SEND-OFF Thursday, June 10th 8:30 am- 9:30 am

GRASSROUTES CARAVAN MADTOWN 2 MOTOWN

SEND-OFF OF THE VILLAGE
Media Contact: Kristine Pettersen

608 316 5822

thistle@riseup.net,

Website: www.grassroutescaravan.org

Thursday, June 10 from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, the Grassroutes Caravan: Madtown 2 Motown Bike Ride is gathering at the Willy Street Co-op rain garden in back of the building, 1221 Williamson Street, to say good bye to Madison before they ride to Lake Mills, the first stop on their journey to Detroit and the US Social Forum.

The Madtown 2 Motown ride has been in the works for over a year as local organizers planned the route, found community service projects to support along the way, recruited riders, and raised funds. "Caravans like this one, which organize a large group of diverse people around consensus decision-making and volunteerism, require dedication, passion and lots of advance planning," according to Abby Davidson a member of the Elements Collective, the organizing committee for the ride.

"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. "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." And as with any village the hearth is central to success so the Grassroutes Caravan is working with the Skills Tour (www.permibus.org) to provide food and medical support along the way as well as trainings in the communities the caravan is visiting.

This is the second ride organized by the Grassroutes Caravan. "The incredible success of the last Grassroutes Caravan 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 for the RNC in 2008. “Over 40 people came together for that ride and it was such a beautiful community building experience we are excited to offer this opportunity to others.” And so far over 30 people are taking advantage of the opportunity with over 20 people biking the entire route and participating in 7 community events along the way.

Learn More:
Madtown2Motown Grassroutes Caravan: http://www.grassroutescaravan.org/