BikeandBuild.org

Denver--Race for a Place
"We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been -- a place, half-remembered, and half-envisioned we can only catch glimpses of from time to time. Community. Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of friends will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free." - [Starhawk]

Waking up in Denver felt like coming home. It?s a city that already feels like home to me, which might explain why I cried as we turned the corner yesterday and could finally, with 80 miles down and 25 left to go, see the cityscape starkly outlined against the Rockies. There?s something comfortable about it?the welcoming bike lanes and presence of fellow cyclists, the immense and impossibly blue sky, the closeness and warmth of the sun (300 days of sunshine a year!), the variety of interesting people who make their livelihoods here and who are quick to engage in friendly conversation? I haven?t felt this in love since? I fell in love with my bike in April, actually.

I snuck away from the church early to have first and second breakfasts with two dear friends, one of whom works for Habitat in Denver. Hearing about her experiences in AmeriCorps and those of Jesse Bright, fellow CUS rider, as well as the folks we?ve met along the way in different build sites, is challenging me more and more to consider serving my country through an AmeriCorps term. And serving in Denver would be amazing?the city has a 10 year plan to eradicate homelessness in the city and surrounding metropolitan areas. 5 years into the plan boasts a coalition of service- and community-minded leaders who are making impressive leeway in combating both homelessness and the affordable housing crisis. We had the pleasure of meeting with these leaders and hearing more about the good that Denver is doing for the cause.

Several months ago, a wonderful Denverite named Donna heard about Bike & Build. She reached out to the office and began conversations with the program coordinators about setting up a day to raise $10,000 for the affordable housing cause in Denver with Bike & Build?s help. Basically, Donna and her ?Race for a Place? proposal were a dream come true for B&B, and she worked tirelessly to pull together a group of folks to get corporations to buy in for a luncheon and happy hour that featured presentations from us and local groups working on the affordable housing issues, as well as provided us B&Bers with a bicycle tour around Denver to different AH sites on the new B-Cycle program?a public bike transit rental program that Denver opened in March with 400 cruisers, making it the largest bicycle share program in the world. The day combined our shared passions of biking and the AH cause, plus it was in an awesome city that offered us the excitement of variety after days of somewhat monotonous landscape and experiences in Kansas. The presentations and tours were great and gave us a good feel for the city. Many of the places are mixed use and mixed income, making great use of shared space to really establish and encourage community within the apartment complexes. As someone who is moving to the Mile High City after this trip ends, I?m seriously considering applying to live in the apartments that allow for mixed income renters. They rent a percentage of their units to folks at a better than market rate even if you don?t necessarily qualify for section 8 vouchers, or if you were privileged to have the option of paying the local FMR (fair market rent). Despite the heat, we enjoyed the tour of the city and the chance to engage with people who are doing really great and revolutionary things for the city and its people.

In our presentation during the luncheon, my chore group, the ?Hold Me Love Me?s?, were able to share a bit about our experiences on this journey so far. We spoke about typical build days, typical bike days, who we are and why we decided to spend our summers biking across the country to raise awareness for the AH cause. I was able to share a story of something remarkable that had happened only a few hours prior, on the bus ride over to the restaurant. One of the things I am taking away from this trip is a renewed hope in the goodness of people and our ability to support one another in community. People we meet every day on the trip are so interested in what we?re doing, so ready to support us and the cause, and genuinely gracious with their hospitality. David is one of the people who inspires me. Five of us got on the bus, all wearing helmets, to make our way to the restaurant downtown for the luncheon event. As we were all wearing our blue B&B shirts, and bike helmets (sans bikes) we sparked some interest. The gentleman next to me inquired about Bike & Build, so I told him who I was and what I and my 30 new friends were doing for the summer. David was a 50-something year old man who had lived in Denver for some time, and was currently unemployed but looking for work in the packing and shipping industry. He himself was struggling with affordable and adequate housing. In fact, he was just returning from the unemployment office, taking the bus with the free passes the office provides as a part of their services. David commented on how inspiring it was to see young people doing what we were doing, and then said ?I have no money to give you, but I want you to take these free bus passes that I have and use them?it?s all I have to give to support you.? In the spirit of true charity, David gave everything that he could offer for something that inspired him. I hope he is someone who I always remember and who I can emulate in a spirit of generosity.

In thinking about the ways that community exists and grows and changes, Denver gave some good time to reflect on the ways our own little Bike & Build community has formed. We had several alumni stop in during our time in Denver?and by ?stop in? I mean, throw welcome parties for us, get us discounts at local bike shops, treat me to vegan meals (I?m a spoiled girl) and even ride into and out of the city with us. The excitement of doing something bigger than ourselves still exists for these alumni, years after the event. I was extended phone numbers and offers for housing and fun bike rides and even potential jobs from alumni and the generous folks who came out for the day of Race for a Place. Clearly this group makes an impact, on those who make the journey but also on those we encounter along the way. It is difficult to describe what Bike & Build is or the ways that it is shaping us, because it is such an insular experience. We have all grown very close, and I love seeing the ways that we take care of each other?like when Zach takes Britt into the baseball game early instead of staying outside the gates with us and they milk the fact that she?s on crutches and take all the elevators everywhere; the way that Kristen always remembers to ask people about their injuries or pains, however negligible they may be; the way that Noah has endless patience to fix our bikes and tents and cuts and everything else that could possibly be wrong, and to furthermore teach us about what he?s doing while he does it; the way that Sarah Graham?s laugh catches everyone?s attention and never fails to make us smile; the way that Emma?s spontaneity somehow still surprises and endears us to her further; and the thousands of ways we love and support one another, on the road, at the build sites, in our chore groups and at the host sites. It?s been a rare and unique privilege to be a part of this community, and I think other people can see that?maybe that is what motivates them to give. To remember what it?s like to be young and hopeful and carefree enough but also responsible enough to do anything and to make changes and impacts that are lasting?that?s inspiration worth backing. Bike & Build?it?s a special thing, and we probably don?t fully understand just how precious it is yet, but it?s something I know we will treasure forever. A place where we can be free, a place that, though ever transient, for right now in this moment and these few fleeting weeks, really feels like home.