A New Hire and a Transition for the Cadence Cycling Foundation

One of the goals of merging the Cadence Cycling Foundation (CCF) into the Bicycle Coalition is to expand CCF's range and scope. We want to bring the program to more schools and student-athletes, expand the spectrum of its impact, and better synchronize it with Safe Routes Philly. Today we are excited to announce a new (familiar) hire which will help us accomplish that goal: Cy Maramangalam will be joining us as the new Program Manager of Cadence Cycling Foundation.

Cy presenting to a high school in Silver Springs, MD as part of his previous role with Alliance for Climate Education

Cy's background makes him a prophecy-level good fit for CCF's future. He has been a Philly high school math teacher, worked for us as a Youth Educator with Safe Routes Philly, and is coming from D.C. where he was a Program Manager for the Alliance for Climate Education.* ACE educates and inspires high school students to break through the challenge of climate change and become leaders in their schools and communities. Cy educated and inspired more than 20,000 students and helped hundreds become leaders in their schools, local communities, and on a national stage. The CCF program will benefit enormously from Cy's enthusiasm and ability to work at both the micro and macro levels of youth education and empowerment.

Cy's hiring is in response to another shift: Ryan Oelkers will be transitioning to a new role, as CCF adviser and coach, in order to pursue another professional opportunity. All of the team coaches -- including Ryan -- are planning to coach again this year, so the continuity of the program from the athletes' perspective should be unchanged. And we are pleased that Megan Rosenbach, who has worked on Safe Routes Philly since its inception, will be promoted to Education Director and lead the efforts to expand CCF and Safe Routes Philly.

Between Ryan's continued involvement, the coaches, Cy, and Megan , we are very excited for CCF's next season. Stay tuned to our blog for profiles, updates, and news as the weather warms and the teams start back up again.

*One of the things discussed on NPR's All Things Considered was Cy and the ACE program, which they covered back in May. 

Support Athletes Like Sam at Cadence Cycling Foundation Gala Nov 14th

For the past five years, Cadence Cycling Foundation has held an annual fall gala to honor the hard work and achievements of its athletes. Now that the Cadence Cycling Foundation is part of the Bicycle Coalition, we are inviting Bicycle Coalition supporters and members to join us for this special evening!

What sorts of achievements are we talking about? Speaking at the gala will be Sam Cowans, a 20-year old Philadelphia native and graduate of the Cadence Cycling Foundation. Here are excerpts from his story:

Samuel Cowans grew up in the Carroll Park section of West Philadelphia. He surmounted a difficult family situation to attend Mastery Charter School - Shoemaker Campus, where he joined the cycling team there after meeting Cadence Cycling Foundation co-founder Ryan Oelkers in tenth grade.

Sam immediately took to cycling, finding in it both a passion and a motivational force which broadened his horizons and vastly expanded his expectations for himself. He rode for Cadence Cycling Foundation's Shoemaker team until he graduated from high school.

Sam is now both a Cadence Cycling Foundation coach and a student at Bucknell University, studying economics and racing for Bucknell's "A" cycling team. He plans on becoming a professional cyclist by age 25, with his competitive sights set on the Olympics and grand tours. When cycling ends, he intends on pursuing economic development work in undeserved communities like the one he grew up in. About himself he writes: "My mission is to be the most model and upstanding individual that I can possibly be. I strive to be a positive role model and to leave a lasting positive impact on most people I come into contact with, regardless of age, race, ethnicity or whatever else someone may identify as."



Join us this Thursday to hear about and celebrate the accomplishments of Sam and other Cadence Foundation athletes, and support the program that gives these young men and women the chance to thrive. 



Cadence Cycling Foundation's Annual Gala
Thursday, November 14th
Wells Fargo Center (Park in Lot E; entrance on right)
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Purchase your ticket online

The evening will feature cocktails and a buffet dinner, and we will be honoring Richard Phillips (CEO, Pilot Freight Services). Dress will be business, and speakers include the aforementioned Sam Cowans and Philadelphia Eagles DE Damion Square.

Hark! Cadence Cycling Foundation Has Joined the Bicycle Coalition

Two bicycle-oriented nonprofits, sittin' in a tree..

As Wash Cycle Laundry put it, we're getting hitched to the Cadence Cycling Foundation!

The Cadence Cycling Foundation has joined the Bicycle Coalition. This makes us the biggest, boldest, baddest bicycling nonprofit, in terms of urban educational impact, in the country.

Yeah, wow.

This is an important moment for bicycling in the Greater Philadelphia Region. This will strengthen our ability to make bicycling in our region better, in ways and with a speed we could not achieve otherwise.

So, what is the Cadence Cycling Foundation? 

Cadence Cycling Foundation's Shoemaker team, from 2013

For the unfamiliar, the Cadence Cycling Foundation (CCF), founded in 2007 by Ryan Oelkers and Jay Snider, uses cycling as a tool to help underserved youth gain the skills and education needed to break the cycle of poverty. Its cycling teams are organized out of schools and housing projects in Philadelphia and Camden, and its athletes are typically between the ages of 9 and 18. Cadence's deep and transformative work with its young athletes produces incredible stories of personal growth and achievement, and we are excited to share those stories with you in the upcoming weeks.

Why are they joining us?
Because we're both total catches.

Besides that, a tremendous amount of thought and deliberation went into this decision. We've long admired the work of CCF and Ryan Oelkers, its co-founder. So the opportunity to bring CCF, Ryan, and the CCF board under the same roof is a great opportunity.

Cadence Cycling Foundation is an effective and stable bicycling nonprofit committed to the transformative power of the bicycle. Their strengths and capabilities complement our own. While our Safe Routes Philly program focuses on broad reach through schools, CCF works at a much deeper and more personal level with a smaller group of athletes. So, depth and breadth on the educational front (basically, we're doing the whole vertical integration thing, like bicycling hero Andrew Carnegie).

And the steel magnates of yesteryear, to whom nonprofit bicycle organizations owe so much, would also approve of the operational efficiencies we will reap by combining our organizations, allowing us to better grow and invigorate our work.

How will this change the Bicycle Coalition?

Cadence Foundation co-founder Ryan Oelkers, right, at the end of year race in 2012

Our mission remains the same, as does our name and location. Alex Doty remains our Executive Director, and CCF co-founder Ryan Oelkers (above) is joining us as our Director of Youth Education. We are combining the strengths of both boards into a new board of directors, chaired by our current chair Leslye Abrutyn.

What comes next?

Hooray! Also, who is
Andrew Carnegie?

Keep an eye on our blog and Cyclegram newsletter in the upcoming weeks for more information about CCF and its terrific work. We will begin a new strategic planning process in December to create a refined vision for the Bicycle Coalition's future. Both organizations will maintain their separate websites until a new, unified site is ready to launch by year's end (oh lordy, we cannot wait for that). This nonprofit marriage, however, is effective immediately.

So sorry, hon, we're off the market.