Skills For Life

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Let’s go to the bike shop!

On any given afternoon Monday through Thursday, you’ll find dozens of kids tinkering on bikes, talking, laughing, and learning in Bearings’ Garage on Atlanta’s Westside.

A modern bike shop and garage building with a curved orange facade, a black garage door, and a sign that reads 'Bearings Bike Works'. There are bicycles parked outside and a clear sky above.
Sunset over a cityscape with a train crossing a viaduct and a large gray industrial building in the foreground.

Skills for Life is a free drop-in program where kids earn points for every hour they spend in the shop. As they gain stars, they also gain confidence, independence, and real-world experience. Kids don’t just learn bike mechanics—they practice perseverance, collaboration, and problem-solving in a hands-on environment rooted in trust and community.

While the garage is full of bikes, the heart of the program is relationships. We create a welcoming space where kids build meaningful connections with adults and peers while learning how to fix and maintain bikes. They start on practice bikes to build their skills, and when their personal bike needs repairs, they’re empowered to do the work themselves.

How It Works

  • Start by learning basic bike building skills with the help of our coaches.

  • Progress through four levels of bike mechanics—each one gets more challenging. By Level 4, you'll be a pro at building and fixing bikes.

  • Get 1 star for every hour you're here working in the shop. Use your stars to buy your own bike and accessories like grips, tires, and lights.

  • Something breaks? You’ve got the skills to fix your own bike—and help others too!

Two children in a bike shop, one sitting on the floor holding a disassembled bicycle wheel, and the other standing on a hoverboard, smiling and holding onto it with his hands.

Program Hours

Monday - Thursday
4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

A young person with short curly hair wearing a yellow T-shirt with the text 'Here for the ride' standing indoors near a bicycle.
A young man with red dreadlocks cycling on a stationary bike in an indoor gym.
Two boys giving each other a high five outdoors, with one boy wearing a blue t-shirt and the other in a red shirt. There are trees and a building in the background, and a watermelon in the foreground.
A young girl with glasses and pigtails, wearing a red T-shirt with a bicycle logo and the words 'WHERE KIDS EARN BIKES,' smiling in a bike shop with bicycles and tools in the background.
Two smiling kids, one in a red shirt, the other in a green shirt, standing behind a colorful marble run game in a classroom or playroom.
A young man with dark skin, wearing a gray t-shirt and baseball cap, sitting in a bike shop with bicycle tools and parts around him.

Built on Trust

While Skills for Life isn’t a traditional mentoring program, strong, consistent relationships are at its core. Our staff and volunteers create a safe, welcoming environment where kids feel valued and supported. These positive developmental relationships are key to the program’s impact—and to helping youth form a sense of belonging and purpose.

We're always looking for new coaches to join us at Skills for Life. No mechanical experience is required—just a commitment to being a consistent and encouraging presence.

Become a coach
A smiling woman with a blonde ponytail, wearing a black T-shirt with a bicycle and the words 'Bearing Bike Works,' fist-bumps a young boy with short curly hair wearing a red T-shirt, at an outdoor event table with watermelon slices, salad, and a burger.

Building Skills for the Road Ahead

Skills for Life is designed around the belief that hands-on learning can lead to life-changing outcomes. The program helps youth build both practical and personal skills—things like critical thinking, resilience, and a strong work ethic—setting them up for success in school, work, and life.

Each star earned is a reflection of time invested, lessons learned, and challenges overcome. We operate with the evidence-based understanding that skill mastery leads to long-term outcomes like stronger self-identity, improved performance, and a sense of ownership over one's future.

Group of diverse young children and teenagers standing outside in front of the Bearing's Bike Works building, smiling and posing for a photo.
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A large assortment of LEGO pieces in various colors and shapes spread out in a container.
An adult man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a red and black checkered shirt, assisting a young boy with short hair, wearing a black sweatshirt with a yellow collar, in assembling a small toy on a wooden table. The table has instruction booklets and small toy pieces, and there is a white basket nearby. In the background, part of a wall with words and a graphic are visible.

New! Brick Club - Sept. 9

Every Tuesday during Skills for Life starting at 4:30, kids can join Brick Club for fun Lego challenges and prizes, where they build creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills while working together with friends to complete awesome Lego kits! We love expanding our STEM enrichment offerings and are so excited about the enthusiasm we've gotten so far from the kids.

Have old Legos at home? Donate them to help us keep the creativity going!