Outride has been awarded a grant by the Catena Foundation to initiate 5 new Riding for Focus programs in the Four Corners Region, primarily supporting Indigenous communities and reservation schools.
The Riding for Focus program will include a fleet of up to 30 Specialized mountain bikes for each school. The bikes (donated by Specialized Bicycle Components) are easy to build and maintain due to their customized and durable design. Additionally, helmets, maintenance equipment, teacher training, and cycling curriculum will be provided to the schools for implementation.
“We are excited to partner with the Catena Foundation to bring cycling to five new schools and communities. This project represents a continued investment in these resilient communities, beyond the 4 Riding for Focus programs and NICA teams Outride has already supported in the Arizona, New Mexico, and Diné (Navajo) communities, and is an important step towards our goal of supporting more diverse student populations,” says Andrew Cunningham, Outride Program Manager.
“The Catena Foundation supports community health through access to cycling and development of multi-use trails. We are excited to partner with Outride’s Riding For Focus program on a unique effort to expand cycling education and promote healthy lifestyles in indigenous communities throughout the Southwest in 2021,” says Mike Wight, Restoration and Trails Program Officer for the Catena Foundation.
To further expand opportunity and build capacity, the new Riding for Focus schools can apply for additional support through the Outride Fund’s matching grant program. Grants can be used to develop or expand programs involving youth rider development, youth cycling education, and the development of local trails. Outride will also work with local stakeholders, including the regional non-profit Silver Stallion Bicycle and Coffee to provide mechanical support in an area where access to bicycle infrastructure is critically lacking. Outride is committed to supporting local efforts to grow access and capacity within these amazing communities.
The grant application for new Riding for Focus programs will open this winter.
