2020 Youth Advocate of the Year

Cameo Lyn King

“Within every living creature therein lies a purpose.” As a global leader and native Detroiter, Cameo L. King stands on that mantra.

Her passion began in the nation’s capitol at Howard University where she earned her BA in Broadcast Journalism. She began her career in media as a reporter and anchor for Power 96.5 and 1320 WILS, and as a producer and assignment editor for the CBS affiliate, WLNS 6 News in Lansing, MI.

 Cameo became rooted in her commitment to grow local communities after having one of the most rewarding experiences of teaching a media course to a local youth organization. From there, her love of empowering individuals grew. She was promoted from a project director to serving as the Chief Operating Officer for One Love Global, a non-profit that responds to the social, economic and developmental needs of vulnerable children and families. There she forged partnerships across the state and city and worked directly with a cross section of diverse stakeholders to create sustainable community change.

 Cameo continued following her passion to help serve and cultivate the hearts and minds of the people in education. She continued her collegiate career at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary where she earned a Master of Arts in Urban Ministry Leadership.

 While pursuing her Master’s degree, Cameo founded Grit, Glam & Guts, a statewide movement that engages young girls with arts, civic engagement, and educational opportunities. In a relatively span of time, Cameo assessed the needs of girls in Michigan and expanded GGG from a one-day teen conference in Lansing to now include conferences for teen girls in Lansing, Flint, and Detroit along with semester long academic programming and a week-long residential summer camp in partnership with Michigan State University’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities. She is currently the CEO of Good Girl Radio, which is a podcast of confessions about flaws, faith, femininity & culture. It’s a national multi-media platform, known for touching the lives of women across the different races, incomes, and walks of life through the thought-provoking conversations that address some of the deepest, unabashed thoughts of the modern-day woman.

 Cameo also applied her communications and public relation skills in the public and private sector as consultant for local and national leaders and organizations where she translated complex policy issues into effective communications strategies and coordinated messaging strategies to advocate for improved educational outcomes for Lansing children and families. Through her work, Cameo has developed a unique skill set that has allowed her to garner support and partnerships from a cross section of sectors including faith-based coalitions, government municipalities, and elected state officials. She also continues to serve her community at every opportunity especially as a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

 Through her work as a journalist and service in the community, she was awarded the 2017 Lansing Chamber of Commerce’s “Ten Over the Next Ten” Award that recognizes the Lansing region’s top young professionals who are expected to contribute significantly to our community over the next ten years. The winners of the Ten Over the Next Ten awards are judged based on their professional achievement, community involvement and personal success. Most recently, Cameo was featured on the cover of the Capital Area Women’s Lifestyle Magazine for February 2020 sharing passionate words of her hopes for Black women and girls.

 But Cameo knows none of this would be possible without her faith. She exercises her love for the Lord at the Lansing Church of God In Christ as a licensed missionary. She firmly believes that there are no limits in life. She knows that through hard work, strong ethics, and faith in God, the possibilities for her life are endless.

2020 Spotlight of Excellence

Divya Reddy – Williamston High School

Students whose names are listed in the hall of Spotlight on Excellence have excelled in multiple capacities. Divya Reddy’s outstanding achievements have garnered this honor. Her English teacher stated that she is very conscientious about her work and expects the best product from herself. She dazzles with her ability to do challenging work, and she will take risk, such as joining in predominantly senior level class as a junior. In her writing and speaking she is consistently the voice of reason and able to look at multiple perspectives to situations. She further states that she has observed many students who possess a solid work ethic and are natural born leaders as they move through high school. What I have less frequently observed a student who inherently takes those same qualities and uses them for the good of others. Divya Reddy is one of those rare gems, and has the potential to make a significant impact on anyone she assists. Her academic achievements have placed her at the head of her graduating class. She has distinguished herself as valedictorian.

Other teachers echo their appreciation for her leadership abilities and true care she has for causes outside of herself. Her enthusiasm for helping others is evident in the organizations she joins. Her involvement in the Be Nice program, a mental health and anti-bullying initiative, and her role as a PAL (Peer Assistance Listener) exemplify her desire to help others.

Doctors at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center praise her volunteer support stating that Divya has repeatedly demonstrated her passion for learning, and her presentations have been an inspiration for other students and researchers in the lab. She is incredibly reliable, energetic, and hardworking in pursuing her research goals in the lab, and she has been a tremendous addition to the team. The research staff quickly came to appreciate Divya’s commitment and strong desire to improve the lives of patients.

Her involvement in Community Foundation’s Youth Action Committee further illustrates how invested Divya is in the projects she supports and the future she envisions for our world. Working with diverse populations, Divya serves as chair of the Youth Action Committee (YAC) of the Capital Region Community Foundation, a group of tri-county area teens who engage in philanthropy and grant-making. The YAC oversees the Youth Fund by carefully selecting grants to make in the local community. Divya also holds the position of Student Trustee, representing the YAC as a full voting member of the Foundation’s board of trustees. Divya was also selected to represent the local YAC at the state level in the Michigan Community Foundation Youth Project (MCFYP) committee which serves all the Youth Action Committees around the state. Divya has most certainly identified herself as a mature leader, a consummate scholar, and a compassionate person.