Community Partner : Bikemore Peer Mentor : Nicola Sumi Kim Site Supervisor : Clarissa Chen
What is Bikemore ? Bikemore advocates for policies and infrastructure that create thriving neighborhoods in Baltimore . Bikemore works to expand protected bicycle infrastructure between neighborhoods and work within neighborhoods to ensure policies are in place so the goods and services people need are easily accessed on foot or by bike .
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Designed new emails , blogs , social media , and fundraising communication campaigns for over 4000 + active recipients Researched local environmental policies and non-profit fundraising strategies Worked specifically to connect Baltimore community with environmental issues and create relevant and accessible information Served as a community liaison at Bikemore programming such as Mobile Bike Shop , Friday Night Lights , and Bike Leaders Breakfast
My work at Bikemore has been transformational -- it has changed how I ' ve thought about non-profits , environmental issues , personal interests , and the Baltimore community . In my time here , I completed several meaningful projects , including designing new lasting marketing material for Bikemore , writing and sending several fundraising emails , researching local transportation policy and nonprofit fundraising , writing copy for social media and blogs , and attending in-person programming . In my time here , my work never felt like a burden ; it was always something I was excited to approach , a new challenge I could take on , a new opportunity to learn .
One of my highlights of the summer was absolutely being able to interact with the community , primarily through our Mobile Bike Shop . Over the past six months of working with Bikemore , I ' d done a lot of research into transportation policy , looking into things like street cuts and the Big Jump . I ' d published things online that raised awareness of these issues and fundraised for them too . But being at the Mobile Bike Shop was the first time I was able to see the direct impact we had with our community . People flocked to our tent for big repairs and small , for questions , for conversation . And they always left happy and grateful . Being able to interact the Lake Montebello and Druid Hill communities made me realize the direct positive impact Bikemore had on the city and what my work was going towards .
I not only learned valuable , marketable skills I can take with me in the job application process -- communication skills , fundraising , collaboration , marketing -- but also gained confidence in my own abilities . Furthermore , my past summer here has strengthened my idea of what I ' m even looking for in a career . Bikemore is a community of hard-working , like-minded individuals dedicated to bringing equitable and environmental solutions to Baltimore and has set the standards for what I want my next job to look like . I want to take what I ' ve learned , now , and go out into the world with it , armed with new skills , expectations , and goals .
I cannot express the amount of gratitude I have for everyone who has made my summer as great as it was -- thank you to Clarissa , Menelik , Jed , Alex , and Josh for making working for Bikemore so rewarding and fun .