March at the Sibley Bike Depot
***Thanks for Quality Bike Products and New Belgium Brewery for Support!!
This week, Sibley Bike Depot received generous program support from two fabulous organizations. Quality Bike Products is giving Sibley $5700 in parts, tools, and consumables to effectively implement the Community Partners Bike Library this Spring. QBP, the nation's largest bike parts distributor, is located right here in the Twin Cities metro area. New Belgium Brewery approved a $2,000 grant for community education/outreach programs and to create a "Mobile Bike Repair Shop" to take to community events, schools, partner organizations, and more.
***Sibley Covered in the Twin Cities Daily Planet
This week, Sibley Bike Depot and the Community Partners Bike Library were covered by the Twin Cities Daily Planet. The story can be seen here or by searching "bike" on tcdailyplanet.net.
***Bike Library Update
Sibley Bike Depot is moving full speed ahead in implementing the Community Partners Bike Library, our newest, federally funded program to provide bicycles, fully outfitted for transportation purposes, to low-income community members for 6-month loan. We're still looking for organizations to partner with!! If you know any great social service providers, job placement centers, community organizations or similar organizations, we'd like to consider working with them! Contact Bike Library interim program director Jason@sibleybikedepot.org with questions or interest.
***Women's and Transgender Night
Women's and Transgender Night continues in March on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 6-9pm. The night will resume its regular schedule every Tuesday from 6-9pm in April. We can't wait to see more of you come out as the weather gets warmer and help make our space welcoming for all the wonderful ladies and trans folks out there! Email Alicia@Sibleybikedepot.org with questions.
***Upcoming Classes
Sibley's Spring slate of classes are filling up quickly! March's Basic Bike Maintenance class is now full; sign up for April's Basic Bike Maintenance class (April 18-May 9, 4 consecutive Sundays 4:15-6:30pm). Sibley is also offering a Complete Overhaul (intermediate mechanics) class on Thursday evenings this month; the class goes March 18-April 8, 4 consecutive Thursday evenings 6:30-9pm. Sign up for all classes through the Twin Cities Experimental College at www.excotc.org. Email Kevin@Sibleybikedepot.org with questions.
***Youth Programs Update
Sibley's youth build-a-bike class through St. Paul Connections has been tremendously popular and successful! Over 30 participants are in the process of learning bike repair skills and building a bike to keep at the end of the program. If you're interested in volunteering to help teach bike repair to youth, contact Youth Programs Coordinator Kevin - Kevin@sibleybikedepot.org.
***Green Gala Fashion Show March 20
Come join Sibley Bike Depot at the Green Gala Fashion Show for an evening of recycled, reused, and socially responsible fashion! The Gala is a full-blown fashion show featuring models of all ages from the community wearing clothing fashions from local thrift stores and reuse shops. Come see Sibley Bike Depot bicycles and biker apparel made out of recycled materials by local artists! The event is at the California Building Gallery, 2205 California St. NE in Minneapolis from 7-10pm on Saturday, March 20.