Student-led nonprofit organization partnering with the NBA team to increase access for voters in Detroit
(Detroit, MI, Oct. 14, 2020) – Rise, a student-led nonprofit organization working to activate young people to vote, announced today the organization is running a voter mobilization bus in in the neighborhoods surrounding the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center in partnership with the Detroit Pistons.
Beginning today and running through Election Day, Rise will offer transportation via a Detroit Pistons wrapped bus which will run a continuous loop through the North End, Boston Edison, New Center and Midtown communities to take residents to the City of Detroit Department of Elections. The bus will run every hour Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on the weekends from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The designated route was identified to ensure young voters and those needing transportation have access to vote. The bus will have hand sanitizer and masks on board, and will operate at reduced capacity to maintain social distancing.
Rise, Detroit Pistons Voter Mobilization Bus Route:
- Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center, 690 Amsterdam St, Detroit, MI 48202
- City of Detroit Department of Elections, 2978 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202
- Traffic Jam & Snug, 511 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201
- Midtown, Detroit, MI 48202
- 14th-Marquette Playlot, Detroit, MI 48208
- Family Foods Super Store, 8665 Rosa Parks Blvd, Detroit, MI 48206
- Gordon Park, Detroit, MI 48206
- Voigt Park, Detroit, MI 48202
- Miss Virginia’s Ice Cream Parlor, 8801 Oakland Ave, Detroit, MI 48211
- NW Goldberg, Detroit, MI 48208
The route is subject to change, based on accessibility needs.
“Michigan voters are fired up and ready to vote, and we’re excited to partner with the Detroit Pistons to make sure everyone can get a ride to the polls,” said Max Lubin, CEO of Rise. “I’m especially grateful to Rise student organizers, the Detroit Pistons organization, and our community partners for bringing this collaboration to get out the vote to life.”
Rise and the Detroit Pistons will provide additional entertainment and programming on board the bus on Oct. 19, the online registration deadline for Michigan, and on Oct. 24 in recognition of National Vote Early Day and to promote the Pistons Fall Fest, which takes place at the PPC the same day.
“No voter should be prevented from going to the polls due to a lack of transportation,” said Erika Swilley, Vice President of Community and Social Responsibility for the Detroit Pistons. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to partner with Rise to help our neighbors—the residents of the North End, Midtown, Boston Edison and New Center communities—get registered and get to the polls to ensure their voices are heard.”
This year, Rise Michigan has led a youth vote engagement program mobilizing more than 12,000 college students and young people statewide. To learn more about Rise, visit www.risefree.org. To check voter registration and make a plan to vote, visit www.rise.vote.
For a complete repository of the Pistons’ voter engagement and social justice efforts, visit www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-social-justice-efforts.
-risefree.org-
