Cycle of hope

An oasis of tranquility in what is traditionally one of the most crime-ridden areas of Baton Rouge was recently alive with the joyful glee that can only come from exuberant youth.

Their laughter serenaded nearly every corner of the multi-acre playground situated in the epicenter of the Gardere neighborhood as young kids proudly rode shiny new bikes through the grounds.

Assisting the young people were five African American males, who are being trained this summer as bicycle mechanics. 

Quietly sitting on the bench of a picnic table, Dr. Murelle Harrison was all smiles as she reveled at the sight, menacing clouds failing to dampen the brightness shining from her eyes and the joy emitting from her heart.

“Today is a good day,” said Harrison, executive director of the Gardere Initiative, a nonprofit, faith-based agency guided by its mission of addressing substance abuse and other social ills in the area that adversely affect the children, neighboring subdivision and the city through spiritual intervention, collaboration and partnerships.

“What really makes me happy, we talk about the violence in our city, but this is something helping African American males,” she said. 

“Look at those boys right there,” Harrison added, pointing to teens helping younger boys and girls with their bikes. “They could be on the streets if they wanted to. 

“We are developing leadership in them and then they are providing leadership to the community.”

The summer program, funded by a $3,500 Bishop Stanley Joseph Ott Works of Mercy grant from the Diocese of Baton Rouge, is providing the opportunity for teenage African American males to be trained in how to use tools, diagnose problems and repair the bikes.

“We can teach skills to our African American men,” Harrison said. “And they are also learning leadership skills.”

Gwen Fairchild, director of stewardship for the diocese, said the program is exemplary of the type of agencies Works of Mercy is striving to assist.

“The Garden Initiative is touching the lives of so many African American and Hispanic members of our community,” Fairchild said. “The bike initiative will assist young African American males develop their mechanic skills, which could potentially provide a foundation for their future.

“The young teens are also developing leadership skills so that they can become leaders in their community, as well as role models.”

“We are honored to be able to award this grant to such a worthy program,” she added. “This is the type of program that would make Bishop Ott proud.”

On this particular day, Harrison said 18 young people received bikes through a sponsor. But before receiving the bikes, which were of BMX design, they were required to attended four lessons, including a safety class, taught by the five African American teens who are part of the program funded by Works of Mercy.

“(The teachers) had to organize the classes, do the registration, keep the attendance,” Harrison said. “It’s teaching them those skills and leadership skills and they are contributing that to the community. It’s giving the boys working on the bikes a sense of achievement. 

“I think they felt good that they could do this.”

The program is designed to  train the teens in every aspect of bike repair as well as expose them to mechanical repair. A container on site houses used bikes provided by the nonprofit agency Frontyard Bikes of Baton Rouge, which are used to train the youth. 

Harrison said the teens will work twice a week at the FYB Harley/Vey Bike Site repairing bikes for young and old alike. She pointed out that if an adult is riding his or her bike and suddenly has a flat or an issue with the chain, that person can stop at the bike site when open and have one of the teens repair the problem at no charge.

Harrison also stressed the young men were getting paid for their work.

“If you want to keep them off the streets, you have to give them some incentive,” she said. “They will do this for about six months, and they will teach more kids.” 

Calylup Anderson, who lives in the area and is a participant in the bike repair training program, has enjoyed working on the bikes and said it has given him a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

“I did not know how to work on a bike before,” he said. “It has helped me develop leadership skills and has carried over into others areas of my life.”

He also enjoyed working with the younger kids, noting the importance of working with children.

“I am so grateful to (the Works of Mercy),” Harrison said. “We wanted this but did not know how we were going to fund it.

“When we were given that opportunity (through the grant) it was like this is God’s will. God always provides and I believe the entire program is his will. And it’s confirmed day after day.”

Also receiving Works of Mercy grants were the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for its dining room at St. Gerard Majella Church in Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge Child Advocacy Center for a three-day summer camp for children who are current clients of the agency, the Louisiana Industries for the Disabled to assist in funding four security cameras and installation in its new facility, the McLindon Family Foundation to provide adaptive bikes to children with special needs and the Morning Star Rising, Inc. to support the Women’s New Life Clinic awareness marketing campaign.

“So many wonderful and deserving agencies applied for the grants,” Fairchild said. “We are so fortunate to live in an area where the concern for the less privileged, the needy, the physically challenged is so great.

“We were thrilled to have been able to make a difference in the lives of so many people, especially young lives.”

For more information about Works of Mercy and how to donate call 225-336-8700 or visit diobr.org/works-of-mercy.