Students Get Bike Tech Savvy with Break the Cycle

This year, Project Success launched a new partnership with Quality Bicycle Products (QBP). QBP’s vision is “Every Butt on a Bike,” recognizing that access and knowledge are two of the greatest barriers to participating in cycling and working in the bike industries. As part of their effort to increase access and knowledge, QBP has made a commitment to train 1,000 BIPOC in foundational bicycle mechanic skills through a grassroots program called Break the Cycle, designed to create a pathway towards working in the bike industry and support new community leaders.  

This summer, QBP’s Break the Cycle program, in partnership with Project Success, provided Community Bike Rides on two different days. On each of these days, bike professors trained by QBP provided an hour of tutoring for students on bike maintenance and repair, and each of the students was given a free bike multi-tool. The bike repair classes took place where the students’ live, along with a bike ride through the neighborhood biking trails in their own neighborhood.  

James, the Institute Program Manager, had this to say about the partnership: “I’m so grateful to Quality Bicycle Products and Darrow Jones for sharing his Break the Cycle program with us. Riding the streets of Northeast Minneapolis with Bike Professor Alexis and Edison student Ahmad is one of my highlights of the summer.”  

The success of this new partnership and summer program has led to a new opportunity for students this fall where they can earn a certificate in bicycle maintenance in our new Bike Tech Lab @ the PS Institute, happening each Monday for 6 weeks. Students will work with a bike professor from QBP’s Break the Cycle program, and if they attend all 6 sessions, they will be eligible for the Quality Bicycle Products Mechanics Scholarship and receive training and opportunities in the cycling industry. 

The Bike Tech Lab is one of four certificate programs offered this fall at the Project Success Institute. Back by popular demand, the Institute is also offering our Financial Literacy, Cooking and Coding Courses, all of which offer a certification of learning for students. Each course occurs on a different day, so students can sign up for any or all of the courses!   

For more information and to register for our PS certificate courses offered this fall, MPS high school students are invited to visit our Institute web page here.