Velo City

So much good energy being spun out in NYC urban planning/design these days. Here's another one:

Velo City’s Story

The idea for Velo City came to us last summer after several conversation-filled bike rides led us to share our experiences as women of color in the urban planning and design professions. Acutely aware of the need for greater diversity in our fields, we have set out to make this change by starting a non-profit initiative that brings awareness of planning and design to diverse communities through the medium of cycling. Thus Velo City’s mission is to introduce youth from underserved communities to urban planning and design concepts, community involvement opportunities, and career options in architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning/design. Through cycling, Velo City’s participants will experience a safe, healthy, and sustainable way to explore the City’s built environment and access its’ open spaces. As an organization, our over arching goal is to increase diversity in the planning and design professions by raising the awareness of these fields.

Velo City has found natural partners in Partnership for Parks and Recycle-A-Bicycle; two well respected and long established New York City-based non-profit organizations whose missions are aligned with ours. Recycle-A-Bicycle is also Velo City’s fiscal sponsor and mentor. Together we are developing innovative cycling-based education programs for youth.

In fact, this summer we are launching “Bikesplorations”, a pilot program that will be based out of the East River Park in the Lower East Side. Starting in July, 10 to 15 youth from the neighborhood will become Velo City’s first participants to explore their community through the cycling-based program. The bikes, generously donated by the Dutch government, will be made available to us by Recycle-A-Bicycle.

This is a very exciting time for us and we hope you will join us in celebrating Velo City’s launch on Thursday, April 29, 2010. All proceeds raised from the event will go directly towards funding our pilot program.

Please find us on Facebook and Twitter for updates and ways to get involved!

We’d like to invite you to celebrate this occasion by joining us for our first fundraising event!

Please join us on Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 6:00-9:00 pm for a happy hour fundraiser at White Rabbit, 145 Houston Street NY, NY. Please go to our NYCharities event page for more details and to RSVP and purchase tickets.

If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute, please go to Recycle-A-Bicycle’s donor website and simply designate your tax-deductible donation for “Velo City.”