The City of East Lansing is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2023 Crystal Awards are now open. The program, which will celebrate its 35th anniversary next year, includes two new categories.
“As we move into the 35th year of recognizing and honoring the people who make East Lansing such a wonderful place to live and work, we have made some changes to the Crystal Awards program,” East Lansing Department of Parks, Recreation and Arts Director Cathy DeShambo said. “It’s our hope that these changes will inspire renewed interest in doing good in our community and recognizing those who do good things in our community.”
In addition to the Community and Business categories, the new categories are:
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: Awarded to East Lansing community members, businesses, organizations and community groups that have gone above and beyond to make East Lansing an amazing place to live, work and do business by championing equity work, uplifting disadvantaged members of the population and striving to transform East Lansing into a welcoming place for all.
- Spirit of East Lansing: Awarded to individuals or groups/organizations that reside outside of East Lansing, but have contributed significant amounts of time and care to East Lansing.
The deadline to submit nominations for the 2023 Crystal Awards is March 20, 2023. The winners of the 2023 Crystal Awards will be honored at a reception on Thursday, April 27, 2023. The community is encouraged to make nominations and attend this special event.
Community members can find an online nomination form, eligibility criteria and a list of past recipients at www.cityofeastlansing.com/crystalawards. Paper copies of the nomination form are also available at East Lansing City Hall, 410 Abbot Road; the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road; and the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road. To have a nomination form sent through the U.S. Postal Service, email your request to Karla Forrest-Hewitt at KHewitt@cityofeastlansing.com or call her at (517) 319-6823.
The Crystal Awards program began in 1988 to honor individuals, businesses and community groups that have made an outstanding contribution to community life in East Lansing. There have been 128 Crystal Awards honorees since the program started. To read more about them, visit www.cityofeastlansing.com/crystalawards.