BEARINGS BIKE WORKS 2022-23 IMPACT REPORT

BEYOND THE BIKE

BEARINGS BIKE WORKS

2022-2023 IMPACT REPORT

Dear Friends,

Every day we are so grateful to be able to impact youth during their growing-up years and support families as they help their kids prepare for the transition to adulthood. We’re thankful for your partnership and thrilled to share about the great work happening at Bearings.

Growing up today is hard. Living through a global pandemic also left scars — skills atrophied and many needs went unmet. We recognized one of the greatest needs was that of community connection, so we leaned in on strengthening relational bonds among students and their families.

In the spring of 2022, we launched a Community Suppers initiative, offering a free meal to Bearings kids and families every Thursday, following Skills for Life programming (see page 9 for more!). The idea was simple but intentional: Create space around the table to connect more deeply. Have conversations. Get to know one another. After too much time isolated from one another over the last few years, we felt it was critical to create space for connection.

The impact was multi-directional. All of those involved — kids, parents, volunteers, and staff — felt the impact of friendships formed, support offered, connections deepened. It was a visual representation that our work at Bearings goes beyond the bike in its design and intent.

Youth face challenges and pressures during their growing-up years. We believe providing skill development opportunities, surrounded by a supportive community of adults and peers, helps students develop transferable skills, increase their self-confidence, and engage in a relational safety net that can help when they hit bumps in the road. In big and small ways, Bearings is working to help students grow into all they were created to be.

We hope you’re inspired by the great stories of our youth shared in this year’s Impact Report. We thank you for your partnership. We could not impact youth Beyond the Bike without your support!

Let’s Ride!

Tim & Becky O’Mara Co-Founders Executive Director & Director of Development

Frameworks is a workforce development program for teens and young adults that creates skills-building opportunities through real-life work experience in the context of a bike shop.

Every summer, Bearings employs 7-10 teens in an eight-week paid internship program where teens learn the ins and outs of having a job and how to thrive in the workplace. Over twenty-five students have completed the program to date, with 100% of participants securing employment or secondary education within six months of high school completion.

This past year, Bearings added a 12–18-month Frameworks Fellowship Program to its program offerings. The program targets Opportunity Youth, young adults age 16-24 who are not in school but also not yet working. The program is a deep commitment to the personal and professional development of these young adults. Program participants work 30-40 hours per week as they gain advanced mechanical and customer service skills and develop top-notch work habits in the context of the retail bike shop.

Two young men graduated from the inaugural Frameworks Fellowship program in Spring 2023, including Jarvis Wagner. Jarvis joined Skills for Life

as a teen in 2017. Over the next few years, he learned how to build and repair bikes, eventually participating in the summer internship program in 2021. He enrolled in the Fellowship program that fall. Jarvis worked through advanced mechanical training in our retail shop, honing his customer service skills along the way. In the spring of 2023, Jarvis graduated from the Frameworks Fellowship and was hired on full-time as Bearings’ first-ever Restoration Technician.

Bearings’ Lead Mechanic Andrew has been alongside Jarvis every step of the way and has witnessed incredible growth in his skills and confidence over the last few years. When Jarvis began working in the retail shop, he was quiet and uncomfortable talking to customers, but he expressed a willingness to step outside his comfort zone and improve in those interactions.

“It has been absolutely one of the highlights of my time here to see his progress over the course of the past two years,” Andrew said.

When Andrew and Jarvis first met, Jarvis was 15 and into bikes, but he wasn’t yet at a place where he was showing up consistently. But Jarvis was never a stranger, and he and Andrew were quick to build a connection that goes beyond bike mechanics and job training.

“The fact that he has become a collaborator and a colleague is great,” Andrew said. “I genuinely ask him for advice on things, and it makes me very happy to do that.”

Beyond the bike shop, Andrew says Jarvis has gained respect in the community, whether it’s in his interactions with customers, staff, or among his peers and friends.

“Because he has real professional knowledge, the kids he hangs out with absolutely look to him as a resource and a hub of the community. He has clearly become a leader within his community.”

ANDREW, BEARINGS’ LEAD MECHANIC

CONGRATS, GRAD!

Last year, when Jarvis wasn't serving customers or working hard restoring bikes, he was busy diligently studying to pass the GED. Despite encountering a few set-backs along the way, Jarvis was determined and had a great team of adult mentors at Bearings to support him on this journey. We’re thrilled to share that in the spring, Jarvis passed his fourth and final GED exam and received his official diploma!

