TRIANGLE BIKEWORKS INC

The work of TBW can be classified as justice work as it builds self-worth, self-determination, and self-efficacy in youth that leads to liberation and ultimately works towards systems-level changes. Our programs lead youth to discover the untold histories of BIPOC people that are left out of schools and history books whether with intention or not. Teaching youth about the gifts, sacrifice, and struggle of historical figures of their culture provides the necessary background knowledge to overcome inappropriate stereotypes and builds cultural confidence.

Our programs address climate change and environmental justice issues that disproportionately affect communities of color and help students take individual and group action to support their community through environmental projects.

For many reasons, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it clear why our work is important to the community. For one, a girl that graduated from Orange High School, Kizzmekia Corbett, went on to lead the team that discovered the formula that will vaccinate millions of people worldwide against the COVID-19 virus. Every youth and every voice is important and no one should be intentionally oppressed or silenced. The way Dr. Corbett was recognized as early as fourth grade should be the rule and not the exception. There are too many youth of color who are tracked and considered low performing, never to rise above that low expectation.

Triangle Bikeworks seeks to reverse the effects of low confidence and low self-esteem, that can begin as early as third grade, by giving youth the opportunities to set personal and collective goals that they are able to achieve. The fact that our youth have traveled anywhere from 150-750 miles under their own power from the seat of a bike, either as a middle school or high school student, is an accomplishment that no one can take away from them.

Just now America is awaking to the economic burden of racist behavior and racial inequities. Current statistics estimate economic losses in the trillions of dollars due to racism. This work is necessary to ensure youth are offered the opportunity to have fulfilling experiences that work against negative societal expectations; that work against internalized limitations; that opens the mind by teaching techniques to obtain answers to questions that only they have; that provides them access to the beauty and wonder of the outdoors and the reasons to protect them. This is our theory of how they will become re-engaged in their educational journey and light the world with their unique abilities.

We work to bring what the youth already possess to the light for them and all to see. To compel them to be more than they currently think or know they are.

To do this Triangle Bikeworks utilizes multiple modalities to give Black, Latine, Indigenous and youth of color the tools to thrive and grow despite opposition they may face in their young lives. We use cycling as a tool to build confidence, self-determination, agency, and a sense of belonging in a world that seeks to minimize or erase them.

Exposure to unfiltered history of America builds the background knowledge to combat stereotypes and negative expectations. Experiential learning is the “glue" that ensures these lessons stick. Cycling as a team builds a spirit of collaboration, interdependence, and compassion that youth will need to recognize their full humanity and potential.

While we recognize that all youth can benefit from these experiences, we are specifically targeting Black, Latine, Indigenous, and other youth of color. Because our particular focus is young people who have limited options for enrichment, our organization serves as the bridge between their genius and opportunity.

We see the bike as an appropriate and approachable tool for youth development. For many, it was the first vehicle to provide freedom, independence, and adventure. On the bike, youth can easily set and accomplish personal goals which builds confidence with every mile completed.

The program exists to counter the negative messages and lessons students receive in the education system with activities that strengthen youth to be more resilient and successful. Over the years, Triangle Bikeworks has continued to innovate with unique curriculums and programming designed to counter the effects of racism and stereotypes that our students face.

Our Founder/Executive Director, Kevin Hicks, is an African American father of eight children. He spent years advocating for his children and other BIPOC youth in the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School system and understands the educational challenges youth and their families face. Kevin is skilled at navigating the complexities of mentoring BIPOC youth at one of the most crucial developmental times in their lives and is experienced at leading and training staff to lead antiracist youth programming.

Our Program Manager, Itza Salazar, is a young adult Latina and an original member of the Triangle Bikeworks' Spoke'n Revolutions program. She has a degree in human services with a concentration in childhood and adolescent development, and family dynamics. Her history with the program, her REI (Racial Equity Institute) and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) training, and her experience doing this and other antiracist work with youth makes her uniquely qualified to do this work.

Our first summer tour in 2011, the Underground Railroad, informed us that our program was much more than biking and the great distances traveled. It was clear to the youth on that tour that they were missing huge pieces of American history.
Since 2011 we have created and completed the following unique summer tours and their accompanying curriculums (tour names are unique to Triangle Bikeworks):
Buffalo Soldier/Lewis and Clark - Council Bluffs, IA to Crescent City, CA
Blues & Jazz Tour (the roots of popular music) - New Orleans, LA to St. Louis, MO
King2King (King Historic site to King Memorial) - Atlanta, GA to Washington, DC
Paat ta Freedum (Gullah Geechee tour) - Wilmington, NC to St. Augustine, FL
Trail of Tears - Nashville, TN to Tahlequah, OK
Bikes, Water & Soul (Soul City, NC) - traveling the state of NC from Durham to the coast and back through historic Soul City, NC.

In 2019, TBW added year-round programming with the Excursions Program that provides afterschool and weekend programs to prepare middle and high school youth to successfully complete journey-based 3-day cycling experiences. In all TBW programs, students learn experientially about environmental awareness and the history of BIPOC people.

In 2021, TBW is starting a NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) composite mountain bike team, the Triangle Youth Mountain Bike Racing (TYMBR) Wolves, to serve BIPOC youth. This program will appeal to youth who are not interested in road cycling and are more attracted to off-road adventure.