Bike Repair Day for New Americans a Success!
New Americans learning to change the inner tube of a tire
On June 1, SIT/World Learning in partnership with Leland & Gray Bike Tech and BDCC held a New American Bike Repair event where attendees could not only have their bikes repaired, but also learn bike repair skills. Over 20 people attended, with 7 bikes fixed on campus, 6 brought back to the Leland & Gray shop to be repaired, and 8 bikes donated to individuals in need.
In addition, some of the New Americans worked closely with L&G students to learn basic bike repair skills. They can now do some of their own repairs, and assist friends and family members in keeping their bikes in working order. This sharing of bike repair skills was one of the major goals of the event.
But, it wasn’t just about the bikes, it was about the connections built among a growing cycling community. There was a mutual understanding, that for each of the people there bikes are an important part of their lives. For some it’s based on a love for riding. For some it is their sole mode of transportation. For many having a working bicycle represents personal independence and access to the wider community, jobs, services, culture and friends.
They came a repair challenge to solve, or just a way to have fun. In the end, a small community was created just because there were bikes that needed repairing and people who love to help. Thanks to all those who made event possible: Amy Stromberg from SIT, Millicent Cooley, Kevin Burke and his crew from Leland & Gray, Jeryl Cisse, and of course all of the New Americans who decided to come. Special thanks to Mercedes Henrich Ross of www.projectbiketech.org, the organization through which Kevin and his L&G students developed the bike repair program.
About Welcoming Communities
Welcoming Communities is a series of initiatives and collaborative partnerships that seeks to make the region more equitable and inclusive for current and future BIPOC community members, and for foreign-born workers, and non-citizen residents. It seeks to improve the ways in which all BDCC programs serve diverse stakeholders, and launches new targeted activities through partnerships with employers and community-based organizations. The long-term goal of Welcoming Communities is to build a community and economy that supports diversity, immigration and in-migration to southern Vermont to increase the vitality of our communities and strength of our workforce. For more information please visit www.brattleborodevelopment.com
