Ty Juan entered B’GabsGoodies, a raw vegan deli located in
Experimental Station, a stretch of businesses along 61st and
Blackstone in Woodlawn that also encompasses a farmer’s market on Saturdays,
looking for us. He was dressed in a t-shirt, shorts, and a black do-rag. Gabrielle, the owner of B’Gabs, had asked Ty Juan to give us a quick tour of
the Blackstone Bicycle Works, a Woodlawn non-for-profit that runs youth
programs and fixes bikes while teaching kids the skills of bicycle maintenance.
Ty Juan graciously led us through the back entrance to the bike shop, and inside the hot, cramped building were only two things: kids and bikes. And lots of them. Kids of all ages were there, from what looked like six or seven year old boys and girls running around aimlessly amidst the bikes to high school students working diligently on repairing flat tires. Bikes littered the entire store. Complete, shiny new bikes rested in every corner, but most of the shop held various models on bikes in all forms of disrepair.
The kids glanced up at us, some said hi, but most were engrossed with their work and soldiered on. Ty Juan led us around the shop and told us about the youth programs the shop puts on. He showed us the upstairs, where free food is given to the youth and educational classes are held. Then Ty Juan told us about how he was an employee at Regenstein Library, one of the libraries on the University of Chicago Campus. “I heard a rumor back in ’05 about Blackstone Bikes,” he said, and he joined soon thereafter. He’s in charge of youth programs and serves as a mentor. His commitment to Blackstone and the greater Woodlawn community was so evident as he showed us around and spoke to us.
That rare quality of truly enjoying your job was obvious as Ty Juan talked about the progress Blackstone Bicycle works has made over the years. As some young children ran out of the shop and past us up the street, Ty Juan paused our discussion and began talking with them. We sensed that Ty Juan had more important things to do, so we excused ourselves to head to our lunch at B’Gabs. Just another day in Woodlawn, meeting great people doing great things.
Ty Juan graciously led us through the back entrance to the bike shop, and inside the hot, cramped building were only two things: kids and bikes. And lots of them. Kids of all ages were there, from what looked like six or seven year old boys and girls running around aimlessly amidst the bikes to high school students working diligently on repairing flat tires. Bikes littered the entire store. Complete, shiny new bikes rested in every corner, but most of the shop held various models on bikes in all forms of disrepair.
The kids glanced up at us, some said hi, but most were engrossed with their work and soldiered on. Ty Juan led us around the shop and told us about the youth programs the shop puts on. He showed us the upstairs, where free food is given to the youth and educational classes are held. Then Ty Juan told us about how he was an employee at Regenstein Library, one of the libraries on the University of Chicago Campus. “I heard a rumor back in ’05 about Blackstone Bikes,” he said, and he joined soon thereafter. He’s in charge of youth programs and serves as a mentor. His commitment to Blackstone and the greater Woodlawn community was so evident as he showed us around and spoke to us.
That rare quality of truly enjoying your job was obvious as Ty Juan talked about the progress Blackstone Bicycle works has made over the years. As some young children ran out of the shop and past us up the street, Ty Juan paused our discussion and began talking with them. We sensed that Ty Juan had more important things to do, so we excused ourselves to head to our lunch at B’Gabs. Just another day in Woodlawn, meeting great people doing great things.
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