IAmSeniorStrong 2022

Inspiration starts here. More than 2.2 million strong, Michigan seniors built the communities we call home, raised a generation and each day they continue to grow, learn and serve. Volunteers, mentors, leaders, elders, teachers, artists, students, athletes, advocates—Now is the time to tell their stories.

IAmSeniorStrong Award

Seniors have built businesses, tackled social problems, fought wars, raised families and served our communities. It’s time Michiganders heard about the seniors who continue to do great work across our state with no intentions of slowing down. Through the Senior Strong campaign we celebrate seniors across Michigan who continue to serve their communities with the goal of raising awareness of this powerful generation. The IAmSeniorStrong Award will highlight and honor these seniors in an effort to share their stories.

Get Inspired

Read the stories of previous IAmSeniorStrong Award nominees HERE.

2022 Award Winner
Dwight L. Wilson

Dwight L. Wilson volunteers in several capacities: He volunteers weekly at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital to hold babies who are receiving cardiology treatment and surgery. He is also the Board Chair of the Interfaith Roundtable of Washtenaw County. Dwight L. Wilson has mentored more than 500 people as a life-long educator, spiritual leader, and human rights organizer. All feel deeply impacted by his nurture and encouragement. Many think of him as a second father. Dwight has deep wisdom and kindness. Once he has entered a relationship with someone, he keeps it going with great intentionality. He's also written more than 9 books, including poetry, modern psalms, and historical fiction. He is a life-changer. Dwight volunteered for Meals on Wheels for many years (more than 10, I believe). He had to step down from that because of the pandemic and health needs, but this has been important to him. When he delivered, he would connect relationally with others. Dwight is currently receiving treatment for bladder cancer. I would love to honor him in this way. All you have to do is google him or search for him on Facebook, where he writes frequently, and you will see why he is a great choice.

2022 Nominees

Sherry Sanzonetta

Sherry Sanzonetta constantly gives of herself and time. Over the past 20 years, she has made over 500 blankets and mats for the elderly in nursing homes and homeless. She spends all of her evenings dedicated to giving comfort/love to others with these blankets. Sherry serves seniors and the homeless. She is kind, giving, and compassionate. Sherry has spent her life in Macomb County contributing in any way she can whether it's to watch the neighbor kids so their parents can have a date night or just being with someone when their loved one or fur baby has passed.

Betty Esnault

Mrs. Betty Esnault has been a mentor for youth middle school and high school girls, continuing to encourage them through education, self-esteem, ettiquette, etc. She also works in her church's community shelter throughout the pandemic. Betty works to serve youth girls in the Oakland County Community, low income and unhoused community-securing personal care items and food. Mrs. Betty advocates for what is right, without wavering, she helps with fundraisers for the youth. She also advocates for the well-being of the community. She collects items for people in need and does it with so much grace! Her skill is kindness and stressing accountability. She is graceful and recognizes that her story is other's strength. So she shares her gifts with so much humility! She needs to be recognized, even if she doesn't accept it.

Elma Peddy

Elma Peddy’s volunteer services includes working with Academy of Southfield school board, Peddy Players Theatre Company (afterschool programming for charter schools, head of the deacon board a Metropolitan Baptist Church, appointed by President, and a long standing member of the Longfellow Block Club. Elma serves the Longfellow and Boston Edison communities through her block club activities, hundreds of children between the ages of 7-18 through the theater and numerous mothers and infants through teaching mothers how to care for infants. She is 102 years old and still impacting adults in the church and mothers and infants through training as a retired registered nurse. Due to her being a 102 years old she continues to encouraged other seniors from her church and community. When you 102 those of a lesser age release their right to complain. She is still in her right mind, mobile and has words of encouragement for everyone

Mary Steadman

Mary on a regular basis assists residents at Pablo Davis by: taking them to grocery stores, doctor appointments, banks, paying their bills online. She also takes residents to get Covid19 vaccines & booster shots! She serves residents at Pablo and her granddaughter who she is now has temporary guardianship. The community such as Patton Recreation Center, her family, and her church family. Mary is very giving of her time, engaging with people, she enjoys helping others accomplish whatever their goal. She is very resourceful and patient with individuals she is personally working with. Mary has many certifications but one that dear to heart is Mental Health Certification. Mary constantly utilizes this skill to assist residents at Pablo that were depressed due to isolation during the Pandemic. Mary always gives encouraging word. Personally, Mary has made my job as case manager lighter. My first day on the job we met each other while assisting the same resident. I was there as a case manager and Mary was there checking up on a fellow resident who had been recently ill.

