While other students boarded planes to far-off destinations for a study abroad program, George Hickey, a 7th-semester English major, decided to stay a little closer to home. Along with five other UConn students, Hickey took advantage of UConn's small Urban Semester Program in Hartford.
Through Urban Semester, Hickey works at the Urban League of Greater Hartford, an organization that strives to "work with families and our public and private partners to eliminate educational, economic, and health disparities in our community" according to the Urban League Web site.
This semester, Hickey was involved with the Hot Spot Bike Shop, Urban League's own bike shop that sells fixed up donated bikes and affordable tune-ups. Hot Spot Bike Shop takes donated bikes, repairs them and sells them back at extremely competitive prices, none over forty dollars, said Hickey.
Five students from underprivileged backgrounds who attend surrounding high schools staff the bike shop with Hickey. From four to seven in the afternoon on Tuesday through Thursday, the students help repair, sell and tune up the bikes.
Odingo Tuinn is one of children working with Hickey at the Hot Spot Bike Shop. The 17-year-old junior from Weaver High School had many positive things to say about both the bike shop and the Urban League.
"I really like Urban League. They get so many different programs, like Hot Spot, and you have so many different things to do," Tuinn said. "It's a lot of fun to work with George and all my friends here."
"We're giving the kids something safe and productive to do after school. They're not getting paid, but they're doing a great job. They're great kids," Hickey said.
The bikes are available for anyone to buy.
"We have every type of bike," Hickey said. "BMX, mountain, road, everything."
On Oct. 25, the Hot Spot Bike Shop plans to set up a tent at the Hartford Cross, an annual bike race along the picturesque Riverside Part in Hartford. Racers who donate a bike part or tool will have five dollars waived from their registration fee, according to Hickey and the race Web site.
For anyone interested in getting involved, Hickey explained they are always looking for volunteers, preferably ones who know bikes and like to work with kids. The bike shop is also always looking for bike, bike part or bike tool donations.
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