MISSION: We build strong minds, bodies, character, and communities through cycling.
NICA is a mission-driven nonprofit that provides youth development experiences for middle and high school students by using mountain bikes as a character building tool. Our approach focuses on teaching life skills, not just bike skills. Students participate in multiple activities including team practices and group rides, planned adventure activities, competitive racing, and trail stewardship. Our approach also focuses on inclusivity, so there are no tryouts, and no one sits on the bench. NICA believes that everyone should have the opportunity to be part of a thriving cycling community, so we provide programmatic and financial resources to increase gender, racial, and economic diversity in our sport.
“Thank you to Climate Ride on behalf of all of us at NICA. We’re proud to be recognized by this grant as an organization working to increase access to cycling and the outdoors for traditionally denied communities. At NICA, we know how cycling impacts youth and their families. The challenge and adventure of cycling develops confidence, competence, and a deep sense of community and belonging. Females and people of color remain significantly underrepresented in NICA and in mountain biking more broadly. Our goal is to change that by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for underrepresented populations to join, stay, and thrive in NICA through focusing on recruitment, retention, and diversifying volunteer and coach leadership. We will be using this grant from Climate Ride to continue our work towards this goal so that every youth is empowered to be part of a thriving and engaged cycling community.” – Amanda Carey, PresidentLearn more > www.nationalmtb.org Connect and get involved with their work: On Instagram @nationalmtb On Facebook On Twitter @nationalmtb On LinkedIn See other Environmental Justice Action Grantees here.