ABOUT US
What if after school youth programming went beyond babysitting and keeping kids busy?
At Bearings Bike Works, urban youth in Atlanta discover their innate talents and develop them into meaningful skills by building bikes and engaging in bike-centric programming.
Bearings programs nurture personal development and reward youth by teaching kids how to build and fix bikes and giving them an opportunity to earn a bike of their own. This cycle of being rewarded for creating value for others is not only instrumental throughout their lives, but also key to a prosperous community. At Bearings, young people learn and grow through successful, research-based programs connected to bike building, riding, racing and related life and future employment skills.
Our Mission
is to put the right tools in the hands of youth enabling them to advance their skills to build productive lives.
Our Vision
is to see those that we serve take ownership of their lives with character and purpose and experience the freedom of economic mobility.
Our History
The Bearings story began with a simple gesture of neighbors helping neighbors and has since then blossomed into one of the most unique youth serving organizations in the city of Atlanta. Learn more.
Earn-A-Bike
Our earn-a-bike and skills development programs teach kids the value of work in a fun, relevant way as they earn points to spend on a bike, repairs, or accessories for their bike.
OUR PROGRAMS
Youth Cycling Programs
Our youth mountain biking program provides an additional space for skill-building and relationship development and invites kids to experience competitive cycling.
Frameworks
Frameworks is our job training program for teens and young adults. We aim to teach the critical soft skills that you don’t learn in a textbook, but are key to future success.
Over the last 15 years, we’ve witnessed incredible growth in our students and community. Hear their stories and join with us in celebrating these amazing young people!
Board of Directors
Bearings Bike Works is grateful for the leadership of a thoughtful and dedicated Board of Directors that collaborates with the staff to put the right tools in the hands of youth, enabling them to advance their skills to build productive lives.
Loni Metter, Chairwoman
Retired, LeasePlan USA
Eddie Ferguson, Treasurer
Truist Bank
Ronda Zents, Secretary
Woodward Academy
Jim Lokey
Retired, King & Spalding LLP
Chuck Ogletree
Southtree Commercial
Darryl Lesure
Retired, Chick-fil-A
Dan Heller
Retired, King & Spalding
Tim O’Mara
Executive Director, Bearings Bike Works
Bearings publishes an Impact Report annually in order to share with our community and donors the work happening at Bearings and the measurement and outcome metrics we track and share show growth and impact in the lives of youth in our programs. We invite you to take a look and celebrate the work happening in our city through Bearings!