The Mechanics in Training have almost finished their summer crash-course in bike mechanics. They’ve learned how to re-cable Gyro brakes and they’ve completely rebuilt at least 2 bikes. They’ve been steadily practicing their teaching skills, and l learning to troubleshoot (on their own!) during Earn-a-Bike. This year we have three students who have never participated in the MIT program, and one returner, which is unprecedented in the history of Back Alley Bikes. But, in Omari’s corner, he had a great answer to the hardest interview question ever, “Why should I hire you again?” Omari said, “I got a lot out of the program this year, but I don’t think I put in as much as I could have. One of the things that surprised me about last year was how much I actually liked working with, and teaching kids. To the point that I really want to consider that as a career path. I want the chance to explore that, and, because this is my second time around, I want a chance to do this job with more quality.”
Needless to say, we were pretty impressed with this answer. The other three MITs weren’t without their merits, either. La’Toya grew up working on bikes with her Dad. She helped her brothers, and also learned a number of skills from her father, who is a big enthusiast. She wanted this opportunity because she’s already had some of the experience and has always been part of bike culture, so she figured it’d be a good chance to learn more and get paid while doing it.
This year, all the MITs are being paid through a grant from City Connect Detroit’s Grow Detroit’s Young Talent program, a program dedicated to providing summer employment opportunities for youth. This is the second year we have partnered with them to provide employment for youth here at Back Alley Bikes, and it makes a big difference in our ability to provide support and also to continue the program. We no longer have to choose between having 4 MITs or an additional adult summer staff person, and, honestly, this paves the way for us one day being able to host more youth employees.
Every summer at Back Alley Bikes we hire hire and train youth as Bike Mechanics to work as peer-to-peer educators and mechanics in our shop and in the Hub of Detroit. At the Hub, they use their skills to help deal with the summer repair crunch, and gain valuable on-the-job experience as bike mechanics in a retail environment. At Back Alley Bikes, they learn how to translate and teach their skills to other youth, as well as have a chance to practice and develop their diagnostic abilities. They also gain valuable exposure to the many different types of bikes and parts floating around in the world out there, as Back Alley Bikes is similar to bike-encyclopedia when it comes to all the different technological trials-and-errors that are the history of the bike industry.
Kyle, an MIT who started as an Earn-a-Biker a couple years back, who graduated to a volunteer, and now works for us, was excited by the prospect of the bike world the first time he set foot in the shop. I could dredge up an old photo of him (and the first bike he earned) but I’m sure he’d prefer to be memorialized on the internet as he currently is. Kyle has had a more broad experience than some of our other program participants because of his interest, he’s been on the youth rides and earned a few bikes and applied as soon as applications opened this year. Kyle thinks his biggest challenge in taking this job is getting adults to understand that youth can teach, and not just other kids, but adults too. He has numerous stories of assisting with on-the-road repairs, and likes to ride Downtown. Kyle does BMX and standard commuting.
Our final MIT this year also has a long history with bike enthusiasts. Jasmine taught her younger brothers to ride, and has supervised a number of at-home rebuilds in the meantime. She has proven to be a really fast learner, and really enjoys working with the bikes. Jasmine is the oldest MIT this year, but she fits in well with everyone else. As they finish up their training, and get ready for the shop, I think all the MIT’s are feeling pretty excited to get their feet wet. Finishing their own bikes this year was a big help, though, and now they can ride to and from work and wherever else. We’ve already been talking about the Slow Roll and Critical Mass, and you may see some of these young wrenchers out and about, riding hard and enjoying their summer. If you do, say Hi! This year’s group is really promising, and we’re all having a great time up here learning and teaching, proving that 2014 really can be just as awesome as 2013.