*Comedian Bill Cosby and the Rev. Jesse Jackson joined syndicated radio personality Rickey Smiley in Detroit Thursday for the city’s second annual Back to School parade and rally downtown.
Scores of parents, teachers and kids sporting blue “I’m In” T-shirts marched along Woodward in a parade that culminated with the rally at Hart Plaza, reports the Detroit News.
The crowd cheers Rev. Wendell Anthony as he gives an inspirational speech. (Brandy Baker/ The Detroit News)
DPS supporters ride on a Motown float down Woodward. (Brandy Baker/ The Detroit News)
Marching bands from Detroit School of Arts, Martin Luther King Jr. and Cass Tech also participated in the rally, which is part of the district’s efforts to retain students for its “I’m In” enrollment campaign.
Jailah Lemon, 8, dances to the DPS singers. (Brandy Baker/ The Detroit News)
The district is seeking to target 77,313 students for this fall. Officials said last year’s campaign exceeded expectations by bringing in 830 additional students and generating about $6.2 million for the financially strapped district.
