Detroit’s NAACP branch is once again at the forefront of a powerful movement, channeling the energy of faith, civic, and corporate organizations to reignite voter excitement in the city. The stakes are high for the 2024 General Election, and this community is making it clear that they will show up. The NAACP Detroit Branch, a pillar of strength and leadership, is leading a coalition designed to ensure Detroit’s voices are heard loud and clear.
On Saturday, October 26, they’re hosting an event that merges music and voter engagement: the Take Your Soles to the Polls Concert & Festival. Set at Renaissance High School, this free event promises to be a celebration of culture, unity, and civic duty. Detroit will be the stage for a lineup featuring local and national artists like Doug E. Fresh, Babyface Ray, Charity, Slum Village, DJ Jus, and a host of surprise guests. It’s an opportunity to connect the rhythm of music with the rhythm of democracy.
Beyond the beats, the day is about so much more. It’s about showing up, taking part, and realizing the power that each vote holds. Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, President of the NAACP Detroit Branch, says it best: “This event is an opportunity for the community to be excited, uplifted, and understand the power that we have when we get out and vote.” The words are a call to action—an invitation for every Detroiter to become part of the movement and make their voice heard at the ballot box.
But the event isn’t just about entertainment. It’s about access. Alongside the festivities will be practical resources to help ensure everyone in the community can vote. Shuttles will be available to transport attendees from the festival to the Early Vote Center at Wayne County Community College District Northwest Campus. Registered voters can cast their ballots, while those not yet registered will have the opportunity to register and vote on the same day. This is about breaking down every barrier between Detroiters and their right to vote.
The concert and festival will also feature a trunk-or-treat candidates festival, resource tables, and food trucks to engage attendees of all ages. The atmosphere will be electric—music, food, and a deep sense of community all centered around the singular goal of voter mobilization.
There’s no question that this event represents the ongoing work of the NAACP Detroit Branch’s Take Your Soles to the Polls campaign. Launched in 1997 under the leadership of Rev. Anthony, the campaign has spent more than two decades focusing on four pillars: registration, education, mobilization, and protection. These pillars speak to the heart of what the campaign is about. It’s about expanding the electorate through voter registration, educating the community on their voting rights, mobilizing voters to turn out in every election, and ensuring that every single vote is counted.
This long-standing campaign has gained nationwide attention. Its impact reaches beyond Detroit, inspiring similar efforts across the country. The NAACP Detroit Branch understands that democracy thrives when communities are fully engaged, when barriers to voting are dismantled, and when every person recognizes the significance of their voice at the ballot.
The Take Your Soles to the Polls Concert & Festival will energize the city, but its legacy will extend beyond a single day. Detroiters have always been at the forefront of change. The music, the excitement, and the celebration of civic engagement on October 26 will be another chapter in that ongoing story.
What’s clear is that this coalition, formed through the efforts of Detroit’s faith, civic, and corporate leaders, knows that the future of Detroit—and the nation—depends on participation. With sponsors ranging from the DTE Foundation to the Detroit Pistons and UAW, this event is backed by a powerful network of organizations committed to the city’s future.
As the 2024 General Election draws near, the NAACP Detroit Branch is determined to ensure that Detroiters are not just spectators but active participants in the democratic process. The Take Your Soles to the Polls Concert & Festival is one more way the city is rallying its residents to take control of their future, one vote at a time.
Every Detroiter should mark this date, not just as a fun event but as a critical moment to step forward, raise their voice, and make sure they are counted. The fight for justice, representation, and equality in Detroit continues, and this concert is yet another reminder that Detroiters will always rise to the occasion. The question is: Will you take your soles to the polls?
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