Thanks to our extremely generous partners at Brighton Main Streets, youth from our Brighton Future Forward (BFF) youth program received new bikes! This project was spearheaded by our amazing Youth Program Coordinator, Emma Galletta.
After getting approval from the board, BMS purchased brand new bikes from Dick’s Sporting Goods for the nine youth in BFF programming who needed a bike. George Martin, secretary of the Faneuil Gardens Tenant Organization, helped Emma put all 9 bikes together. Without his knowledge, tools, and time, the process would have taken much longer and we couldn’t have done this without his help.
We also have helmets donated from the Boston Public Health Commission that we’ve passed out to the youth, and Emma worked with them earlier this month to practice safely and securely locking the bike.
This all comes after an amazing 4-day workshop with Boston Bikes earlier in June as we were wrapping up spring programming. After a few meetings with Sam Veth, the Youth Cycling Program Manager for the City of Boston, we were able to kickstart this collaboration.
During the workshop in June, the youth worked with Coach Hazen and Coach D to increase comfortability on bikes, practice their signaling hand signs, learn basic maintenance, improve their understanding of riding on the road, and how to safely and properly wear a helmet. We ended the workshop with a group ride to the Oak Square YMCA, as well as several rides around the neighborhood on N Beacon St, Market St, and Faneuil St.
Emma is hopeful that this access to bikes will be a major asset in getting our kids more involved in programming at neighboring sites such as the Oak Square Y, the West End House, and the Jackson Mann. A few of them also mentioned a desire to ride bikes to school.
We want to give a special thanks to BMS Executive Director, Kelly McGrath, for her support and enthusiasm throughout this process! We also want to thank Margarita Lebron, President of the Tenant Organization, for her support in allowing us to run programming at the Teen Center and for her encouragement of the various big ideas we envision!
