Lenora Hardy-Foster, Kalimah Johnson, Vincent Tilford, and James Ebaugh
Ethel and James Flinn Foundation
The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation announced this year’s Leonard W. Smith Mental Health Hero Award. The Award is given to those who show extraordinary commitment to caring for others while navigating the complex realities of community mental health. This year’s honorees, Lenora Hardy-Foster, Kalimah Johnson, Vincent Tilford, and James Ebaugh, reflect the depth, diversity, and creativity of mental health work in the community. Though they serve different populations and lead very different organizations, each is building a more connected, compassionate, and culturally responsive mental health system.
Judson Center President and CEO Lenora Hardy-Foster has spent her career showing what whole-person care can make possible. Under her leadership, Judson Center expanded its integrated care model, connecting primary care, behavioral health, and substance use treatment so families can access coordinated support in one place. Her journey from Southwest Solutions to Judson reflects decades of purposeful leadership rooted in faith, gratitude, and service to families across southeast Michigan.
For Kalimah Johnson, Founder and Executive Director of the SASHA Center, healing begins with culture, community, and truth telling. A poet and clinical social worker, she has reshaped sexual assault support for Black women and girls by weaving literary arts and culturally specific practices into trauma-informed care. Her work has become a nationally-recognized model for helping survivors reclaim voice, identity, and joy.
Vincent Tilford, President and CEO of Hannan Center, champions dignity and visibility for older adults. He views aging as a social justice issue and works to reduce isolation while expanding opportunities for creative expression, community connection, and mental wellbeing. Through his leadership, Hannan Center helps older adults stay engaged, build friendships, and feel recognized as vital members of the community.
At MiSide Health, Executive Director James Ebaugh leads with a deep belief in coordinated care and the power of hope. His early work in street outreach and crisis response taught him how trauma, housing instability, and mental health intersect in people’s lives. Today, he helps guide a behavioral health system designed to meet people where they are and surround them with stability and support. His leadership reflects a simple but profound truth: everyone deserves someone who will hold hope for them until they’re able to hold it themselves.
The Flinn Foundation is honored to recognize these four leaders in 2025. Their steadfast commitment, creativity and belief in the potential of every person exemplify the values Leonard W. Smith held dear.
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