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BENTON HARBOR — OutCenter Southwest Michigan is celebrating two local leaders and one organization at this year’s PrideFest events in Dowagiac, Niles, and Saint Joseph. 

This is the inaugural year for annual awards that aims to celebrate a commitment to equality, authenticity, and the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights and shines a spotlight on contributions to inclusion and acceptance for all in Southwest Michigan. 

The PrideFest Awardees for 2025 are: 

• Mayor Don Lyons (he/him), Dowagiac: City mayor, LGBTQ+ ally and proud father of a lesbian daughter. Lyons Lyons has been mayor of Dowagiac for more than 25 years. In that time, he has worked hard to make Dowagiac a welcoming and inclusive community. From fostering relationships with underserved communities, to encouraging and supporting events like PrideFest and the Black Family Celebration, Lyons has made sure marginalized communities have felt safe to speak up and make their voices heard in the Dowagiac community. 

“I was determined that [Dowagiac] was going to be a welcoming community,” Lyons said. “It was going to be one that this creative class of people would want to come to, would want to invest in, would want to be part of…. This was clearly a choice that was being made between trying to hold on to the past… and embracing the future: embracing the future of creativity, of inclusivity, and variety in all of its many forms.” 

• City Councilperson Jessica Nelson (they/them), Niles: LGBTQ+ community member and a lifelong Niles resident by choice, Jessica has been involved in building and strengthening the Niles community for many years. They previously served on the council from 2018 to 2022, and returned in 2024. 

“A strong and resilient community doesn’t happen by accident; it takes deliberate action to cultivate trust and build relationships. When we work together to promote fairness, raise public policy awareness, and foster spaces that attract our diverse population to collaborate, we all benefit,” says Nelson. 

• St. Joe Today, Saint Joseph: “We are deeply humbled and honored to receive this inaugural award from the Outcenter. Our work is rooted in the simple belief that a welcoming place for everyone is the foundation of a strong community. To be recognized for our commitment to 

placemaking—creating a space where every person feels they belong—is the highest compliment we could receive. We were proud to assist in finding a home for this year’s Twin Cities PrideFest and look forward to continuing to build a vibrant and inclusive St. Joseph for all.” 

“The work of local elected leaders and civic organizations committed to equality has always mattered to the LGBTQ+ community,” says MaryJo Schnell, Executive Director of OutCenter. “Lyons, Jessica, and the team at St. Joe Today has been working to create more inclusive communities across our area. OutCenter is grateful to their efforts and celebrates their wisdom, commitment, and dedication to our shared mission. Join us for PrideFest 2025 as we celebrate the enormous contributions from these leaders.” 

PrideFest 2025 Awardees: 

Don Lyons, Mayor, Dowagiac

“As you get to know us better, what you’ll find Dowagiac is: a community that builds roads and bridges and not walls; a community that welcomes everyone, regardless of what god they may pray to or whether or not they pray at all; a community that welcomes everyone, regardless of who they may choose for their life partner; a community that welcomes everyone regardless of the color of their skin; a community that welcomes everyone regardless of their gender identification; a community that doesn’t fear the future but embraces it knowing that the changes the future brings will also bring opportunities to make  Dowagiac a better community; and a community where everyone is treated with dignity respect. “

Jessica Nelson, City Council Member, Niles

“A strong and resilient community doesn’t happen by accident; it takes deliberate action to cultivate trust and build relationships. When we work together to promote fairness, raise public policy awareness, and foster spaces that attract our diverse population to collaborate, we all benefit. My focus as your representative is to be a bridge between the needs and desires of the citizens and the work of the City staff, so that we can all thrive in this wonderful place we call home.” 

St. Joseph Today, St. Joseph

“We welcome and value every voice as an integral part of our growing, changing, and diverse community.  We recognize that people’s experiences have contributed to our past, shape our present, and can change and improve our future. We recognize that because of individual stories, our common story is stronger.  We acknowledge the strength of our community’s narrative is based on the fact that it is a shared narrative. Any voice can change our  community and all voices have a part in shaping our community.”