How often do you get a chance to feel like a kid again? There’s something about the whir of pedals, the swish of an air pump, and the wind in your face that can take you right back if you grew up on two wheels. Which is a pretty good chance if you’ve lived anywhere near our office in Minneapolis. As one of the most bikeable cities in the mid-west, these freedom machines are as much a part of the culture here as tater-tots or butter carving.
When local not-for-profit Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES for short) put out a call that they were doing a year-end holiday gift drive at the same time we were hosting our All Staff get together, it was a perfect opportunity to do some teambuilding while supporting a cause we believe in. So, we set about (more or less) building some bikes to donate and having a great time together!
CLUES opened their doors in 1981 with a mission to provide social services that were culturally and linguistically accessible. Now in their 45th year, they are Minnesota’s largest Latino-led not for profit and have expanded their programs, offering adult education, job training and career coaching, life skill workshops, behavioral health services, resources for survivors, family education and counseling, youth engagement programs, and a whole slew of community legal, health and financial resources. There’s also a whole slew of cultural events hosted throughout the year that is far too long for this list, but to say CLUES has become a pillar in the community is an understatement. This year the bikes are heading for “Al Niño con Cariño” (To the kids with love) which is a free event for resource limited families that might not otherwise have gifts for the holidays. Children partake in crafting and games while parents pick out a gift to wrap and bring home for a little extra holiday joy.
Wrenches flew, handlebars were mostly attached, and every bike at least had pedals, but you can’t well send them off without a little test ride!* We might not be kids anymore, but for that brief moment racing around the parking lot hoping the wheels weren’t coming off, we were.
If you haven’t heard of CLUES before or want to be a part of brightening the holiday for a young person, check out Al Niño con Cariño at the link below.
*don’t worry, our resident bike mechanics gave everything a thorough inspection and tune up afterwards.