James Whipple

Jim led the effort to start Michigan’s first ever LGBTQ senior services organization. There were strong differences of opinion at the table, but Jim’s quiet strength was able to move efforts forward and keep people connected and engaged. AARP approached SAGE Metro Detroit, looking for local LGBTQ seniors to get more involved with and build community in the Detroit metro area of AARP. Jim stepped up again and has been serving as a state certified volunteer with AARP for many years. An unassuming, understated, compassionate and listening leader, he looks to others he works with for answers, always looking for ways to boost those working around him. Gracious, kind and funny, he is a prime example of seniors leading by example. I first met Jim when he was Executive Director at FRIENDS Alliance, a Detroit-based HIV/AIDS service organization, having created a Buddy Program to keep people connected - which has now been modified as the current SAGE "Friendly Caller Program." Jim's kind and gentle ways have earned him a great deal of respect and love within the older adult community.

Dr. Esther Coleman

Dr. Coleman gives back to her community through education as a trainer for teachers in effective instructional strategies, as a church member engaged in community outreach and as a volunteer for the Salvation Army and Charles H. Wright Museum. She serves countless students and teachers from elementary to college in Detroit, California, and Highland Park. She continues to volunteer at the museum and church. Whether she is giving treats to the youth or distributing information she is relentless. Dr. Coleman is caring, lover of people, committed, advocate of social justice, educator, facilitator, and well seasoned. During the pandemic she worked with her sorority to ensure seniors needs were met by providing food and other basic needs. She encourages seniors to attend the museum reducing social isolation and provide guidance to her church youth on black history. She is worthy of this award and will serve as inspiration to others

Clara Williams

Br Mo Clara Williams is the Head of the Mothers Board World Over in The Spiritual Israel Church and its Army; Her Title is Superior Mother. She oversees the quality of the Board, assures Mothers questions are answered, shows Love and Respect to All. She serves all members of the Church and non-members as well... The community. She is true to her words, dependable, Loving, Respectful, her works speak for her. As she is a Senior, she encourages others to continue to mask up, practice cleanliness and encourages phone calling and virtual meetings. As previously stated, her song and her actions speak for her.

Sharon McCaughrin

Sharon has volunteered with OLHSA’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program for several years, helping to meet specific needs to aid grand-families, Kinship and Foster Care children and the adults who give care to them. Over 120 families OLHSA GRG families benefit each year from the partnership with Sharon and Big Family of Michigan. Sharon finds ways, especially during the pandemic to make a difference for the children and kinship caregivers. Sharon seeks ways to improve the lives of children being cared for by older adults and has made a remarkable difference to grandchildren being raised by their grandparents. Under her direction, she has provided holiday gifts and school supplies. It's through Sharon's generous heart and hard work ethics that she is able to embody the spirit of hope in Kinship and Foster Care youth. She once orchestrated help for a family while admitted in the hospital. She is selfless. When grand-families face challenges outside of the scope of programs, Sharon implores her team to deliver necessities to help children thrive. She's a remarkable human and is Senior Strong!

Betty Caraway

Betty is always available to volunteer for any of events such as: BCI Annual Golf, Strides for Senior, Delivering Focus Hope, Sweetest Day Goodies, Easter Lilies and Poinsettias. Because of Betty, volunteering her time, BCI, our clients, the community at large and her family especially her grandchildren. She is setting a great example for them at her gracefully aging age. Betty has a lot wit, style, and sassiness to her but don't mess with her family and then her alter ego come out. Betty is an incognito comedian that will keep you laughing and crying. Betty assists clients with putting heavy boxes into their client cars. When we delivered those boxes to clients homes, Betty would put those boxes on the client's porch or inside their door. Betty makes you think she is in her 30's & not in her 60's. When you see Betty you might not think she is a friendly person but she is a wonderful mother, grandmother and volunteer. Betty enjoys making someone else smile if it's only for a few minutes out of their day.

Vincenza Mueller

Vincenza is a force of nature. She is a lifelong volunteer who is passionate about promoting social justice, peace and opportunities for women and children. Among others, she has dedicated many years of service to Coalition on Temporary Shelter. She serves women and children at the shelter; young women at U of M Dearborn who participate in the Women's Studies Program's Women in Leadership. She is a certified healer who has volunteered her healing services to many women and organization. Vincenza has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She has an enormous capacity for empathy and unconditional love for others. She is a lifelong learner who never misses an opportunity for continued growth and personal development which she then shares. She has been the go-to support for sisters, cousins, nieces, god-daughters, friends and strangers over the past few years and people faced illnesses and then death. We all know that if you need love and support she will be there. Vincenza doesn't fit into a neat package. She is so intelligent, loving and inspirational that it is a joy to be in her presence. Those of us who know her always come away smarter and more spiritually connected to each other and the universe.

