Spirited effort-- 'Soul Food' event

By Tom Kirvan Legal News She has been recognized as an "Unsung Hero" in metro Detroit circles, a true "Shining Light" for her distinguished work as president and CEO of The Skillman Foundation, an organization whose mission is to "improve the lives of children . . . by strengthening their schools and neighborhoods." Next week, Carol Goss will step into the spotlight again, this time as the recipient of the "Soul and Spirit Humanitarian Award," an honor to be presented to the Detroit native by Governor Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Damon J. Keith. The occasion will be Judge Keith's 23rd annual Soul Food Luncheon, an event he began in 1988 to honor exceptional black men and women, many of whom have placed particular value on the importance of community service throughout their professional careers. The luncheon, traditionally held during Black History Month, is expected to attract more than 400 federal, state and local dignitaries to the United States Courthouse in Detroit to the invitation-only event. "Carol will be joining an impressive list of previous winners that includes such people as Rosa Parks, Coleman Young, Dennis Archer, Arthur Johnson, Sam Logan, Aretha Franklin, Willie Horton, Joe Dumars, and Dave Bing," said Keith, a member of the federal Court of Appeals bench since 1977. "Her work on behalf of the youth of this city and region has been exemplary." Goss, a graduate of Chadsey High School, earned her bachelor and master degrees from the University of Michigan. Before joining The Skillman Foundation in 1998, Goss worked at the Stuart Foundation in San Francisco and as program director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek. She previously worked in various child welfare, family services, and youth development capacities in Detroit and California. Six years after joining Skillman, Goss was named president and CEO of the organization that has assets of $600 million and an annual grants budget of $30 million. In 2008, according to The Skillman Foundation, Goss was selected as the Eleanor Josaitis "Unsung Hero" recipient as part of the Shining Light Awards. Sponsored by The Detroit Free Press and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, the Shining Light Awards were launched in 2007 and "honor individuals who are making important contributions to regional cooperation, progress and understanding in metropolitan Detroit." Last year, Ed Welburn, vice president of Global Design for General Motors, was honored with the Soul and Spirit Humanitarian Award. A graduate of Howard University, Welburn was the first African American to hold the post for the giant automaker and has been credited with helping the company land a series of car and truck of the year awards from some of the nation's leading trade publications. Governor Granholm, a former law clerk for Keith, will be on hand for the luncheon, which features a menu of fried chicken, black-eyed peas, corn bread, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and other soul food delicacies. "This is an event that started out as a very small gathering and has just mushroomed over the years," said Keith, who in 2008 received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Harvard University. "It is an opportunity to pay tribute to a black man or woman from the Detroit area who has achieved greatness and can serve as a role model for others in the black community." Published: Fri, Feb 12, 2010

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