By Staff
GRAND RAPIDS - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan announced that U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Chiara has been inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
Chiara, a former Cass County prosecutor, was one of 10 women who received this prestigious recognition.
The Michigan Women's Hall of Fame and a related Michigan Women's Historical Center were founded in 1973 to recognize that Michigan has produced a number of remarkable women whose accomplishments and contributions to the welfare of this state have been of major significance.
The Michigan Women's Hall of Fame is intended to provide both the means and the opportunity of redressing the inequities of history.
It also serves as a stimulus for increasing public awareness of the vital role Michigan women have played, and continue to play, in the state's development.
Barbara K. Hackett, retired federal district court judge, presented Chiara to more that 500 persons who attended the ceremony at the Kellogg Center on Oct. 25.
In her introduction, Judge Hackett commented, “We celebrate Margaret Mary Chiara this evening not only because of her ‘firsts' and her many accomplishments with our state but, importantly, we honor her because she is a dedicated public servant of great courage, tenacity, compassion and integrity. In a word, Margaret Mary Chiara belongs in the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.”
When accepting the Hall of Fame Medallion and Certificate of Tribute, Chiara stated, “For those of us who believe in public service our lifetime commitment is to make the system or institution work for the public it is intended to serve. During my tenure as the presidentially-appointed United States Attorney and previously as an elected Michigan prosecuting attorney, I strive to remember who I serve and why, and also to remember not only what I fight against but what I am fighting for. My bottom line is encapsulated in the question, Am I making the correct decision? Rather than, How will it play?”
During her tenure as U.S. Attorney, Chiara has focused her effort on expanding and improving services to people in the 49 counties that constitute the Western District of Michigan.
Her primary objective has been to select, train and retain attorneys and staff who possess an ethic of excellence and provide superior legal service on behalf of the United States.
Chiara instituted a gun violence reduction program known as Project Safe Neighborhoods, for which she returned to Cassopolis; she revitalized service to Indian Country; and established BRIDGES of Western Michigan, which is a forum for Arab Americans and Muslims to communicate with federal law enforcement and others on matters of mutual interest and concern.