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Council committee approves donating impounded motorcycles to Bikerfest MKE youth program
Summary
A substitute resolution authorizing donation of impounded, damaged motorcycles to Bikerfest MKE for youth training, mentorship and STEM programming was adopted after sponsors described partnerships with MATC, DPW confirmed tow-lot mechanisms and a youth participant shared his experience.
The committee approved a substitute resolution authorizing the donation of certain impounded and damaged motorcycles to Bikerfest MKE, a nonprofit that runs youth mentorship and motorcycle-education programs.
Sponsor Alderman Perez told the committee the program uses repurposed motorcycles to teach rider safety, mechanics and STEM skills and that it connects youth with professional racers, coaches and local training partners such as MATC. "This program targets Central City youth and exposes them to professional racers, coaches via carefully curated curriculum to develop their racing abilities, rider safety, mechanics, and — most importantly — STEM education," Perez said.
Venetia Simpson, identified in the record as Bikerfest MKE’s executive director, told the committee the program emphasizes mentorship, hands-on learning and personal development. A program facilitator said the group partners with MSOE engineering students as mentors and that some youth can disassemble and rebuild bikes to the frame and then race them.
DPW staff said the tow lot has a mechanism to donate scrapped or abandoned motorcycles (many are damaged and otherwise only worth scrap), and staff expressed support for the partnership. Youth participants also briefed the committee on their positive experiences in the program.
Committee action: Multiple aldermen asked to be cosponsors. Chair moved adoption and, hearing no objections, ordered the substitute adopted.
What happens next: The nonprofit may refurbish donated motorcycles for training and limited raffles to support program funding, and the sponsor said she hopes to expand connections to additional training and career pathways.
