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Chardenay Leonard Emerging Leader Award
Chardenay first enrolled in UCAN in April 2020. She lived in UCAN’s Transitional Living Program for a year before transitioning to independent living. She has been engaged in clinical services since April 2022. She is currently an undergraduate student majoring in Accounting. Chardenay has a background in cosmetology and expresses long‑term entrepreneurial goals, including owning beauty suites and teaching cosmetology.
Demetria Boykin Service Leader Award
Demetria began working with UCAN in 2015 as a volunteer mentor in the residential program before transitioning to a therapist role. She has since served as a therapist in the Transitional Teen Services department for the past four years.
Empowered Creatives Community Impact Award
Empowered Creatives is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to unleashing the power of the arts through accessible, personalized programming that reimagines individual and collective artistic expression.
Made up of musicians, artists, and storytellers, Empowered Creatives believes everyone is innately creative and every story deserves to be heard. The organization recognizes creativity as a fundamental part of identity and self-expression and strives to nurture it in children and adults alike.
Through interactive workshops and partnerships with like-minded organizations in Chicago, Indianapolis, and Cleveland, Empowered Creatives brings the art-making process directly to participants, creating opportunities for people to explore their creativity, share their stories, and connect through the arts.
At its core, Empowered Creatives is committed to making art with people, not just for people.