DETROIT – The Mack Alive Community Resource Center is marking its 35th anniversary this year, a milestone celebrated, in part, by the much-anticipated Mack Alive Parade set for Saturday, August 23. The parade draws thousands to Detroit’s East Side for a vibrant day centered on community connection and positivity.
Former State Representative Alberta Tinsley-Talabi, founder of Mack Alive, reflected on the event’s longevity.
“This parade…35 years. It’s lasted longer than most marriages. We are so excited about this parade, ”Tinsley-Talabi said.
Preparations around the Mack Alive Center on Detroit’s East Side are in full swing as volunteers rally to ensure a successful event.
“It is a continuation of the love that we have for our community,” Tinsley-Talabi explained.
The parade procession will line Mack Avenue from St. Jean to East Grand Boulevard, featuring participants and floats that celebrate the people of the community and highlight the vital services the Mack Alive Resource Center has offered over the decades.
Volunteer Valerie Brunson shared a preview of the festive lineup.
“We have the Boots on the Ground dancers coming. We have all types of motorcycles going to be in the parade. We are giving away stuff at the end for the kids. Free barbers. It’s going to be a good time,” Brunson said.
Organizers underscore their commitment to focusing on community love, particularly in light of recent incidents of gun violence drawing attention citywide, including on the East Side.
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison amplified those efforts with a firm pledge earlier this week.
“Guess what, y’all, I’m a promise keeper. And I promise to get these offenders off the street,” Bettison said during his Walk a Mile Wednesday event on Detroit’s East Side. The Police Chief explained that in a recent crackdown, officers executed 11 search warrants, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of more than 30 high-powered firearms.
“We retrieved a lot of guns. Upwards of past 30. I won’t give the specific number. But we got a lot of high-powered weapons off the street,” Chief Bettison explained.
Chief Bettison is also set to serve as one of the Grand Marshalls for the parade, reinforcing the event’s focus on positivity, celebration, and putting people first.
Dana Johnson of Mack Alive called the event a unifying community effort.
“Again, this is a community effort. So, we’re calling all boots on the ground,” Johnson said.
The Mack Alive Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, with the route stretching from St. Jean to East Grand Boulevard. Following the parade, a community rally will be held at Mack and East Grand starting at 11 a.m.
Leading up to the big day, a Praise in the Park event is scheduled for Friday evening, August 22, at 5:30 p.m. outside the Mack Alive Center at 3746 Fischer Street in Detroit, MI.
For more details and updates, visit the Mack Alive Facebook page here.