Blackstone Bicycle Works

Blackstone Bicycle Works

Website	blackstonebikes.org
Email	shop@experimentalstation.org
Founded	1992
Location	Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Language	English
Services Offered	Pay Repair Services Earn-A-Bike Services Group Rides Bicycle Advocacy Youth Summer Camp Youth Racing Team
Mission Statement	Blackstone Bicycle Works is a community bike shop and youth education program of the Experimental Station. The mission of Blackstone is to provide educational and vocational opportunities to youth from some of Chicago's most underserved neighborhoods. Blackstone is structured as a retail, full-service bike shop that offers an "earn and learn," hands-on bicycle mechanics curriculum to its participants. Our year-round program teaches participating youths on-the-job training in mechanics and repair, customer service and management, and peer-education. Participation in our program is voluntary, free of charge, and open to any child, age 8 to 18.

Blackstone Bicycle Works is ... Blackstone Bicycle Works is a community bike shop and youth education program of the Experimental Station. The mission of Blackstone is to provide educational and vocational opportunities to youth from some of Chicago's most underserved neighborhoods. Blackstone is structured as a retail, full-service bike shop that offers an "earn and learn," hands-on bicycle mechanics curriculum to its participants. Our year-round program teaches participating youths on-the-job training in mechanics and repair, customer service and management, and peer-education. Participation in our program is voluntary, free of charge, and open to any child, age 8 to 18.

Blackstone operates on an apron system. Kids earn colored aprons indicating five achievement levels—gray, green, red, purple, and black. These aprons function much like the colored belts in martial arts, with black signifying mastery. Those kids who have achieved purple and black aprons are selected for promotions, such as paid internships and paid externship positions.

Approximately 175 youths work at Blackstone Bicycle Works each year, with over one third of our participants having been in the program for three to seven years. Our youth education and mentoring programs have deepened over time and now include an on-site study lab and homework area, a college and career prep track, externships at bicycle industry and advocacy-related businesses, and paid summer internships for select youth. Blackstone Bicycle Works is also a summer meals site. There is even a Blackstone Youth Racing Club, and our competitors show both serious hustle and good sportsmanship at cyclo-cross races across the Chicagoland area.

Youths and their guardians must complete the registration forms before participating. Stop by the shop or send us an email for more information about youth participation.

Contact Info

6100 S. Blackstone Ave. Chicago, IL 60637

773 241 5458

shop@experimentalstation.org

Services Offered

The foundation of Blackstone Bicycle Works youth education work is the Earn-a-Bike Program, which allows kids to participate in an active business while earning their way to a bicycle. Starting with flat repair and working up, Woodlawn children, aged 8-18, learn not only how to fix and maintain their own modes of transportation, but how to conduct themselves in a busy bike shop setting. Once a child accumulates 25 hours in the shop, they can pick a bike from our refurbished selection, along with a new helmet and lock. Since 1994, the Earn-a-Bike Program has helped hundreds of Woodlawn children gain bicycle-mobility, practical skills, and self esteem.

In 2011, Blackstone Bicycle Works implemented an apron system whereby participants earn colored aprons indicating five achievement levels—gray, green, red, purple and black. These aprons function much like the colored belts in martial arts, with black signifying mastery. Youths are able to visualize their advancement through the program (from “Rookie” to “Master”), and we are more easily able to direct customers to youths who have gained the requisite skills to assist them. Moreover, those who have achieved purple and black aprons are selected for promotions, such as paid internships and paid externship positions.

The Earn-a-Bike Program is open to all children age 8-18, free of charge.

See Also

• Community Bicycle Organizations