During the Friday afternoon rush, University of Oregon students head out on a 5-mile bicycle ride with Eugene at-risk and homeless youth. Their goal: kicking each other into the “next gear” of community engagement and physical fitness.
The Next Gear Bike Club was designed to be a mentorship program with Hosea Youth Services that provides members of the UO Warsaw Sports Business Club the opportunity to get hands-on experience making a difference in their community. @@links checked@@
“I think homelessness in Eugene is such a rampant issue,” member Jesse Schwarz said. “It’s in front of us a lot. We see it every day around campus and in the community … I think it’s something that needs more awareness and attention.”
Hosea has been a refuge for at-risk and homeless youth in Lane County since it first opened in 1995. The drop-in center for those in need of services is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. @@year established/hours checked@@
The program is designed as a competition between mentorship groups where participants can move up in “gears” and earn prizes along the way. Every two bike rides equal one gear with six gears in total. The club is planning to present those who reach the goal with a bicycle, but are currently having some trouble securing a donation. At the moment, local bike shops like Blue Heron are providing free bike rentals for program use.
“It’s been really positive for the kids to get out do something like that and to have people come and want to spend time with them in that capacity, outside of (the) drop-in (center),” Hosea Director Tauna Nelson said.
She applauds the group for rolling with the punches when it comes to the unpredictable weather and staying committed throughout the weeks.
Schwarz, senior and ethnic studies major, is one of 12 members who has had an eye-opening experience through the program.
“They are our age and you realize how much we really have in common with them,” Schwarz said. “Even though we are in college and they are figuring things out, we are listening to the same music, caring about the same things, thinking about a lot of the same things.”
Business administration major Brandi Beutler feels the same way. One girl in particular has left a mark on her heart and Beutler loves seeing her face light up with she comes into the center.
“Every week we get to know the people that go on these bike rides with us more and more,” Beutler said. “I think the most rewarding part of this is seeing how excited they are and how they look forward to it.”
Rallying people to participate and be consistent in the program has been an unanticipated challenge for the group. Regardless, the team has expanded their original plans to pair with the youth center through winter term, intending instead to continue the bike rides and morph the program into more of a one-on-one mentorship.
“By helping them out, I’ve learned that they have goals just like I do,” Beutler said. “And they want to achieve those goals, not matter how little or big those goals are.”