Posts tagged "Girls On Bikes"

Spotlight x Girls On Bikes!

Break a sweat, floss your style + express yourself as you pedal your way to ultimate movement! Girls On Bikes is a stylish initiative to help empower young urban girls by promoting health and encouraging participation in more recreational activities. Founder Kala makes it her mission to embrace girl power while encouraging teens to express their creativity, strength and physical + mental health.

Let’s get to know Girls On Bikes a little better…

Tell us about yourself – who you are, what you do, who inspires you and why, and what matters to you the most?

I am originally from Harlem; I grew up in Newark. I graduated from Rutgers at age 20. I majored in logistics (managing chain of supply) and fashion. There is a long history of fashion in my family. I did styling after finishing college. I loved everything about it. I decided to build up GOB and come back to styling full time later on.

I love me some Oprah Winfrey. I love watching her interviews. Not only for her business ethics and her work flow. More so because of how she knows what her purpose is in this world. She is all about self-love and being able to recognize what you are meant to do. Once you figure that out, why you are placed here, then you can really go out and flourish.

I love girls so much. Right now girl power is so in right now. I think it is great that we are able to recognize our self worth across all races, all people and women of color. Some girls may not be able to recognize their self worth and what they’re capable of and you just have to bring that to light by telling them you can do this and more. I also care about making my community a stronger place. That’s why it is important for me to do this with Girls on Bikes.

What is Girls on Bikes?

Girls on Bikes is a stylish initiative to help empower young urban girls by promoting health and encouraging participation in more recreational activities. The creation of GOB was inspired by the need for more recreation activities in my community. Our target is young girls and women of color. If you don’t know how to ride a bike, we teach you. I love the moment when someone learns how to ride a bike when they didn’t think that they could. That’s why we do what we do.

I used to ride my bicycle in my community in the west ward of NJ. I feel it is very therapeutic. I would get cute because it makes me feel good. I would go to the park and write in diary. One time this guy said keep on doing what you’re doing because you don’t see a lot of people out here doing that. It really dawned on me wow I really don’t see any other girls riding their bicycles in the community.

I started by highlighting girls actually on bicycles, girls with style. I would style them before the bike rides.  We would go on the bike ride and take photos. Then I would interview them about what it means to be a girl on a bike and how they feel after the ride. Eventually I started a page for Girls on Bikes. Through that I actually got connected to a guy who works in Newark public school system and he said why don’t we do after school program for Girls on Bikes.  First of all I never thought we would do an afterschool program for high school students. That was crazy; I had no idea I could do this. We designed a 6-week curriculum. It is one of the many curriculums we have designed covering topics such as bike history, self-love, affirmations, and natural hair styling tips for wearing a helmet.

What types of opportunities are available for teen girls through Girls on Bikes?

We participate in city-wide events, host monthly bike rides and workshops, and partner with other bike organizations. This summer we offered bike riding lessons every first and third Saturday. Seeing women of color cycling disturbs the norm. Bike riding is for everybody not just for privileged people. Every day you are a piece of art work; its like having art work riding down the block. We love this because we are doing things that people don’t think people in the hood do. It also disturbs the gender norm. From the point of being a person of color on a bicycle to then another level of being someone who can even afford a bicycle to then even being a woman on a bicycle. Why is society uncomfortable with girls biking? Don’t box girls in to only playing with dolls. It is important to expose them to other things. Girls are strong no matter what.

What advice would you give girls who want to follow their dreams and passions but are unsure which direction to go in?

Don’t overthink it. Start small. Do some research. Make the connections and start grinding. Things will come together when you are prepared. Take one step at a time. Everything happens at the right moment.

 

Fun Faves! Song? Food? Artist? Celeb Crush?

Song-No Limit by G Eazy. Food-Doubles (Trini Dish). Artist- Kanye. Crush-J. Cole

 

Check out more Girls On Bikes here:

IG: @GirlsOnBikess

 

Interview by Jasmine Utterback