Editor's Note: These sweepstakes have ended, but you can still donate to Grow Cycling Foundation
here.
PRESS RELEASE: Grow Cycling FoundationTogether, with your help, we raised
$75,644 in the very first Grow Cycling Foundation Giveaway Sweepstakes!
We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to everyone that participated, shared and decided to work together to make our community a more inclusive place.
Your support helps provide cycling opportunities to people that haven't had access before. GROW CYCLING is building our first new pumptrack hub in a diverse community in Los Angeles. This hub will provide equitable access to the cycling community and affiliated career opportunities that, for complex reasons, many haven't experienced or aren't even aware exists. We want to show the world that cycling is an amazing sport and welcomes everyone who longs to participate.
And now to the winner of the custom bike from two of cycling's most iconic and beloved brands, Yeti and FOX -
KATIE JO FRANK!
Katie Jo Frank is an avid cyclist and 4th grade teacher from Glenwood Springs, CO. We spoke with Katie Jo to learn a little more about her roots in cycling, her role as an educator and why equity & inclusion is important.
On bikes: “Mountain biking is my all time favorite thing, it is the best part of my life. I have always been into bikes since a very young age, riding my light blue banana seat bike around the block, over and over. Biking has led me to many great relationships, fun on the trails and to tops of mountains that I wouldn't otherwise go. I hope others have that opportunity and catch the bug when they are young.”
On equity and inclusion: “Everyone deserves the same opportunity no matter your race, background, upbringing, where you were born or your current situation. This is important work that needs to be done by adults, and people in power and with privilege, to create those opportunities, intentionally and aggressively.”
On the outdoor community: “If mountain adventure sports were more diverse, everyone would benefit. There would be more community, deeper community, and more engaging, enriching conversations. Learning about each other through a shared passion - it is the best way to really understand each other better.”
On kids, education & being an example: I think about this a lot - my charge in education right now is opening those conversations about inequity around us, both with my students and my peers.
Kids are fresh, and kids are emulators. They see what adults are doing and they see representation or non-representation - if we start providing opportunities they will take them. I think it is really important to always be modeling how to talk about race and inequality really openly and remove it as a taboo subject. It exists, so let's talk about it.
I often tell them: You are only 9-years old but already have a voice, and a mind, and power, and if we learn how to talk about inequality openly, in a respectful way then you can speak up when you see racism happening and injustice in action. You can speak up and against it and that will make a real difference. Even in kindergarten, they recognize it. They know what fair and unfair is and what justice looks like. So giving them the right tools to actively do something about inequality is an exciting challenge we have as educators.
On accountability: Everyone wants to make a change and no one needs to feel guilty for where they are. But we do need to feel responsible for making the correct next steps. To have that guilt as a barrier is really dangerous because many people don't get past it, they are afraid to take the next step or have a conversation or call it out when they see something that isn't right. Fortunately this is a collective effort, we can support each other in doing the right thing, breaking down barriers, challenging systemic racism. By creating opportunities for young people to find a passion, and a community we are moving in the right direction.
Thank you again for your participation, contribution, and being a part of the conversation. We are so looking forward to the road ahead and working to make this community a better place for everyone.
Stay tuned for updates on our pumptrack, announcements on our next giveaway sweepstakes and a photo of Katie with her new bike!
About Grow Cycling Foundation:GROW CYCLING is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth of our sport by promoting education, access, and opportunities that increase diversity, inclusion, and belonging in cycling. All donations may be tax deductible. To learn more, visit www.growcyclingfoundation.org
We've now raised well over $100k for Grow Cycling Foundation thanks in part to everyone here. One step closer to building the pumptrack. I hope everyone will come out who can and have a beer on me
Congratulations to Katie!
what a load of shit. Pure regurgitated drivel without a lick of critical thinking applied.
so, a convicted rapist(background) born in Dubai(where you were born) that has a 5th grade education(current situation), deserves the same opportunities that a Harvard educated law student with zero criminal record?
litterally no one engages their god damned brain before they put their mouth in gear.