St. Louis BicycleWORKS Mission Statement

Saint Louis BicycleWORKS was founded in 1988 by a Shaw Neighborhood resident who saw the need to provide area youth with the opportunity to develop a skill and to challenge them to test the limits of their abilities. This vision combined with the universal appeal of the bicycle became the building block of this innovative organization. BicycleWORKS is the first St. Louis program to use the bicycle as a vehicle to teach youth responsibility and good work habits. Its programs are structured and work-intensive. BicycleWORKS combines vocational training with educational enrichment and challenging physical and mental activity. Bicycle Works is located in the Shaw neighborhood at the southwest corner of Shenandoah and Thurman and welcomes applications from youth ages 9-17 from any St. Louis neighborhood.

Saint Louis BikeWORKS Description

BicycleWORKS: Earn-A-Bike classes are held throughout the year with most classes offered during the summer. The classes are designed to teach bicycle mechanics, maintenance, and safety. In addition to these hands-on skills, youth also learn responsibility and positive conflict resolution. Youth who successfully complete the program earn a bike and helmet. These youth are more confident, possess a greater sense of respect and respectability, and have a stronger desire to serve and improve their community. Volunteers are needed to assist in class room activities and/or Bicycle repair. See our programs page for more information, to enroll a child or to volunteer.

ByteWORKS: Earn-A-Computer classes were incorporated into the BWorks curriculum in 1996 at the request of youth who wanted an additional challenge and opportunity. This is a free program for youth who live in the Shaw neighborhood and would like to earn a computer. To earn a computer the child must attend a series of two hour classes. The classes cover such things as computer hardware, operating systems, windows, and various applications such as word processing, computer graphics, spreadsheets, internet browsers and e-mail. The classes are held at the ByteWORKS shop at 4100 Shenandoah and are conducted by our volunteers. Upon successful completion of the classes each child receives a refurbished computer to take home. The computers are used computers donated by companies in the St. Louis area. They have been refurbished by our volunteers and equipped with a set of software. The software is selected to help the children with their computer skills and their school work. The software licenses are purchased by ByteWORKS and installed by our volunteers. Volunteers are needed to assist in class room activities and/or computer repair. Contact Ken to enroll a child or to volunteer.

Brains Barn: This BWorks program provides an opportunity for youth to gather in the computer lab during scheduled after school hours and receive tutoring and positive guidance in the use of computers, primarily in completing their regular school assignments. This program is not currently active. BWorks encourages the youth to remain involved with the organization after a bike or a computer has been earned. There are opportunities to earn upgraded equipment, advance within the programs, and obtain leadership roles.