The Traverse City Human Rights Commission (HRC) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award and the Humanitarian Business/Organization Award. Immigration Law & Justice Michigan Legal Director Marcello Betti has won the former, while HelpLink (formerly Spark in the Dark) and the Neurodiversity Support Center (NSC) at Northwestern Michigan College won the latter.

The Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award award honors individuals who embody the HRC’s core values of mutual understanding, respect, and inclusivity in the community. Marcelo Betti (pictured) 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. 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.

The Humanitarian Business/Organization 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. Two organizations are being recognized in 2026. 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.

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. 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.

The HRC will honor the recipients on Monday, May 18 at 5:30pm in the second floor training room of the Governmental Center. Awards will be publicly presented that evening at the city commission's 7pm meeting.