All Trek retail locations and corporate offices will be closed on Monday, June 19th in recognition of the Juneteenth holiday.
Juneteenth, also known as “Freedom Day” and “Emancipation Day,” celebrates the effective end of slavery in the United States. The holiday dates back to June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black people in Texas finally learned they were free – a full two and a half years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
To commemorate this historic day, we’re offering paid time off to retail and corporate employees on Monday, June 19th. We’ll take this time to further educate ourselves on the significance of this holiday, engage with causes we find important, and reflect on how we can continue our mission to bring better representation to the bike industry and beyond.
One important step in this ongoing journey is amplifying and familiarizing ourselves with Black voices in the sport. Read on to meet cyclists who inspire us and learn how they’re working to create a better world for everyone.
On the road to a better future
Ride Up Grades is a non-profit in New York that helps bridge the transportation and health divide in low-income communities through cycling. Under the leadership of President Aliya Barnwell, Ride Up Grades offers scholarship programs, group rides, instruction, bike donations, and free bike camps to pave a pathway of entry to the sport.
Forever Prime
The Prime Ability NICA team, based out of Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., grew out of PhysEd teacher (now NICA coach) Alex Clark’s vision to bring structure and opportunity to students throughout the pandemic. Several students on the team, which will begin practice this fall, were supported with bikes and gear through the Pathfinders Scholarship.
Photos: Monica Garrison, BGDB
Black Girls Do Bike: Shifting cycling stereotypes
Black Girls Do Bike is a grassroots movement that seeks to create a supportive place for female cyclists to grow, build friendships, and explore a world outside of their comfort zone. The group’s efforts focus on girls and women of color, but everyone is welcome.
The bike enthusiast dedicated to uplifting the cycling community
An avid cyclist, Trek Women’s Advocate, and “Shero” for the Cleveland chapter of Black Girls Do Bike, Diana Hildebrand is dedicated to uplifting and diversifying the cycling community. Her commitment to getting more women of color on bikes stems from her own admiration for the sport. Because—like all things—Diana believes the joy of cycling is best when shared.
The royals
K.R.T. (Kings Rule Together) Cycling Team is a global community based in Pennsylvania. They are passionate cyclists of all ages, genders, and skill levels on a mission to promote a fun, healthy lifestyle while bringing diversity to the sport of cycling.
About the Author: Trek
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