Jake Tobias Statement

My first volunteer activity with the BK was helping with the move from the original location to the Laskie Alley location. After that, I was a fairly regular volunteer mechanic for about a year. Then I started teaching an evening class so I changed my role to shipment recipient (at my office, which was a block from Laskie) and shipment sorter. I also co-taught several classes. After the BK moved back to 18th and Alabama, it's been harder for me to be involved regularly, since I still teach many evenings and live in Oakland. I gave up my official staff position (I no longer hold a key or vote), but have continued to be involved intermittently. I've recently taken on the role of Shift Scheduler, as a way to contribute remotely.

While my ability to be involved on a regular basis has diminished, I still strongly believe in the Bike Kitchen's mission and organizational structure. I love the Bike Kitchen! On a recent Saturday, I was helping a patron who was very thankful. He asked how much we get paid. I was so proud to say that this is a totally volunteer-run organization. Not only is the BK in the business of helping people fix their bikes, but it's an example of what can happen when good people get together to do something not for profit - or even minimal pay - but for the pure love of the thing. It's just so rare in our society to see that kind of outpouring of effort without any profit motivation. I think the BK is a model not just related to bike-repair and the individual empowerment that comes from learning that, and not just in promoting the best non-polluting means of transportation, but also by representing an alternative to the materialism-based capitalist economy.