In a year of often overwhelming challenges, it can be difficult to decide what steps of action to take. There is a need for healing and positive change almost everywhere we turn. Our colleague Holly Anselm recently introduced us to an organization that is striving to bring this change through the positive energy and active involvement of bike rides through our community. Peace Peloton hosts bike rides and other bicycle related events to increase support for black and brown owned business. Each ride follows a different route, and Hemispheres was proud to be the starting point of a recent ride.
About a hundred riders gathered outside our offices on a recent Saturday morning. We heard inspirational talks from the founder of Peace Peloton, the owner of Boon Boona African sourced coffee, and Chukundi Salisbury who is running for state representative. They encouraged us to keep pushing ourselves to do more to ensure that people of color are equally represented at all levels of business, government, and other organizations.
Following these talks, riders mounted up and headed for the streets. Our path led past the ballot drop box in Ballard, to Gas Works Park, through downtown, and then up to Capitol Hill. Along the way, we stopped to support a few black owned businesses and to hear their perspectives and advice. We were also encouraged by a cheering crowd as we rode past the flagship REI store.
It was energizing to be a part of a crew of riders encouraging positive improvements for our community and getting exercise at the same time. With so much isolation these days, it was good to be back around other people, even though we were masked up and keeping as distant as feasible.
Peace Peloton encourages us to make changes and connections, sometimes just one person and one conversation at a time. We at Hemispheres are eager to build stronger communities and strive to support individuals and organizations working to improve the human experience. Hopefully, you can join us at a future Peace Peloton event in Seattle or as they expand to DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, and other future cities.
