Gladys Muhammad’s life’s work aligns beautifully with the mission of REAL Services—advancing independence and strengthening communities, particularly for older adults and families in need of support. Over her decades of service with the South Bend Heritage Foundation, she focused on revitalizing under-resourced neighborhoods, empowering residents, and fostering safe, stable housing. Her efforts helped create environments where families could thrive, promoting the kind of long-term stability and independence that REAL Services strives to support every day.
Her commitment to serving vulnerable populations is evident in her leadership to establish a shelter for women experiencing domestic violence. That initiative provided safety, dignity, and new beginnings for women in crisis—work that echoes REAL Services’ own dedication to protecting and supporting individuals who too often go unseen.
Gladys has also made a lasting impact through cultural education and community celebration. She was instrumental in creating South Bend’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, ensuring that the values of justice, equity, and service are lifted up and passed on. These ideals are deeply woven into the fabric of REAL Services’ work, particularly in its efforts to build inclusive, respectful communities.
Her work has consistently shown deep respect for older adults, empowering them to lead and remain connected to their communities. This mirrors REAL Services’ goal of helping people age in place with dignity and engagement, through programs like senior center programming, caregiver support, and care management.
Finally, Gladys Muhammad’s influence reaches across generations. Whether through mentoring youth or organizing community initiatives, she has cultivated intergenerational bonds that strengthen families and neighborhoods alike. Her enduring commitment to uplifting others truly exemplifies the spirit of service we celebrate through the Age of Excellence.
Gladys has received numerous national and local awards:
The state of Indiana’s Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s Golden Hoosiers Award, the South Bend Hall of Fame, “I Love SB” award from the South Bend Museum of Art. She has also received an Inclusive Excellence Award from Elkhart’s Thought Leadership Conference Committee and several Keys to the City of South Bend and St Joseph County.
More recent prestigious recognitions include the 2022 Center for Hospice Care’s Helping Hands “Honoring a Life of Service to the Community” Award, the 2023 National Dorothy Richardson Award from NeighborWorks America. Additionally, she was featured in PBS WNIT’s 2024 Legends of Michiana documentary series and acknowledged in the 2024 April digital edition of Essence Magazine for her integral role in fundraising toward the establishment of a permanent Harriet Tubman Statute in South Bend’s Howard Park. In 2025, Notre Dame’s community entrepreneurship program (via the McKenna Center) was renamed The Gladys Blake Muhammad Community Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs.