taking bikes

please take a moment and read the following article, which brings light to a serious issue that we all should be concerned about. Not only do we target low-income neighborhoods for crime but now law enforcement is taking away the only safe transportation many people have. This issue should be brought to the attention of city officials in that it is blatant discrimination. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about the jerks that are taking these bikes.

When Biking Is A Crime

WE HAVE BIKES!

Right now I am looking for some organizations that may need the bikes, because we have a couple that have been hanging out for a while. If anyone is interesting in obtaining them for you organization, free of cost! please email me atwis001@odu.edu THANKS YA'LL!

Need in everyday places

Recently, Aaron and I found an opportunity to donate a bike in an unlikely place. Without revealing too much information about the person due to confidentiality, we have recently had to take someone I work with home because they are reformulating their life and are now safely off the streets. However, we couldn't donate a car but we received a 70s Magna that was in perfect condition never touched (from someone's garage). The donor simply came to the shop, not knowing about our project and said 'hey i want this bike to go to someone who needs it'.. people are coming into bike shops around the community trying to get rid of their old bikes. There is a need and hopefully Aaron and I can work to fill it.

Long story short, something as simple as a functioning bike that can get someone who is picking up the pieces of their life from point A to point B means more than any of us with a sound roof over our heads can understand.

ReVAMPED

Yes it's been months since our last post. However, many things have been happening in the past couple months. Along with the usual survival and school, Aaron and I have been busy networking and getting many many awesome contacts and helpful ideas for Re-Cycles Norfolk.

CYCLING GEEKS:
Con- I learned that the cycling community/ bike shop groupies aren't as pumped about helping others as they are buying the newest parts for their bikes.
Pro- There have been some awesome people who have donated bikes, without them we would be nothing. Many good friends have given spare parts which Aaron has ingeniously used to fix/create functioning bikes.

COLLEGE STUDENT MENTALITY:
Con- I have flip-flopped from idea to idea as my own priorities begin to shift. What was going to be a huge organization has now turned into a "project" because of all the other "projects" I have piled on my plate.
Pro- I actually have a large network of people who are willing to help me. Within the college community, there are professors and students who are willing to jump on board.

GRASSROOTS:
Con- it's hard to start from way down here at the bottom!
Pro- I'm actually reading a book called Grassroots by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards. They're the same ones who wrote Manifesta. It's helping ALOT. One of the main things I have taken from it so far is that every little bit counts. The stories of activism in it have made me feel better about not being as successful as I had first hoped. Everyone has downfalls and obstacles. The important thing is that I'm trying. There's a lot of great advice in this book... please read it!

PHEM MAGAZINE:
Con- not everyone knows about this! please go and readdddd
Pro- Through this great project by Brook, I have been able to contribute to a feminist circle of writers in a way that positively discusses issues involving women's activism. Being a contributer of this magazine has kept my activism vein pumping!

TIDEWATER NOW (National Organization for Women):
Con- more people.. come on out! first sunday of every month. 4pm at Fairgrounds Coffeehouse on Colley Ave. in Norfolk
Pro- some of the most awesome people i've met in a long time. I feel like Re-Cycles Norfolk can really thrive here and Kristin, the president, is willing to help me.. something else I learned from Grassroots.. team up with already existing organizations.

OUR NEXT CHAPTER:
I got a great idea from Teri in Tidewater NOW about decorating canes and walkers for the elderly in nursing homes.. I got to thinking about it and why not do that with our bikes?! I can't tell you how excited I was about riding my bike after I got yellow handlebar tape. lol! Giving rusty clunkers for necessity can be boring and unexciting. Why not give women a bike that they can enjoy riding? I'm in the process of making this a Tidewater NOW project, we'll see.

SCAVENGER HUNT BIKE RIDE:
April 19th, Sunday, Newport News Park. Feminist Scavenger Hunt Bike Ride for girl scouts aged 12-17. Any suggestions on checkpoints or activities??? PLEASE EMAIL ME! and I need volunteers!

Lost Boys of Sudan Hampton Roads

Recently, Amy and i have given this organization a bike to help these refugees get around town. While the means for motorized transportation is there, Recycles Norfolk will continue to provide LBSHR with bikes when they need them. We can all help!
Check them out at www.lostboyshr.com:

In 2001 before the attacks of 9/11, approximately 4,000 Sudanese Lost Boy and Girl refugees arrived in the United States. As victims of genocidal (un)civil war which has raged in Southern Sudan for over twenty years, they have spent the majority of their lives in refugee camps of Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Since the ages of 3 to 7, the tides of war have forced them to flee as groups of children through the deserts on thousand mile treks. Most have lost their parents and siblings, having seen them perish or killed before their eyes. They have survived war, thirst, starvation, and personal loss that has scarred their souls but never beat them. Now in their early twenties, the Lost Boys and Girls living in the United States embody the hope for their country’s future.It is the purpose of the Sudanese Lost Boys African School Program is to help ease the many difficulties that may arise during their transition to life in America. We endeavor to help them achieve the education and political resources necessary to rebuild their own lives and also the lives of those left in Sudan.

slowly but surely

i am in the works of setting up an information session about our project. most likely it will be late november or early december. i will keep everyone posted. as of right now, i am also going to look into getting a storage unit for $35 a month at our apartment complex to store the bikes. anyone who has recently emailed about donating i'm still waiting on when's a good time to pick them up! Also, i put in my two weeks notice at my second job in order to devote more time to this project so soon we will be up and rolling BIG TIME!

Just an update on what's been going on. Aaron and I (Amy) have been in the process of moving to Va Beach so it's been a little difficult to work on the project. We HAVE donated three bikes to a local domestic violence shelter! We have also received a heartwarming thank-you letter from one of the recipients. She is using the bike to get from the bus stop to her job. What a wonderful example of women in crisis taking agency over their lives! Awesome! We are now in the works with the Girl Scouts to see what kind of assistance they can provide. 

Also, if anyone has a bike rack, helmets, or locks laying around... we need them!