Cindy Eggleton

A Positive Changemaker in the Society

Cindy Eggleton is one of those rare gems who feels that each person holds the power to make a positive and lasting impact on society. She is the co-founder of Brilliant Detroit, which aims to improve the lives of children and their families so that they can break the vicious cycle of poverty.

Cindy worked as leading education efforts at a local foundation. She saw what worked and what did not work. She felt that it was clear that changing paths early in life could change poverty from generation to generation. She met her co-founders, Jim and Carolyn Bellinson, and together, they knew a change was needed from the typical models. She says, “The statistics were clear: 14 percent of children in Detroit were reading at grade level, and over 30,000 kids at that time did not have any early learning options. We saw the problem as being a lack of coordination and access. Brilliant Detroit was launched as a unique delivery model for early childhood development by using underutilized housing stock to create early child and family centers in neighborhoods. The approach assures that the neighborhood and families have agency. In 2016, Brilliant Detroit was born to create kid-success neighborhoods. Today, neighbors come together in each location for fellowship, activities, and learning to assure school readiness and provide needed support for families.”

Her family came from poverty. Her mother was in a foster home until age 12. That said, her home was always a place of love and learning. From her dedicated parents, she learned that you need grit and resilience. They also taught her that you are put on this Earth to do better. Their guidance motivated her to become a first-generation high school graduate, create Brilliant Detroit, and help others achieve similar success. In short, she believes that hard work and the support of others leads to success.

What drives her passion is seeing the change that communities can achieve for themselves, both on a large scale and a family level. Through Brilliant Detroit, she sees people growing and breaking the poverty and education inequity cycles that are so challenging to overcome. Most of all, she sees communities coming together for mutual benefit, understanding that we are stronger and can achieve our collective dreams. That is what motivates her every day.

She recalls that her favorite moments at Brilliant Detroit are those when she can see the positive change that families are making in their own lives using her organization’s resources. She wakes up every day inspired by all the people she works alongside who are moving their lives forward. She proudly says, “We see this transformational change all the time. Caregivers join us as participants and then start volunteering their time and skills or join our staff to help spread our mission of Kid Success to more of their neighbors. It is truly energizing.”

Cindy has been bestowed with numerous awards and recognitions including Dr. Arthur L. Johnson Leadership Award from Wayne State University (2016), American Express Global Leaders Member (2017), Silver Stevie Award-Woman of the Year–Government or Nonprofit (2018), Crain’s Detroit Business Notable Women in Nonprofits in Michigan (2018), The Skillman Foundation’s 50 People Who Represent the Heart of Detroit (2018), Authority Health’s Best of the HealthNet (2018), Promising Ventures Fellow (2020), Catalyst Fellow–Stand Together Foundation (2020), AARP Purpose Prize (2021), Elevate Prize Winner (2023) and the Alternatives for Girls Role Model (2025).

Cindy shares her biggest learning and lists down a few of them, including:

• Listen: People know what they need. I used to think I needed to know a lot, but I just needed to listen.
• Be Present: I once asked various people what they needed from me and wanted to be more present. It has made all the difference in my work and personal life.
• Relationships matter: This should speak for itself.
• Know yourself: This is one of the most important lessons for me. Knowing how and who you are about others is important.

For her, the most important quality of a leader is the ability to listen. At Brilliant Detroit, she believes that people have more to say about what is right for them than we could ever figure out. She mentions, “It is important to hear, to learn, and not to listen to talk or to tell. A good leader also builds up others, knowing each person has value and a unique perspective. Connecting with someone and learning about their ideas and backgrounds has inspired collaborations that I never would have imagined.”