Thanks for an amazing 25th Anniversary Gala

Thank you to everyone who could join us last Thursday night to celebrate 25 years of TRU!

We want to give a shout out to our amazing volunteers who helped decorate the venue, the staff of Bellagio for doing an amazing job, and to the Ann Arbor Community High Jazz Band for their wonderful live music prior to the program. Without any of them, our Gala wouldn’t have been possible.

We started off the event with some statements honoring TRU’s founding family, and our special guests, the Kendrick-Hands Family! Steve, Karen, and Larry all gave interviews on what TRU was like when it was first founded 25 years ago, what it’s become, and how TRU has impacted Detroit.

Nicole Brown, President of TRU’s Board, took stage next to thank our sponsors, and pass the torch onto Robert Cramer, City of Detroit Director of Transit. Robert has been one of the regions longest serving transit heads, previously leading SMART in the 2010s and currently leading both the People Mover and DDOT. While he was talking about his experience with TRU over the past decades, Megan presented him with a Transit Champion pin, to recognize his service as a champion for transit in Detroit.

Up next was Deb, TRU’s Assistant Director. Deb spotlighted TRU’s board of directors and partnerships. Dozens of people have served on TRU’s board over the years, including, but not limited to:

PS: If you’d like to join this list, TRU will begin recruiting for our board next year! Learn more on our board recruitment page.

TRU has many, many, many partnerships in the community, from grassroots allies, local businesses, major corporations, city government, state leaders, and transit agencies. To highlight this work, we worked with SMART to produce a video highlighting our work together, and presented SMART’s General Manager Tiffany Gunter with a transit champion pin. Then, Megan Owens, TRU’s Executive Director, took a moment to recognize everyone in the room and their service to the transit community, and Conan Smith, Michigan Environmental Councils Executive Director, joined her to have a conversation about coalition work.

TRU has been part of many coalitions in the past and present. Currently, we’re part of the local Double DDOT coalition, the statewide Clean Rides Network, and the national Towards Equitable Electric Mobility (TEEM), as part of the Michigan cohort. And while we’re figuring out the final details, we’re excited to announce the launch of a statewide transit coalition as our next step in coalition building, giving a voice for transit advocacy for everyone throughout Michigan!

Up next was Za’Nyia Kelly, TRU’s Engagement Manager, who took a second to appreciate the hard work of our volunteers. TRU’s Communications Associate, Theresa De Benedetti, also made a video highlighting our interns from past and present, and where they’ve gone onto now thanks to their time at TRU. If you want to join our awesome volunteer team, let us know! And check out TRU’s intern opportunities when they’re posted.

Joel Batterman, TRU’s Campaigns Manager, took a moment to remember those who were part of our family but have since passed on. We wish all of our friends could be here with us today, but their memory and service to our fellow bus riders will never be forgotten. We’ll remember everyone who has touched our hearts over the years, but give special recognition to Marcia Yakes, Jack Schram, Tommy Meadows, Mark Flanders, Brother Tom Zerafa, and Anna Holden.

After a moment of remembrance, Ben Stupka, president of the RTA, and Megan took the stage to discuss the progress metro Detroit has made in the past 25 years, and the joys of transit plans!

Up next came Tim Killeen, Wayne County Commissioner, and Assad Turfe, Wayne County Deputy Executive, to present TRU a testimonial resolution from Wayne County, acknowledging our service in the community! Then Dave Woodward, Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair, Megan, and Assad talked about what’s next for transit in metro Detroit, including fighting to end Wayne County opt-outs next year, Double DDOT and 10 minute frequencies on key routes, expanding our statewide coalition, and some state reforms like increased state transit investment, fixing MDOT’s priorities to balance transit and cars, and improving cross-state transit.

Karen Kendrick-Hands, the TRU board, and TRU staff worked together on the next surprise addition to the program: Presenting Megan an award for 20 years of service as a transit advocate!

Finally, the program ended with TRU board members Farai Gundan and Gillian Gainsley took a moment to ask our guests to become a sustaining member of TRU. Our work is possible thanks to our monthly members, and without them we’d be unable to fight to expand transit throguhout metro Detroit and Michigan. Consider becoming a member of TRU today!

Thanks to everyone that could make it! We can’t wait to celebrate 25 more years one day, and are honored to have such an amazing community.