Joyce Phillips

Joyce Phillips is Inkster Task Force Farmers Market's Market Manager and a volunteer nurse at Hope Clinic, though she has been retired for 15 years. She is involved with Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church's health ministry, a vaccination leader during COVID. Joyce's patients at Hope Clinic are honest, hard-working people who don't have health insurance. Customers at the market have the ability to access fresh, healthy food and vendors have an opportunity to grow their business. Joyce is tenacious and has used her personal connections and grit to find vendors for the market. She is generous in ensuring that vendors and customers are appreciated for coming out and want to come back by getting them little gifts. Joyce has used her talents to earn a Master Gardener certificate, have her own farm, volunteer with community gardens in Inkster and take on a role of Market Manager at the Inkster Task Force Farmers Market, which launched during the pandemic. Joyce puts in a lot of hours managing the market, which has run from 4-7 pm on May-October the last two years. She also facilitates planning meetings and attends professional development courses from the Michigan Farmers Market Association.

Reva Wujcik

Reva has been an exceptional board member for The Village of Redford and has provided volunteer leadership for numerous organizations; Redford Township District Library, and as chairperson for the Redford Township Civil Service Commission. She serves residents of Redford Township and seniors statewide. Reva is quite a dedicated professional with innovative ideas and the ability to reach an agreement. In addition, she is an excellent listener and a reasonable negotiator. She has provided leadership in strategic planning and was very engaged with providing solutions for PVM residents and PVM as a whole. Reva has provided leadership in the Redford Township community for decades. She is a retired principal with Keeler School, and a member of the Nardin Park United Methodist Church. She always seeks out ways to improve the quality of life for others.

Kathreen Winton

Kathreen Winton is a mother, grandmother, and informal childcare provider in Pontiac. She has taken care of family and friends' children for over 20 years; always with an open-door policy, and no charge. "I try to help all kids no matter who they are..." She serves multiple children, their families, friends, and neighbors. We interviewed her for a study in December 2021 and were impressed. At the time, she took care of 3 children, of which 1 lived with her. I believe she has taken on additional children since then. She is caring and giving, "Anybody that comes... in that needs help I help them...something that was taught when I was growing up from my mom...it's not the kids’ fault." She continues to serve despite the COVID hardships. She made sure to check on each other. Since she can drive, cooks meals and delivers them to a nursing home, and goes to doctor’s appointments with anyone who does not have families close by to support and help them understand what the doctors are saying. As a dedicated OLHSA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren member, she attended a virtual support group from a hospital bed! She is a Gigabytes for Grandfamiles participant; strives to close the digital divide, chronic in the older adult community.

Patricia A. Foster

Patricia taught Det Public School teachers after retiring from the system, worked with Project Health Living, provides health care/transportation to seniors, volunteered with Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest. Provided supplies for holiday outreach to homeless. She serves 25 homeless people living under viaducts receiving holiday gift bags. At Project Health Living thousands of people in SE Michigan to received life saving health screenings. Her unwavering service to three different churches helped them remain open. Pat personifies joie de vivre. She is witty, loyal, energetic, compassionate, giving, faithful, and challenging. At 83 she still attends exercise classes, bible study, church services, community activities each week, and participates in book clubs. During Covid, she took seniors to doctor appointments, even to chemotherapy twice a week. Called isolated seniors to check on their health. Helped parents with home schooling. She sends out Daily Breads and cards to let others know they are not alone or forgotten. She gave 50+ years to educational, grooming 2 or 3 generations to be leaders. After leaving the classroom, she devoted her time to training teachers. Pat was the teachers' teacher. She still drives to the aid of others and has no intention of stopping.

Henrietta Miller

Henrietta Miller is a volunteer worker at the Searcey Community Center in Detroit. Henrietta helps seniors who are blind to learn skills needed to best live their lives with their disability/disabilities. She serves seniors who are blind and some who have additional disabilities. Henrietta leads sessions at the Searcy Center weekly and assist many seniors with resources to get groceries and weekly meals. Henrietta is the life of the party and helps effortlessly without the pressure of a return deed. Far from selfish. Henrietta helps with organizing game nights and calling Bingo during social events of this community. She has not allowed her disability to stop her from whatever she sets her heart to. Henrietta is a mother, grandmother and friend. I believe this award will be the first recognition for Henrietta and she deserves it.

