By Krystal Moralee
St. Clair County is defined visually by its rich agricultural land, industry, and the blue water of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River, but the heart of the county lies in its vibrant small towns where roots run deep.
Communities like Capac, Emmett, Yale, Marysville, Marine City, and Algonac are places where people still recognize each other at the grocery store and pause to talk in the parking lot, donate to the local youth baseball team, and chip in to help someone get back on their feet after a fire or accident. Actions like these, repeated over time, form the threads that weave a community into a strong network of neighbors.
Sisters Emily Vinckier-Pierce and Elizabeth Vinckier-Kersten are part of that fabric. They live and work here and have found purpose in contributing in other ways as well, including as volunteers for the Community Foundation.
“I think St. Clair County is big enough for great opportunities, but small enough to feel like you can make a difference,” Emily said.
Emily lives in Emmett with her husband and four young children. She returned to the area in 2016 and opened her State Farm agency the following year, building it on what she calls a strong commitment to helping the community. That commitment didn’t come out of nowhere. She and Elizabeth grew up in Yale, where volunteering wasn’t something extra – it was simply part of life.
“Our parents have always taught us the importance of giving back and using your time and talents to make the world a better place,” Emily said. “We grew up spending time volunteering at school and church, so it’s always been a part of our lives.”
That foundation followed both sisters into adulthood, even as their paths briefly took them elsewhere. Elizabeth earned her undergraduate and dental degrees at the University of Michigan and spent several years working near Kalamazoo before feeling the pull back home. In 2019, she and her husband purchased the house she grew up in and settled their family of seven in Yale.
“I love both living and working in small towns,” Elizabeth said. “From familiar faces when you go anywhere to getting to know and care for generations of the same family, it truly feels like a community.”
That sense of connection runs through nearly every part of their lives. For Emily, it’s in the everyday rhythm of Emmett – neighbors who know her children by name, teachers who greet them with enthusiasm, and a pace that allows people to stop and talk. For Elizabeth, it’s found in her dental practice in Capac and in winter nights spent in the stands, watching her children light up when an older student or coach takes the time to notice them.
It’s also what led both women, independently at first, to the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.
Emily’s introduction came through a simple coffee meeting and a curiosity about how she could get involved. She joined the Grants Committee in 2019 and now serves on the Board of Trustees. Elizabeth attended her first 100 Women Who Care event in 2017 and later joined the Women’s Initiative Committee, where she now serves as vice chair.
For both, the work quickly became something more than a meeting on the calendar.
“I absolutely love the work I get to do with the Community Foundation,” Emily said. “There is so much good happening in our area and volunteering with the Community Foundation gives me a front-row seat.”
Elizabeth echoed that sentiment. “I always leave meetings feeling better and more inspired than when I arrived,” she said. “It’s opened my eyes to the many good things going on in our community and the people working hard to make things better for all of us.”
Their involvement reflects a broader belief in local impact – that meaningful change begins right where you are, with the people you see every day.
“Sometimes the world’s problems seem so big,” Emily said. “But focusing on your own community can have a huge ripple effect for good.”
That effect is already visible in the work they’ve supported, from early childhood education and literacy efforts to collaborative community initiatives like Yale Area Heart and Soul. Just as important is what they’re modeling for their own children: Community isn’t something you passively belong to. It’s something you actively build.
For those considering getting involved, both sisters offer the same encouragement: start where you are. Whether it’s through the Community Foundation, a local nonprofit, or a cause that matters to you, your time and talents have a place here. In a community that already feels connected, your effort will be another thread that brings it even closer together.