When it comes to mornings at Recycle-A-Bicycle‘s Clinton Hill shop, everything seems to hum with life and activity–due in large part, we suspect, to the bike mechanic training that takes place in the back of the shop.

On workshop mornings, RAB mechanic Eric Robinson instructs groups of up to ten in the subtle, masterful art of bike repair. Participants in these sessions are recruited, vetted, and coached in employment soft skills by One Community–RAB Clinton Hill’s partner organization–and their ranks include veterans, formerly incarcerated people, and young adults who hail from Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. The pilot class of the program graduated last month, and graduates are currently interviewing for positions with Citi Bike. We’re honored to be part of their journey and wish them the best of luck!

Building on the success of our first session, we are planning to host an additional six groups of soon-to-be mechanics between now and July, all with the aim of finding job placements with Citi Bike. We offer our sincere thanks to Council Member Laurie Cumbo and the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership for their support in making this new, exciting initiative possible for us and for our community in Brooklyn.