Rep. Pagan honored with mParks State Elected Official award

State Rep. Kristy Pagan, D-Canton, was presented with the Michigan Parks and Recreation Association (mParks) State Elected Official Award at the Canton Township board meeting on March 13.
The honor is a result of Pagan’s commitment to improving the quality of life in the community, including her involvement in launching the Lead #LikeAGirl program in Canton Township, which is run through Canton Leisure Services to help instill leadership qualities in young women between the ages of 11 and 15.
Pagan is also the Democratic vice chair of the Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee where she helps craft the state budget for the Department of Natural Resources, which allocates money to state parks and trails, conservation officers and the Great Lakes.
“As someone who grew up in Canton and calls Canton my home, I am proud to have helped launch the Lead #LikeAGirl program in Canton Township,” Pagan said. “I have had the honor of inviting this program to our state capital and showing the young women what a day in the life of a legislator is like. It is with the support of Canton Leisure Services that this program is a success. By showing girls and young women what it’s like to lead, we are instilling in them that they can achieve anything. I am also grateful to have Canton Leisure Services as an ally in protecting our natural resources. Canton is a thriving community because of our parks and recreation and trails system. Our economy and tourism industry rely on our Great Lakes, state parks and recreation areas, and as Michiganders, we share a special responsibility for maintaining our state’s natural beauty.”
Every year, mParks awards honor elected officials and parks and recreation advocates, agencies and professionals who go above and beyond in supporting Michigan’s recreation industry. For more information about mParks and the award, go to mparks.org .
Rep. Pagan also represents the city of Belleville and Van Buren Township in Lansing.