Eastside Community Action Center
About ECAC
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Founded in 2007, the Eastside Community Action Center (ECAC) is dedicated to supporting the residents of Lansing, Michigan. Our mission is to provide social and educational assistance to children and adults, with a special focus on those who are vulnerable or at-risk. We strive to be a central hub for charitable and educational activities, helping to meet the needs of our community.
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COMMUNITY CHAMPION SALUTE
2025
The Honorable Judge James Jamo, Presiding Judge of the Ingham County Circuit Court’s General Trial Division, is celebrated for his unwavering dedication to justice, fairness, and service to the community. Appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court as the 30th Circuit’s Business Court Judge, he also manages a felony criminal docket and founded the County’s Mental Health Treatment Court for felony offenders.
Before his election to the bench in 2012, Judge Jamo spent 28 years as a respected civil litigator in Michigan and Federal Courts. He is deeply engaged in efforts to reduce gun violence and was the first Judge to partner with our Off the Street program, mandating probationers to complete our anti-violence programming as an alternative to jail time.
A University of Michigan graduate with a J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Cum Laude), Judge Jamo’s distinguished career
reflects his steadfast commitment to upholding the law and
improving the lives of Ingham County residents.
2025
Community Engagement Champion
Dr. Leola “Lee” Taylor, a lifelong community advocate and master cultural historian, has dedicated more than seven decades to service, education, and the celebration of African American heritage.
A Lansing native, retired State of Michigan manager, and founder of Brand-New Me Workshops, Inc., Dr. Taylor has championed racial justice, prison reentry initiatives, youth mentorship, and cultural arts programs locally and abroad.
Her leadership spans numerous organizations, including the NAACP, National Black United Front, and Christ’s Kingdom Builders Church, earning her countless awards for community service. Passionate about empowering youth, she continues to inspire through projects like “Snack & Chat” and Reading Readiness, while promoting cultural awareness and unity across generations.
2024
Judge Cynthia M. Ward was elected to the 54-A District Court in 2018 and currently serves a six-year term. Judge Ward moved to Michigan in 2002 and joined Cooley Law School as a faculty member, eventually becoming Assistant Dean of Students. She has made significant contributions to the Lansing community through her work as a civil rights attorney and her involvement with several local organizations, including the Lansing Area AIDS Network, City of Lansing Park Board, and the Lansing Board of Water & Light. She has also provided pro bono legal services to the homeless.
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Judge Ward is the presiding judge over the Domestic Violence Court, for which she wrote and was awarded a grant. She is an active member of Michigan’s Justice for All Commission and faculty for the Michigan Judicial Institute, continually working to improve access to justice. Among her many honors, Judge Ward has received the Davis-Dunnings Bar Association’s Distinguished Barrister Award, the NAACP President’s Award, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s Woman of the Year Award.
Judge Ward resides in Lansing with her husband, Greg, and remains a passionate advocate for justice, equality, and community well-being.
2024
Community Engagement Champion
As the former Community Police Officer for the Potter-Walsh Neighborhood, Sergeant Matthew Meaton greatly strengthened relations between law enforcement and residents through his active presence and responsiveness.
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His commitment helped break down stigma around law enforcement, encouraging unity and empowering residents to voice concerns and participate in community-building efforts. His work has built trust and continues to improve the quality of life in our neighborhood.
2023
Mr. Harold Pope received his bachelor’s degree and military commission at the University of Dayton. He has always been committed to serving the community. He is honored to do so as the President of the Lansing Branch NAACP, President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Delta Lambda Chapter, and an Elder with the Turning Point of Lansing. Previously, he has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for Uplift Our Youth Foundation, board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters Capital Region, executive board member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Lansing, and a member of Lansing’s Juneteenth Commemoration Committee. He was also the founder of Guardians of Our Future, a male mentoring program based in Philadelphia, PA, inspired by the Million Man March.
He was born in Mississippi, raised in Albany, NY, and now resides in Lansing, MI. He and his wife, Jennifer, have a blended family: three sons, Courtney, Darrell, and Blake, a daughter, Allison, and two grandsons, Devin and Blake. His hobbies include family time, community service, traveling, cooking, swimming, and photography.