Evelyn Sargen

For the last four years, Evelyn Sargen has volunteered with Gleaners Community Food Bank, Focus HOPE, and Forgotten Harvest. Through her work with these nonprofits, Evelyn ensures that the seniors in her building have the food they need. Evelyn lives in a low-income senior housing building where many individuals could benefit from free and accessible groceries. For the seniors who are unable to leave their apartments, she will even deliver produce directly to their door. Over the years, she has realized that many of her neighbors rely on this for their main source of food. This has motivated her to do even more, which she continued throughout the pandemic, despite the risks. Evelyn is worthy of being recognized for this award because those around her speak very highly of her and the way she leads this effort at her senior housing building. When we spoke with her friends, they shared that Evelyn consistently gives more than she receives. She never expects anything in return. She has encouraged her friends to volunteer with her and now there is a large group of volunteers due to Evelyn and her commitment to this work. Evelyn lives in a senior apartment building in Warren, Michigan. This independent living community is meant for seniors living below the Macomb County median income level. Evelyn saw the need for free, accessible groceries among her neighbors and acted, encouraging a partnership between Gleaners, Focus HOPE, Forgotten Harvest, and her apartment building. Without these groceries, Evelyn’s neighbors would not have many options to meet their needs. Evelyn is a smart, kind, and compassionate individual. When I spoke with her about this nomination, I asked her why this work is important to her. She said it is the reason she gets up in the morning. She loves helping people and seeing them smile makes her day. Her friends that I spoke with all shared similar sentiments. They love Evelyn’s big heart and how she is sensitive yet will speak her mind. They said she will always tell the truth but in a way that is delicate and shows how much she cares. As Evelyn told me: “I am who I am.” When the pandemic started, Evelyn had only been in this volunteering role for less than a year. They had not perfected the process yet and there were still many more seniors in her apartment building that needed access to free groceries. When it became difficult for Gleaners, Focus HOPE, and Forgotten Harvest to deliver produce due to supply chain issues, Evelyn advocated on behalf of her neighbors on its importance. She knew that her neighbors needed these groceries now more than ever. She found ways to get gloves and masks donated for her volunteers so they could continue providing groceries. They began delivering more goods directly to the doors of seniors in her building, as many of her neighbors were at high risk for COVID-19. Evelyn used her partnerships, advocating skills, and caring heart to ensure her neighbors were safe and healthy during the pandemic. Evelyn is a PACE Southeast Michigan participant, meaning she is nursing-home eligible and on a fixed income. We thought this important to mention because it shows that, despite this, she gives much to her community.

Joseph Cholak

Joseph Cholak is a phenomenal individual. It is very rare to come across someone as selfless as Joe. For the last three years, Joe has spent nearly every day volunteering at shelters in the metro-Detroit area, from homeless shelters to shelters for abused women. Often, he walks to the parks near his house and if he sees someone who needs a place to stay for the night, he will invite them into his own home for sleep, food, and warmth. Right now, as colder weather arrives, he is collecting winter clothes for the homeless. He will even make extra food when he cooks dinner and takes it to the shelters, despite being on a fixed income. Joe is worthy of being recognized for this award because he does all this from the kindness of his heart without ever asking for anything in return. If you ask anyone about Joe, they will tell you the same. Many people in the metro-Detroit area have been impacted by Joe’s service. Most of these people are individuals that Joe does not even know! While many are seniors, he also supports the young people at the shelters. Joe believes that everyone deserves a roof over their head and food in their stomach no matter what. When we spoke with Joe about this award and asked him why he feels motivated to volunteer and give back, he replied, “it’s just part of my nature.” His parents were both active in the community, leading him on a path toward volunteerism. Yet, when he was younger, he said he rarely volunteered. It was not until he was older that he realized how good his life was and he wanted to make life better for others. Joe not only does this outside of the center, but inside too. Joe is a participant at PACE Southeast Michigan, a nonprofit that provides all-inclusive, comprehensive care to low-income, chronically ill older adults. When Joe comes to the center, he often has a box of gifts in tow. He is always looking for ways to show others how much he appreciates them. During the pandemic, Joe did not stop volunteering. In fact, he did more! He would go grocery shopping for individuals who could not do it for themselves because they were at high-risk for COVID-19. When he was done shopping, he would deliver them right to their house and drop the groceries off. Joe gave his neighbors rides to the hospital to get the COVID-19 vaccine. When most people were not sure how to help others through the pandemic, Joe jumped into action. When we asked him what his strength and talents were that allows him to help seniors, he laughed. He said, “I’ll do anything to help anyone just because I care. If caring is a strength, then I guess I definitely have it.”