Raising a healthy and happy family is a big job, and it often takes a village. Cornerstones of Care offers that extra help to families, with services ranging from foster care and adoption support to transitional living programs for young adults. The organization cares for children and families at all stages of life, seeking to empower their clients to enrich the larger community.
As part of our transportation equity and education work, BikeWalkKC partnered with Cornerstones of Care to offer summer programs at three Cornerstones campuses. These new classes for young adults combine our Bicycle Lessons and Safety Training (BLAST) with an Earn-A-Bike component. Students learn bike handling and basic bicycle maintenance, and they get to keep their bike at the end of the course. “We start with the very basics of safety and bicycle handling and build from there,” reports Laura Steele, Education and Outreach Coordinator with BikeWalkKC. “With a strong practical foundation, our students are able to apply the skills they’ve mastered to any bicycling scenario, from getting around town to riding with friends.” David Hansen, Education Specialist at BikeWalkKC, focused on bicycling as transportation with his Cornerstones of Care students: “When young people learn to ride with confidence, they find freedom on their bikes. They overcome mobility barriers and discover new ways to relieve stress through a little exercise and fresh air.”
We are so proud of the students who participated in our summer programs! Nearly 20 students at all three sites completed the course and took home bicycles and the skills to use and maintain them. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Cornerstones of Care, potentially including bike mechanic apprenticeships in our shop.
