not have to tap into innovation to create a highly acclaimed social enterprise…but they did.
Their story by Jon Dengler, Executive Director of The Well and CEO of Well Built Bikes
“The project started as the The Well’s Recycle Bin, a bike shop for the poor that began, almost by accident, with one of The Well’s volunteers who rode bikes helping a neighbor in need with theirs. Little by little this flame was fanned as we realized the need for bike services for those without money, and the initiative snow-balled. In time the shop was almost completely run by neighbors who had originally come in to get a bike for themselves and through their continued participation, took ownership of the work, and the shop itself. A beautiful cycling community arose out of our shared work. A family of men and women you might see riding around Tampa on group rides, affectionately referring to themselves as ‘The Well’s Angels.’ Not only do these groups rides provide opportunities to build relationships and promote safer riding, these dignifying experiences have led us to see a need for something more than just a bike shop for the poor. Well Built Bikes is a social enterprise aiming to create bridges between the different cyclists in Tampa. Our goal is to build a safer and more inclusive cycling community by making bikes and the activities and services associated something that all people can access.” And impact Tampa, they certainly have. They set out to make reliable transportation available to homeless and working poor. Connect divided rich and poor cycling populations to make for a more inclusive and united community. Employ homeless bike mechanics by selling refurbished bikes and offering repairs. Teach Bike safety. And create a bike co-op for Tampa. Their impact so far: Over 1000 bikes put on the streets through build-a-bike co-op with homeless neighbors.
So perhaps creating a new business or social venture is not in your wheelhouse no matter how disconnected you become. But we all want to be happy. Happiness and creativity go hand in hand, find researchers at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After randomly sampling the feelings and actions of 79 young adults over a week they found those who generally reported feeling happy and active were much more likely to be doing something creative in a given moment, such as making up their own recipes, writing, playing music or drawing. In addition, those who scored higher in openness to experience were much more likely to spend time on creative activities than others. The findings support a theory that everyday creative behavior is both a cause and an effect of positive psychological processes. (Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, online, Feb. 10). Job Dengler and the Well Built Bikes team turned a hands-on, physical community into a thriving social enterprise. What could you do with the untapped creativity being repressed by our love of technology? How about just be a happier human.
What you are InPursuit of? Melanie Hicks, PhD Founder InPursuit Research Institute
THE DISTRICT - TAMPA’S URBAN DWELLING MAGAZINE
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