RAVE REVIEWS ON GOOGLE

Google User

I absolutely love Bearings. Love the mission and love the service. It feels like your friendly neighborhood bike shop — because it is! Jarvis in the shop has always greeted me and been super helpful and professional.

Google User

I got in a bike wreck just near Monday Night Brewing, and they were able to see me immediately. Jarvis provided wonderful service, including fixes to my bike and providing a first aid kit for my scrapes and bruises. Excellent location and even better staff!

SUMMER 2022 INTERNSHIP STATS

60% of interns surveyed reported they had improved confidence in money management after the program.

100% of interns surveyed reported they felt like the staff they interacted with cared about them as a person.

Interns spent 600 hours working on bikes and learning mechanical skills.

80% of interns surveyed feel more prepared for careers after the internship.

100% of interns surveyed felt prepared to face the next academic year with confidence.

100% of interns surveyed reported improved social skills like communication and teamwork after finishing the program.

80% of interns surveyed reported having short-term financial goals after the internship.

Interns gained a combined total of nearly 2,000 hours of real-life work experience in the bike shop.

YOUTH MOUNTAIN BIKING

Bearings’ Youth Mountain Bi riding beyond recreation and in the world of competitive cycli that come with it In recent ye participants and their families more organized riding activi youth participated in their second s competitive mountain biking all across the state through t A ssociation’s fall race series

A s Bearings’ f irst sports -based pr Mountain Biking Team also o opportunity for positive relat and deepened on and of f the bi fun team environment. Many of our participants and their families share relationships formed with fell coaches, and staf f are a big pa to the program.

For participant Eli, the friendships h the team have made a signif icant i according to his dad John and

“ Through (the program) he made f were positive inf luences and f was not getting at school,” Sa beautiful things that’s happened is have blossomed ”

Sarah said that when Eli f irs in Bearings’ programs, they positive outlet for him — som develop strong social skills, be men and adults, and also mentor y the mountain biking program, pa challenged to set a good exam something Sarah says has been impactful for Eli.

“We’ ve been really happy with the progression of what’s happened socially with him… his mat urity, his level of respect… all of those things have come as a result of the characteristics they are teaching in the program. We have just felt like it has been life-changing.”

SAR AH, PARTICIPANT ’S STEPMOM

85%

While the relationship-building and soft skills development aspects of this program play a major part in its impact, youth mountain biking participants are also learning technical skills and gaining a unique experience in a competitive sport. For participant Daven, those aspects of the program are a big part of what keeps him engaged.

“He’s going to continue because he wants to get better,” Daven’s mom Davida said. “This is a skill to take advantage of, and he understands that.”

Davida says that Daven is naturally competitive and athletic, and pushing himself to improve is a huge motivator for him. “At first he was hesitant,” she said. “But he got into it, and he’s going to continue because he wants to get better. He likes the challenge.”

Bearings is thrilled to be in a position to give youth in Atlanta access to this exciting competitive sport by providing the necessary infrastructure to support individual and programmatic growth. This program has the potential to impact the entire region, and we look forward to building on our growing partnerships to meet that demand in the coming years.

AWARD-WINNING SKILLS

Khepera competed in her second race season in 2022 and made significant strides in both her athletic abilities and confidence. Notably, Khepera was awarded the Georgia Cycling Association’s “Exceptional Student-Athlete” award, which is given to only four athletes across the state who “demonstrate outstanding leadership, sportsmanship, academic performance, and volunteerism in their team, school, and community.”

Of

surveyed,

OUR PARTNERS Bearings’ Youth Mountain Biking Team placed 15 out of 31 teams from across the state in the 2022 season.

13 riders participated in the 2022 season, including 8 who were new to the sport of mountain biking.

of participants demonstrated decreased lap times from the start of the season to the end of the season.

parents

100% reported witnessing improved soft skills in their students at home and in school.

EARN A BIKE PROGRAMS

SKILLS FOR LIFE

Skills for Life is Bearings’ after-school drop-in program where kids have an opportunity to earn a bike while developing skills and positive self-identity in a fun, safe environment surrounded by caring adult role models. Skills for Life is where we see many positive relationships between adults and youth participants first begin to form. While Bearings does not classify as a traditional mentoring program, it is intentionally designed so that youth feel welcomed, form bonds with adults, and feel safe and cared for.

In Skills for Life, all program activities are centered around working on and riding bicycles so that students become exposed to transferable technical knowledge and skills from the starting point of a childhood icon, the bike. But the impact we see in our students truly goes far beyond the bike.

