Paul Wellstone's Green Bus

09/15/2025

It was so wonderful to connect with so many people over the weekend. We'll keep you posted on where and when the bus will appear next!

For over two decades, an iconic symbol of Minnesota has been sitting idle in the woods, now Paul Wellstone's iconic green bus is back on the road.Story: http...

09/13/2025

Today feels a little surreal. Paul Wellstone’s Green Bus is parked in front of the Capitol—back where so much history began.

What once carried a scrappy grassroots campaign across Minnesota is now being lovingly restored to carry a new mission: hope, healing, and connection in the fight for mental health and recovery.

It’s more than a bus. It’s a reminder that change starts small, with people who care enough to show up, and it grows when communities keep believing together.

If you’re here today, take a moment when you see it. If you’re not, know that the Green Bus is rolling forward again—this time for all of us. 💚

09/12/2025

ANNOUNCEMENT: Paul Wellstone’s Iconic Green Bus to Appear at Walk for Recovery 2025 -- TOMORROW!

St. Paul, MN — September 13, 2025 — One of Minnesota’s most enduring political symbols of hope and people-powered change will return to the Capitol *this weekend.*

Paul Wellstone’s Green Bus — the same school bus that helped carry him to a historic grassroots victory in 1990 — will be featured at Walk for Recovery 2025, Minnesota’s largest recovery event, hosted by Minnesota Recovery Connection.

As restorations continue, the Green Bus carries a new mission: to promote healing, unity, and face-to-face connection. Its return reminds us of what’s possible when people come together — across communities, across differences — to build something better.

**Event Details
----What: Walk for Recovery 2025
----When: Saturday, September 13 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
----Where: Minnesota State Capitol Grounds
----Bus Appearance: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. only
----Hosted by: Minnesota Recovery Connection

**Not Just a Bus — A Symbol of Hope and Healing
In 1990, the Green Bus became a vehicle for connection — literally. Paul Wellstone rode it across Minnesota to listen, build trust, and rally a movement from the ground up. It stood for underdogs, outsiders, and those who had been left behind.

Today, the Green Bus is being lovingly restored by Dave Wellstone, Paul’s son, and reimagined as a mobile platform for hope, healing, and civic engagement. It’s making its way across Minnesota to support conversations about recovery, kindness, and the kind of public life rooted in community, not division.

**Reviving a Symbol. Reclaiming a Legacy
The Green Bus is being restored through grassroots donations and community support. Its journey is just beginning. Its appearance at the Walk for Recovery is not just a nod to history — it’s a symbol of the future we’re still building together.

Supporters can learn more and donate at: www.wellstonegreenbus.com

**Visuals & Media Availability
Photo Opportunities: The Green Bus in front of the Capitol
Dave Wellstone available for interviews

**About the Walk for Recovery
Hosted annually by Minnesota Recovery Connection, Walk for Recovery is Minnesota’s largest celebration of recovery from substance use disorder. It’s a joyful, stigma-smashing, community-driven event filled with stories of transformation, music, connection, and hope.

07/04/2025

Today, in the heart of St. Joseph, something green and full of history rolled back into view: Paul Wellstone’s Green Bus, fresh from its hidden farm retreat, took its first spin among cheering neighbors at the July 4th parade.

It’s a perfect day to bring the bus back to life — because what’s more American than a little grassroots spirit, a fresh coat of paint, and a community that refuses to give up on each other? Here’s to hope, courage, and the open road ahead. Let’s roll.

06/27/2025

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davewellstone_dave-wellstone-the-grief-of-the-minnesota-activity-7343289997262749698-eVnY?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAEG79kBVbe5A4nRSsH4S1H_JR_XeD4ZsEU

Two decades ago, I lost my parents and sister in an instant. That kind of loss doesn’t fade — it shapes you. And now, heartbreak has struck Minnesota’s political family again. It's taken me some time to reflect on the tragic loss of Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the in...

06/24/2025

In today's Star Tribune. 💚

"Grief like this is disorienting. It punches you in the gut and steals your bearings. But eventually, for me, I learned that movement is the only way forward. When I lost my family, I drove straight toward the crash site because I couldn’t sit still. And today, I feel that same pull to do somethin...

06/04/2025

Mental health and addiction affect many families — and we can’t be afraid to share our stories.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m grateful to my friend and advocate Dave Wellstone for joining me to talk about the challenges we face and the solutions we need for Minnesota families.

12/17/2024

It was great to talk with Mpls.St.Paul Magazine about what we're doing!

"Paul Wellstone’s iconic green campaign bus spent much of the 20-plus years since the senator’s death out to pasture (literally). That is, until Wellstone’s son Dave decided to get it back on the road again."

Paul Wellstone’s iconic green campaign bus spent much of the 20-plus years since the senator’s death out to pasture (literally). That is, until Wellstone’s son Dave decided to get it back on the road again.

11/20/2024

11/20/2024

We've hit the next stage in the Green Bus Revival!

Benjamin Bus, Inc. got our 1968 Chevrolet engine humming -- which meant it was time to hit the road to deliver the bus to Trobec's Bus Service, Inc. where it will be transformed inside and out, restoring the original look and feel that so many remember.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to these amazing companies for helping us bring this symbol of hope and healing back to life.

The Green Bus is on its way to continuing Paul Wellstone’s mission of grassroots change—because “we all do better when we all do better.”

Join us in following this journey! 💚

11/15/2024

Pssst… exciting things are happening today. Stay tuned!