Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News

Detroit — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder dropped by U.S. Appeals Judge Damon Keith's 24th annual Soul Food Luncheon today, saying Detroit needs to be on the path to being a "great city" for Michigan to reinvent itself.

"Part of the quality of place [[for the reinvention of Michigan) is having Detroit on a path of being a great city and we are going to have that happen again," said Snyder.

Snyder, who has repeatedly reached out to Detroit, is the first Republican governor to attend the event. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, attended in 2004, when then U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Detroit, received an award.

During his short speech, Snyder applauded Keith's history as a judge and mentor to younger lawyers and judges, calling him a "role model."

"You are a legend in our community," said Snyder told Keith. "We can all learn from and use you as a guide."

Snyder added that "we need to celebrate all the state's diverse history and Judge Keith has been a part of that."

More than an estimated 500 people, many from metro Detroit's legal, business and civic arenas, attended the event in Keith's chambers downtown.
Faye Nelson, the president and CEO of The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, was honored during the luncheon.

"This is a very special occasion. As we honor Faye Nelson it is symbolic of the Soul Food honorees of the past including Aretha Franklin [[and) Rosa Parks…" said Keith during the program. The event included a catered buffet of standard soul food cuisine, and a 11/2 hour-long program recognizing the guest of honor and others in the legal community. "We acknowledge during Black History month those blacks who have done so well and made us so very proud.

Nelson, who attended the event with her two daughters, her husband and a sister, said she was proud to receive the honor.

"What a privilege and wonderful gesture of love and support," Nelson said.

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy oversees the restoration and has permanent stewardship of the Detroit riverfront. The restoration of the riverfront includes the RiverWalk, newly-created green space, and several miles of walking areas where families and individuals can enjoy the Detroit River.