided over Common Concern, Inc., a non-profit developed to address substance abuse and racial tension. She has served as a board member and secretary of the former Genesee County Legal Aid Society, is a charter member/board member of the Michigan Housing Council, served as a member of the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan, served as a member of Flint Area Citizens to End Racism. She is one of the first women to be appointed to the Flint YMCA Board of Ditectors. In 2000, she was selected to attend Harvard University School Center for the Study of Values in Public Life. She is a member and volunteer at Court Street United Methodist Church.

First "Making Democracy Work" Award

The recipient of the first annual "Making Democracy Work Award" was Charlotte Williams. Mrs. Williams is a former Genesee County Commissioner and the first black female to chair the National Association of Counties. These are just two of her many contributions to our community. The League of Women Voters of the Flint Area is proud to have Mrs. Williams as the recipient of this Award.

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