Human Rights Commission to Honor Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award and Business/Organization
Humanitarian Efforts Awardees
The City of Traverse City’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award and the 2026 recipients of the Humanitarian Business/Organization Award.
Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award
The HRC is honored to recognize Marcello Betti as the recipient of the 2026 Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award. This annual award honors individuals who embody the Commission’s core values of mutual understanding, respect, and inclusivity within our community. Marcelo Betti is the Legal Director of Immigration Law & Justice Michigan (formerly Justice For Our Neighbors), a nonprofit organization that provides pro- and low-bono immigration legal services to low-income individuals. Marcelo has more than 10 years of experience practicing immigration law, helping clients with family-based applications and humanitarian applications. As the only attorney at the ILJ-MI office in Traverse City, he regularly represents vulnerable populations, including refugees, victims of domestic violence, and unaccompanied children seeking lawful status in the United States. Marcelo speaks Portuguese and Spanish, and is a graduate of Vermont Law School, Grand Valley State University, and Northwestern Michigan College. Mr. Betti states: "As an immigrant myself [from Brazil], I find it fulfilling to help clients navigate a complex bureaucracy so that they can best contribute to our communities. I also firmly believe that immigrants are at the essence of what makes the United States special.”
Humanitarian Business/Organization Awards
The HRC is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Business/Organization Humanitarian Efforts Award. This award was established to honor and publicly recognize businesses or organizations that have shown a sustained and meaningful commitment to helping others in the Traverse City region. This year, two outstanding organizations will be recognized.
HelpLink (formerly Spark in the Dark), is a tech-enabled nonprofit that connects businesses, nonprofits, and communities in one space to deliver fast, dignified, and discreet help in times of need. They exist to remove barriers to work before they become missed shifts, lost income, or termination - and to make support easier to offer, easier to access, and more dignified to receive for those who are struggling. From President and founder Abagail McKiernan: “We're deeply grateful to the City of Traverse City for this honor, and to the individuals and companies whose partnership makes our work possible. HelpLink exists to ensure urgent needs are met quickly and with dignity, connecting community generosity with the neighbors and employers ready to help. This award is a reminder of what's possible when a community shows up for one another."
The Neurodiversity Support Center (NSC) at Northwestern Michigan College supports neurodiverse students in making a smooth transition from high school to college while developing skills needed in the workplace. Neurodiversity encompasses a range of learning differences, often including but not limited to anxiety, autism, ADHD and OCD. Founding coordinator Nancy Gray had a vision of what was needed to help neurodiverse learners thrive in college. Although Nancy Gray passed away in the past year, she is greatly missed and the work she started will continue at NMC. The NSC serves essential roles in helping NMC’s neurodiverse students find a calm place on campus to decompress and hang out with friends, as well as offering assistance for life and study skills.
Please join the HRC in celebrating the honorees on Monday, May 18, 2026, in the 2nd Floor Training Room located in the Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue at 5:30 pm. Following, awards will be presented at the City Commission meeting at 7:00 pm.