Transit Truths: A Transit Equity Day Event

Apr 8, 2025

Transit Truths: A Transit Equity Day Event

Tiffany Fenner presenting her original artwork on the DTA bus.

Community members making Transit Equity Day artwork.

“Empathy Rides the Bus” artwork by DASH [Denfeld After School Happenings] students.

DASH students MCing Transit Truths: A Transit Equity Day Event.

On February 3rd, 2025, community members gathered at Denfeld High School for Duluth’s second annual Transit Equity Day celebration. Hosted on the birthday of Rosa Parks, the holiday is hosted to commemorate Parks, and other civil rights activists, efforts toward accessible, reliable, and affordable public transit.

This year, we heard from Denfeld students about the impacts of free transit. Freshman Bella Green spoke about her experience of being unable to pay bus fares and the added stress that brings. Bella pointed out that free fares would increase the reliability of student attendance as well as provide the ability for students to attend after-school activities. Latasaija Garner, a high school junior, emphasized the importance of reliable transportation for students, noting “It should be a right to be able to get to and from school, not a privilege.” While she no longer uses public transit, Latasaija finds herself advocating for free and equitable transportation for her fellow students as Denfeld’s Student School Board Representative. 

We also heard from local transportation activist Henry Banks, who serves on the ISD 709 School Board and is a former vice president of the Duluth Transit Authority board. A long-time advocate for equity-based changes in Duluth’s transportation, cultural, and educational resources, Henry recently pushed for free DTA bus fares for high school students and staff. This initiative, originally piloted in 2024, was greenlighted for an expanded year-and-a-half-long program through 2026. In his speech, Henry emphasized the importance of removing barriers for students trying to get to class or extracurricular activities, urging them to take full advantage of the opportunity to ride for free.

Read Denfeld High School Students Latasaija Garner’s and Bella Green’s Transit Equity Day 2025 speeches and watch a video recording of Henry Banks below!

The event was a joyful, community-filled experience including a free meal, bike mechanics and safety lessons, transportation-themed music, unveiling original artwork on the inside and outside of DTA buses, bike raffles, zine-making, and diy high-visibility vest decorating.