Detroit Law Department ready for heart walk

By Thomas Franz BridgeTower Media Newswires DETROIT - In an effort to reach out to the community and promote an active, healthy lifestyle, the City of Detroit's Law Department has formed a team that will participate in the American Heart Association's Heart and Stroke Walk/Run May 12 in Detroit. Several other city departments will participate as part of a larger community building mission, said Cheryl Ronk, a member of the law department. "Mayor Duggan has wanted to have a more open relationship between the city and the people of Detroit, a more positive and happy relationship. By having the law department be a part of the community, we show that we are part of the city too and want the city to grow and be happy and successful," Ronk said. The city law department represents Detroit's police department and the city's interests in lawsuits filed against the city. Lawrence Garcia, new corporation counsel for the city, said the event is a good opportunity to raise the profile of the department. "I'm eager to let people know more about the department and to tout some of the successes of the department so people have a better sense of what we do. To some degree, the city law department is a diamond in the rough. It gets less attention than arguably it should given the bulk of work and the good outcomes we achieve in so many of the cases we handle," Garcia said. Garcia said the department is eager to walk with one of its longtime appellate attorneys, Sherri Whyte, who has battled a lengthy heart condition. "I'm especially proud we'll be walking with her and for her in the sense that she's a person who stands to benefit from the research that's done by the AHA," Garcia said. "She's not just a person walking in the event but she's also a beneficiary of the research being done because she has a major heart condition." Ronk said the department will have about 20 people participating as the "Heart of Justice" team in the walk/run event, which takes place at Wayne State University. Many others from the department have signed up to be volunteers while others have donated to those participating. "It seems to have created camaraderie around here," Ronk said. "Some people are designing shirts for everyone to wear. People are donating to each other and it's just sort of promoted camaraderie around everyone and everyone plans on showing up to the event and having a good time." As of April 23, the AHA's website showed that $910 had already been donated to the law department's team, which has a listed goal of $1,500. To donate, visit goo.gl/Gwb3mW. Published: Tue, May 01, 2018