The Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling Spring season is in full swing and our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) has already hit one of its biggest milestones of the year.
After four months of planning, brainstorming, and hard work, our eight YAC members successfully hosted the Youth Career Day, a student-led event designed to open doors and spark conversations about the future.
From the very inception, the event was the students’ vision. YAC members took the lead on imagining what the day would look like, deciding which professionals to invite, and thinking about how to make the event genuinely useful for their fellow students across the city and in the program.
The result was a beautiful morning in Hunting Park, with professionals tabling outside the Community Recreation Center, sharing their experiences across a wide range of fields: civil engineering, doctoral research, fashion, and carpentry. Something to spark every student’s interest.
In Their Own Words
YAC member Yania reflected on what made the day meaningful: “The BCYC career fair was a great way for students to not only explore traditional career pathways, but also the trades, and what their future could possibly look like.”
For Mamady, the reward was seeing months of effort come to life: “I loved the chance to not only put together an event, but to also see me and my friends’ hard work realized.”
What’s Next for the YAC?
The career day may be wrapped up, but the YAC is staying busy advocating for their fellow students in the city. Members Yania and Randall recently spoke at a press rally at City Hall this last Monday in support of a universal student fare SEPTA pass, advocating for the kind of transit access that makes a real difference in young people’s daily lives.
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Want to see our Youth Cycling Program in action? Join us at Hunting Park on Saturday, May 30th for the Hunting Park Hustle. We’d love to see you there!
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia leads the movement to make every bicycle ride safe, to empower youth and adults to ride, and to foster a ridership that reflects the diversity of the region. Join or renew to continue that advocacy and education work throughout the region. More info here.