Pedaling For Empowerment

Working on bikes takes an abundance of tools and, for most children, a great deal of instruction.

But Jeremiah Carter found one youngster in the shop at Freewheelin’ Community Bikes in Indianapolis who defied description.

The boy struggled academically and, not surprisingly, hated school. Yet when Carter laid out the individual components of a headset, the boy took measure, analyzing and contemplating before selecting the tools.

“Within five minutes he had it built without my help,” said Carter, a former college football player who now works at NCAA Headquarters. “This included ball bearings, things that I need to refer to manuals for myself. I was amazed.”

Freewheelin’ Community Bikes doesn’t just give kids the opportunity to problem solve and create, but also teaches the very skills that businesses demand, such as persistence, teamwork and character development.

This morning we attended the non-profit’s first fundraiser, a breakfast in the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church gymnasium on the corner of 34th Street and Central Avenue. It was there that Carter, Nancy Stimson (pictured), Scott Semester, Lenny Dintenfass and Kevin O’Connell outlined the mission as well as the need for Freewheelin’ Bikes.

“The kids we get come without a dream,” explained Stimson, the organization’s founder. “Our real job is to help them find that dream in their heart.”

For Stimson, her dream began three years ago when she saw a cyclist with the letters ‘BAP’ on their apparel. Thanks to Google, she discovered the Bicycle Action Project, which was established by Charles Hammond in 1989. She picked up his mission when Hammond left Indianapolis for doctoral studies and the BAP disbanded.

But FCB serves its mission without sufficient means. The organization — ever grateful to Tab Recreation — has outgrown its space and is looking for a more spacious home.

That’s where you can help. In fact, Schools Building Communities — which is partnering with Freewheelin’ Bikes — is posing a challenge. You can visit Freewheelin’ Bikes and click on ‘Support Our Mission’. Keep in mind that just $75 will allow you, in essence, to ‘adopt’ a student and cover their expenses through the program.

Take a look at this video — produced by Andy Prinsen and Matt Peyton at Moved Media — to see some of those kids who benefit from this wonderful program.

Freewheelin’ Community Bikes from Moved Media on Vimeo.

Also, Pat and I had a wonderful time at Table 4 this morning with Pat Wachtel of Girls Inc. as well as Patrick Hughes of the Indianapolis Met School, Shanna Bohdan of Americorps and Gail Payne of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.