“Ms. Haynie has worked diligently to not only ‘Keep MLK’s Dream Alive’ but to also instill in youth the principles of peace and nonviolence through youth seminars and the annual Freedom Ride,” commented Mayor Ken Siver. “She has devoted her life to serving others through her professional and community service in addition to her many years of leadership with the MLK Task Force.”

Ms. Haynie is dedicated to guiding and mentoring Southfield’s youth and introduced and organized the first MLK Freedom Ride in 2017. The inaugural Freedom Ride took 27 students from schools throughout Oakland and Wayne counties through historical civil rights sites in Washington D.C., Atlanta, Memphis and Louisville, educating the youth on civil rights, social justice and non-violence. The program was expanded in 2018 to include 36 local middle and high school students.

Prior to her retirement in 2012, Ms. Haynie was the first female and person of color to serve as a field director for the National Education Association, representing the teachers and support personnel in Southfield for over a decade. Ms. Haynie also served as a founding member of the Oakland County chapter of the National Congress of Black Women and is a member of several local organizations, including Delta Sigma Theta, the Southfield Democratic Club and the MSU Black Alumni Association. Among her accomplishments, Ms. Haynie was honored in December 2016 by the City of Southfield for “Going the Extra Mile.”

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force of Southfield honors one individual each year who best exemplifies the qualities of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Nominees must be committed to the advancement of human and civil rights, active in community service, and reside or work in Southfield or Lathrup Village.

The city of Southfield established the Greg Kennedy Community Service Award in 1999 to honor members of the community who exemplify the characteristics of the late Greg Kennedy and are active in community service. Since its inception, there have only been five past recipients.

For more information, call Southfield Community Relations at (248) 796-5130.