Kick-off Extravaganza for the Grassroutes Caravan II to Detroit

Sunday, June 6th, 4-10 PM
Kick-off Extravaganza for the Grassroutes Caravan II to Detroit
Contact: Kristine Pettersen, thistle@riseup.net, tel. 608 316 5822

Just Coffee Warehouse and parking lot, 1129 East Wilson St, Madison WI 53703

"It was the incredible success of the last Grassroutes Caravan that made us want to do this again," proclaims Kristine Pettersen, who devoted a year of her life to organizing a two-week bicycle ride from Madison, Wisconsin to St. Paul, Minnesota. In the summer of 2008 over 40 people came together with her on that ride, and now she is preparing for a similar caravan from Madison, Wisconsin to the U.S. Social forum in Detroit, Michigan

"Caravans like this one, which will organize a large group of diverse people around consensus decision-making and volunteerism, require dedication, passion, lots of advance planning, and, of course, some money," according to Pettersen. "We wanted to create an event prior to the trip that would both raise money and celebrate the upcoming journey to Detroit."

Madison's annual Ride the Drive on June 6, which invites citizens to leave their cars bike, walk, wheel chair, skate or stroll one of the city's most busy auto thoroughfares, will be a perfect lead-up for this event. The event will follow at Just Coffee, on Madison's east side.

Money raised at the Kick-off at Just Coffee will be used to help the caravanistas in their goal of reaching the U.S. Social Forum, a pro-democracy gathering taking place in Detroit from June 22-26.

"The main idea of the Social Forum, which started as an annual get-together of world communities and organizations in Brazil, is that 'another world is possible,'" remarked eager caravanista Seth Jensen. In Detroit, the imperative that “Another U.S. is Necessary” has been added to the Social Forum's idea. "We take those ideas very seriously. When you consider all the volunteer stops we have planned, the cultural exchange,the opportunities for relationship building, then we're really talking about much more than a bicycle ride. I like to call it a mobile village."

Bands confirmed for Just Coffee's June 6th Bike Ride Kick-Off event: Taki Allstars, Tani and the Malian Blues Band, the Raging Grannies, Layfigure, Corey Hart and Thistle and the Thorn. A Piñata in the shape of a Hummer has been confirmed for smashing! Bike-powered smoothies are still waiting confirmation. Event sponsored by WORT 89.9 FM, the Elements Collective, Family Farm Defenders, Drumlin Farm Producers Co-op, Peaceful Marketing, Groundwork, Rainbow Co-op, and the Madison Infoshop.

Learn More:

Ride the Drive: http://www.cityofmadison.com/transportation/ridethedrive/
U.S. Social Forum: http://www.ussf2010.org/
Madtown2Motown Grassroutes Caravan: http://www.grassroutescaravan.org/