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EDITOR'S NOTE: Throughout the year, the News Advocate is accepting nominations for the 2026 Community Champion award. Mick Szymanski was nominated in April. The public will vote for a winner later this year. You can nominate someone at bit.ly/ManisteeChampions.
Sarah Howard was nominated by Mary Haw.
When asked why she was nominating Howard, Haw nominator wrote that “Sarah has brought numerous programs to the senior center since becoming executive director. Prior to her arrival it was a place to have lunch; now there is a myriad of events and programs for seniors to participate in!”
Manistee News Advocate sat down with Howard at the Manistee County Council on Aging's Wagoner Community Center to learn more about her involvement in the community.
MNA: What is/was your occupation?
HOWARD: I am the executive director of the Manistee County Council on Aging. I do all kinds of things here, it just depends on the day.
MNA: What organizations are you involved in?
HOWARD: I am on the United Way Board and the hospital board, though that is new to me. I am also on the HSCB board, that being the Human Services Collaborative Board, I’m on the executive committee for that one, and go to the meetings as well. It’s a great way to find out what’s happening in our own community with service providers and all kinds of people who do nice care.
MNA: What does community mean to you?
HOWARD: Community to me is where we help each other. I miss the days where you could run next door and get a cup of sugar from a neighbor. We look out for each other and look out for our neighbors and help them thrive.
MNA: Why do you feel it’s important to be involved in the community?
HOWARD: The community is my home and my family’s home. I think we have to support each other in order for it to work. I think that if we are kind to our neighbors and work with our neighbors, meaning everybody, I look at our whole county as my neighbors, and we help them through difficult times, then they’ll help us through difficult times.
I think that’s the way we should be working, and that to me is what means a lot. I am partial to our seniors, so this to me feels like home. They all worry about you and we all take care of each other and if someone is having a bad day we know it and can somehow help them through that.
MNA: Any words of advice for someone looking to get involved?
HOWARD: I never thought I would be as involved as I am now, so I do think that it’s really important for young people to get involved. A lot of our programs and things that are going on in this community have people in their 70s and 80s who are running a lot of our different organizations and commissions and boards.
I look at young people and I know they’re so busy, as I have kids of my own who have kids of their own and they are busier than I ever was, with a full time job and children. But even if it’s two hours a week or two hours a month to give back to things in our community I think that really makes a difference.
Young people have so much more energy and so many great ideas. I love listening to them. So I think younger people should get involved however they can.
