What brought you to PPG?
I’ve always been passionate about social, economic, and racial justice, especially reforming the criminal justice system. My passion has been fueled by my social identity as a woman of color from an under-resourced, inner city community in Rochester.

When I learned about PPG's work to address these issues through research, policy development, and citizen engagement, I was confident that it could provide a platform for me to address these complex and widespread issues in a tactical and holistic way.

You founded an initiative—Colored Girls Bike Too (CGBT)—that’s our newest partner at PPG. What is it?
CGBT'S mission is to normalize biking among women of color (WOC). The group places emphasis on women of color in marginalized communities, who lack affordable access to traditional forms of transportation like a personal vehicle, bus line, train, taxi and ride sharing. 

These are the goals of CGBT:

1. To encourage a cost-efficient lifestyle 
2. To encourage transportation alternatives
3. To empower and support WOC 
4. To educate WOC on bike literacy
5. To increase WOC cyclist representation 
6. To normalize biking among WOC 
7. To encourage alternative forms of exercise
8. To detach stigma from biking in communities of color

This group was initially created for me personally, because I felt isolated and unsupported while bike riding in the city of Buffalo over the last year. To change that narrative, I created this group as a way to connect with other bikers, but specifically WOC with similar experiences to myself.

Although this group was created specifically to empower WOC, CGBT’s purpose also extends to anyone else who is like-minded, shares and supports our mission and goals, and loves to bike! 

How can people get involved?
Join the Facebook group and come out to my first FREE workshop: “Colored Girls Bike Too: Fix That Flat” on March 25. Additionally, you can get involved by donating biking equipment and attire to the CGBT bike bank which is at GObike Buffalo at 98 Colvin Avenue. The bike bank is for those in need of attire and bike equipment.

You can also get involved by watching out for bikers on the road no matter their racial identity, supporting bikers and their lifestyle, and spreading awareness around CGBT in your conversations. Also, please share the March 25 event page and contact me for flyers if you are interested in spreading awareness of this initiative in your community.

Reach out to Jalonda with your communications requests and questions: jalonda@ppgbuffalo.org, 716-246-1707.