The 9th annual Great Women of the Great Lakes was held on September 19, 2021.
Honorees
Marseille Allen
Marseille Allen is a trusted political strategist known for her dedication to grassroots initiatives. She is the founder of The Fairfield Group, LLC, a strategy consultation firm based in Michigan, and served as one of Michigan’s 16 electors in the 2021 Presidential election. Best known for her commitment to empower all communities, Marseille garnered national and international media attention after creating the WaterForFlint-WFF GoFundMe campaign in wake of the ongoing Flint Water Crisis. Marseille’s team raised more than $60,000 in donations from around the globe, enabling them to deliver to Flint residents more than 300,000 bottles of water, hundreds of filters, food, and other essential supplies. Read more
Lori Carpentier
As President and CEO of PPAM, Carpentier is an advocate for access to quality reproductive health care, and represents the public policy interests of Planned Parenthood patients and supporters across the state. She is recognized in Michigan as a leading expert on women’s reproductive health care and has testified by invitation before Congress and the Michigan State Legislature. Read more
Gilda Jacobs
Gilda Jacobs has served as president & CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy since 2011, following a 30-year career in public service at the local, county and state levels. Gilda has won numerous awards for her work, including being named as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan by Crain’s Detroit Business in 2016 and receiving the Michigan Food Bank Council’s Hunger-Free Award in 2015. Read more