CHICAGO, March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- All lanes at I-90/94 & 47th Street will come to a halt Saturday morning, April 16th as Chicago area motorcyclist escort tour buses filled with area youth en route to historically black colleges and universities.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110322/DC69796 )

The 13th annual PUSH Excel HBCU tour marks the 3rd year Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE has supported the program with a motorcycle motorcade escort.

Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE™ is an awareness campaign that culminates with a motorcycle event in local communities across the nation.  Originating in Chicago, Illinois, October 2008, Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE™ is the official programmatic thrust of the World of Soul Motorcycle Community™ as sanctioned by Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE, Inc.  

Members of the World of Soul Motorcycle Community™ organization spearhead Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE™ under the name Riders United to Serve Humanity™ and have sponsored the opportunity for youth to take this trip with their financial support in the past.  World of Soul Motorcycle Community's founder Terry Hardy states, "It's a unique approach to encourage collaboration.  The project establishes teamwork among motorcycle groups that would not ordinarily work together, taking the motorcycle community to places it would not ordinarily go accomplishing community goals as a group in a manner they would not ordinarily embark upon."

The motorcycle motorcade winds through historically minority, underserved and underprivileged communities to draw attention to urban conditions.

The awareness component has focused on the issue of violence which as its founder notes, "is not always physical."

In 2009 the campaign expanded for the first time outside of Chicago into Atlanta, Georgia where its motorcade ended at the King Center for Non Violent Social Change for a wreath laying ceremony and presentation at Dr. King's place of rest alongside King's nephew Isaac Ferris, then president and CEO.

The following year, The Greenwood District, site of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma was highlighted with an appearance reflecting upon the race riot of 1921.  The National Civil Rights Museum at the Loraine Motel in Memphis was another stop with a tour and brief presentation under the balcony where Dr. King was assassinated.  Then there was the Underground Railroad in Wilmington, Delaware.  

Terry Hardy who is also the national director of Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE™ went on to say, "Each city allows for the opportunity to connect with a local not-for-profit organization to raise awareness about issues plaguing our communities and those solution providers who require community support to continue their important work."

In Wilmington, the Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE™ motorcycle motorcade run was hosted by Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson and Delaware Futures was the benefit charity for the event. Twenty-five Delaware Futures rising sophomore high school students, four parent volunteers, and staff members were on hand to help with registration and greet motorcyclists. "While delighted to be the recipient charity and only to dream about one day joining the "movement", for the students an added bonus at Mike's Famous was to explore a beautiful showroom filled with Harleys of every kind and cyclist gear. Participants in the event left a profound impression on the Delaware Futures students. The determination of cyclists from Delaware and as far away as North Carolina, must be mentioned, as they braved an incredible rain storm to make Delaware's inaugural run a success," said Delaware Futures' executive director M. Denise Tolliver.

Push Excel's HBCU tour provides opportunity through exposure. "With the many challenges facing young people we felt a need to step forward with an encouraging statement that says we care and support the pursuit of higher education, as education is key to solving many of the issues plaguing our communities.  By providing this symbolic 'safe passage' to school we can begin to reconcile some issues out there by reconciling the images we are projecting by making a connection between youth and adults in a positive manner. We invite civic-minded riders to join us to help make an indelible impression by showing our youth support on this day," said Terry Hardy.

Their goal is to encourage communication on issues that matter and combine resources to make a difference in local communities.  Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE™ is seeking to expand into as many cities as possible where it can establish local leadership using the broad-based coalition model.  Events in New York, Las Vegas, Portsmouth, Miami, Baltimore, Houston, Louisville, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Detroit, Indianapolis and others have been added with the final 2011 event planned for October 15th back in Chicago where it started at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.  

Kickstands will rise at one o'clock sharp.

About Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE™

Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE™ is an awareness campaign that culminates with a motorcycle event in local communities across America.  Originating in Chicago, Illinois, October 2008, Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE™ is the official programmatic thrust of the World of Soul Motorcycle Community™ as sanctioned by Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE, Inc.   Ride for CHANGE-Ride for HOPE partners with local nonprofits addressing the needs of at-risk-youth.

About World of Soul Motorcycle Community™

World of Soul Motorcycle Community is a national/international membership-based association of motorcyclist whose mission is to examine and promote the recreation of motorcycling; the environment and spirit of the motorcycle community. To add redeemable value to the bikers' experience by addressing issues significant to the community while uniting bikers with community organizations and commercial industries.  

www.worldofsoulmc.com

Sponsored by Law Tigers with the assistance of the Illinois Department of Transportation, state and local police agencies.

SOURCE World of Soul Motorcycle Community