Finding both a need for our youth to continue their leadership development through engaging in the community that they have helped build, as well as within the community they will lead in the future, Freewheelin’ Community Bikes launched the Youth Employment Apprenticeship Program.  With generous support from Central Indiana Community Foundation, and inspiring individual donors, our career development and employment module was propelled into a year-long track for job preparation.

Creating hands-on training modules, young adults ages fourteen through twenty-two (14-22) that have successfully completed Earn-A-Bike and show promising mentoring skills are eligible to become a youth employee.  This new program has proven critical in meeting our youth and community at large.

Building on their basic “hard” skills (such as how to work with others, lead a group on task, advanced bicycle mechanics, and customer service skills) are coupled with life-long career and employment knowledge (such as resume writing, interviewing techniques, and business marketing and management philosophies), our youth transform into strong leaders along with uplifting their identity, our community and their lives, inside and outside the walls of our shop.  We invite you to help us continue to support this key employment program through your financial support, and to hear the stories behind the individual faces of these transformative youth.