Twelve-year-old Armaan is a regular in our after-school program. Armaan is naturally gifted when it comes to mechanical and technical skills — whether it’s working on cars, lawn mowers, plumbing, or bikes — thanks to the many skills his dad helped him build while growing up. Sadly, Armaan’s dad passed away last year, but Armaan is dedicated to continuing to develop those skills and honoring his dad’s memory in a meaningful way. Beyond that, a big piece of what keeps Armaan returning to Bearings is the welcoming environment and the positive relationships he has formed with the staff.

Armaan has formed a particularly strong bond with Bearings’ Program Mechanic Warren, who has been a part of the organization for 10 years and is known around the shop for how well he connects with kids in the program.

“Warren is my favorite coach,” Armaan said. “He’s really welcoming, he’s confident, and always has high spirits. It makes it a lot easier to talk to him.”

Warren says it’s great having Armaan in the program because of his fun energy, his natural leadership skills, and his mechanical aptitude.

“Armaan is definitely a leader to the younger kids. He’s fun to have in the shop,” Warren said. “He’s very knowledgeable when it comes to the bike; he picks up on stuff quickly. He’s a great kid.”

2,692

HOURS SPENT LEARNING

122

LEVEL ADVANCEMENTS

70%

OF YOUTH SURVEYED REPORTED HAVING AT LEAST ONE HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENTAL RELATIONSHIP

40 BIKES EARNED

“I like being at Bearings because it makes me feel lots of joy,” Armaan said. “Andwhen I’m sad at times and thinking about my dad’s passing, coming here cheers me up.”

ARMAAN, SKILLS FOR LIFE PARTICIPANT

COMMUNITY SUPPERS

In the summer of 2022, Bearing weekly “community suppers” af drop-in program on Thursdays w families could share a meal and deepen r with one another. From June thro ser ved 700+ meals to kids and t

These suppers create opportuni meaning ful relationships, helpi connect to Bearings, and to one an that deeper impact happens whe relationships with the youth and

Through them, we were fortuna K amelija and her mom Audinga Bearings several years ago, hopi af ter- school activity for K amelij friendship and a sense of communi and Audinga says to them,“It’s more shop.” A s a single mother, Audin found a welcoming space where surrounded by caring adult men

Hear more of their story in this video:

GEARING UP

arings’ school-partnership program s -on, student-centered learning es and inter vention designed for udents. Currently ser ving two Purpose South Atlanta, select groups of ate in regularly scheduled classes at ngs’ staf f coach the students through rriculum, building positive elationships and using authentic each sof t skills and character udents struggling in a traditional ten succeed as they discover they ue gif ts and talents or a dif ferent om some of their peers For some wing aptitude in this mechanical work erful first taste of efficacy and success

52 STUDENTS SERVED

100% OF STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED PASSED THE 1ST LEVEL OF BEARINGS’ MECHANICAL SKILLS CURRICULUM

20 BIKES EARNED

“This program provides st udents with hands -on skills that can transfer to a beneficial and productive career. Also, our students get to interact and build relationships with young men who are teaching them the craft. This is vitally impor tant because our st udents need to see as many positive role models as possible.”

CHARLIE JACKSON, PURPOSE BUILT SCHOOLS

INCOME

$1,449,630

DONATIONS: $1,164,042 | 80%

EARNED REVENUE: $229,248 | 16%

IN-KIND: $56,340 | 4%

EXPENSES $1,077,821

PROGRAM SERVICES: $858,515 | 80% GENERAL & ADMINISTRATION: $165,664 | 15% FUNDRAISING: $53,642 | 5%

This Annual Report reflects Bearings Bike Works’ Fiscal Year of April 1, 2022–March 31, 2023. Bearings is proud to be 100% privately funded and does not take government funding at any level. Earned revenue represents income from bike sales and service, program fees, event proceeds and interest income.

At the publication of this report in August 2023, these financials were unaudited. To request full audited financials or the 2022 Form 990, please contact us at hello@bearingsbikeworks.org.

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.

STACYE BRIM Chairwoman STB Consulting

EVAN LONGSTRETH Treasurer Ron Blue Trust

ALEX DOMINGUEZ

Four Stones Real Estate

EDDIE FERGUSON Truist Bank

JIM LOKEY

Retired, King & Spalding LLP

CHUCK OGLETREE Southtree Commercial

LONI METTER

Retired, LeasePlan USA

RONDA ZENTS

Woodward Academy

TIM O’MARA Executive Director Bearings Bike Works

funding needed to "Build the Bridge" from Bearings’ property to the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. The project is currently in permitting and Bearings looks forward to opening the connection in early 2024.