P Lanette Pinkard known as (Momma Nette, or Ms. Lanette), feels she is most privileged to have been raised by her loving grandparents who were deaf. In the 70’s, Emroy V. Clay and Marion E. Boyd were the president and vice-president of the only African-American Deaf Club, “The Detroit Silent Club” and was a strong role model for many of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Deaf-blind members who hung out at her house all the time.
Growing up in an all deaf environment, watching her grandmother give countless of hours for the Deaf Community as a mentor, counselor, a spiritual mom and a friend truly shaped the way she relates to people, events, struggles and vision. Ms. Clay, her grandmother had a heart of gold and was the only Deaf recipient of the “Heart of Gold” reward from the city of Detroit’s Mayor Coleman Young for her volunteer work in the community. Her grandfather, Marion E. Boyd was a Deaf champion boxer in the 50’s and a great provider for our family. He has a heart of limitless giving for his family.
In her upbringing Ms. Lanette remembers how her grandparents were treated prior to the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and seeing them prevail in spite of it, embedded a determination in her to be the best she can be, never forget where she came from and always do what she can to help others along the way to succeed and pass it on.
