Watts Community Service with the East Side Bike Riders Club

The East Side Bike Riders Club (ESBRC) hosted the I Have a Dream Foundation – Los Angeles at its annual MLK Volunteer Day Community Service Clean-Up/Improvement Project in Watts. The ESBRC is a bicycle CO-OP that has been serving the Watts community for over seven years. The ESBRC is located on Central Avenue and 114th Street in Watts, and that is where the cleaning would take place: all along the street of Central going north to 108th Street. The founder of the organization, John Jones II, and the co-founder, John Jones III, are a father-son duo who are committed to serving their community of Watts by bringing in not just the elements and resources of the bike CO-OP itself, but also community service projects and a pay-it-forward model (they host MLK Day and Cesar Chavez Clean-Up/ Improvement days). John Jones III works for the city councilman in Watts and Harbor Gateway and is in charge of putting together community events and trying to make them happen. He grew up in Watts and is very connected to the culture and history of the city.

ESBR Supported IHADLA to Give Back During Watts Community Service Clean-Up and Improvement Project

The ESBRC was gracious enough to allow IHADLA’s Program 18 student Dreamers and staff to join them in a day of cleaning up and improving the streets of Watts. The Foundation for Second Chances and the LA Conservation Corps were also there to team up with ESBRC and IHADLA. Melissa, the executive director of Foundation for Second Chances, explained that they work closely with the ESBRC to make the city of Watts a better place and that people are getting involved in the community. The volunteer day was a really amazing unity of different organizations with a similar goal: to empower young people to do better through education and opportunity and thus bring up themselves and their communities.

After gathering the Dreamers and other volunteers, John Jones III presented an introduction to ESBRC, explaining that they have chapters in Detroit and Canada and predominantly serve low-income areas of the cities they work in. He asked the Dreamers why they were doing a day of service for MLK Day, and they responded, “Because he would want us to do something good for our community,” which was spot on! After the short introduction and explaining the importance of MLK Day to Watts, the ESBRC surprised us and the other volunteers with a breakfast of donuts and juice. It was completely unexpected, but a wonderful surprise. Clean-up tools and rules were distributed to all of the volunteers, and we took to the streets to begin our community service project in honor of MLK. A couple hours of hard work on behalf of the ESBRC, Foundation for Second Chances, LA Conservation Corps, other city councilmen, volunteers, and IHADLA Dreamers and staff made a huge difference in how the streets of Watts looked! The Dreamers were very proud of their accomplishments and realized that their work really did make a difference in their local community.

To our surprise, again, the ESBRC provided lunch for all volunteers after the clean-up! They grilled hot dogs and provided individual chip bags and lots of water, telling the volunteers to eat up and drink water to stay hydrated. In addition to the delicious barbeque lunch, John Jones III and EJ, ESBRC’s Treasurer, had gone out of their way to get a birthday cake for one of our Dreamers, T’Nyja. They had heard from our program coordinators that she came to volunteer on her birthday and wanted to do something special for her. These individuals are truly wonderful and care so much about others and their well-being. John Jones III said, “They just want to make others happy,” which they completely achieved during this clean-up project! The day was amazing, and a sense of community was further built by those who attended the clean-up event. Thank you, ESRBC, for an awesome day of fun, hard work, education, and empowerment!

For more information on what the CO-OP offers, please visit their website: www.eastsideridersbikeclub.com
You can also find them on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @eastsideriders

IHADLA group photo in front of the Watts CO-OP before the day's community service project began
IHADLA group photo in front of the CO-OP before the day’s service project began.
The inside of ESBRC's CO-OP Shop
The inside of ESBRC’s CO-OP Shop!
John Jones III, ESBRC's Co-Founder, speaks to IHADLA Dreamers and volunteers about the significance of MLK Day to the community, as well as paying it forward
John Jones III, ESBRC’s Co-Founder, speaks to the Dreamers and volunteers about the significance of MLK Day to the community, as well as paying it forward.
Melissa's son, Melissa the Executive Director from Foundation for Second Chances, and EJ (ESBRC Treasurer) serve breakfast
Melissa’s son, Melissa the Executive Director from Foundation for Second Chances, and EJ (ESBRC Treasurer) serve breakfast.
IHADLA Watts T'Nyja and Program Assistant Kylia work together to clean up Watts!
T’Nyja and Program Assistant Kylia work together to clean up Watts!
Luis Rivera from the Mayor's Office came by to help out and briefly spoke to the Dreamers about the importance of community service and staying in school
Luis Rivera from the Mayor’s Office came by to help out and briefly spoke to the Dreamers about the importance of doing good for the community and staying in school.
IHADLA Program Coordinator Alberto helps Jesus bag the street rubbish
Program Coordinator Alberto helps Jesus bag the street rubbish.
IHADLA student Dreamers helping each other improve their community of Watts
Dreamers helping each other improve their community of Watts.
IHADLA Watts community service cleaning the streets
Dreamers cleaning the streets!
IHADLA Group photo in front of a Watts statue landmark with East Side Bike Riders Club
Group photo in front of a Watts statue landmark.
Welcome to Watts sign after their community service clean-up project
Our Program 18 Dreamers proudly posing in front of the “Welcome to Watts” sign after their clean-up project.
Dreamers and volunteers getting their lunch, which was provided by East Side Bike Riders Club
Dreamers and volunteers getting their lunch, which was provided by ESBRC.
IHADLA T'Nyja receiving her birthday cake and being sang
T’Nyja receiving her birthday cake and being sang “Happy Birthday.”