Over 40 million Americans are living in poverty – I find that outrageous!  Something needs to be done about it and Cycling for Change has given me the opportunity to become more involved.  I have been blessed to have had many chances to work with and for the poor.  As an undergraduate student at Rockhurst University, I was able to go on two service trips; one to Juarez, Mexico and one to Belize.  From these trips I gained an incurable desire to see more of the world and work with the underprivileged. After graduation I moved to Milwaukee to serve as a volunteer in an intercity school, helping to organize an after school program and teaching math.  The mandatory after school program was designed to enrich the lives of the students it served, providing them with a safe place until their parents came home from work.  There, I learned about some of the struggles faced by families living in poverty everyday: not having a bed to sleep on, struggling to make ends meet and suffering from abuse.

Looking for a more challenging experience, I moved to Quito, Ecuador to again volunteer as a teacher.  I shared what I could of myself to help improve the lives of the children and their families.  It was difficult to see the daily trials of parents who were unable to provide for their children.  The children I worked with were sometimes the greatest breadwinners in the family by shining shoes for a quarter a pair or selling candy and goods on the streets.

Because of these experiences I want to help reduce poverty and make a difference in peoples’ lives.  At the same time, I know that my life will greatly be changed as well.  Cycling for Change gives me the opportunity to realize that desire.  I look forward to connecting with people across the country, hearing their stories, and finding solutions to the challenges faced by America’s poor.  Oh, and I can’t wait to see this country from the view of my bicycle! 

Click here to meet more of the Cycling for Change Team!