When Raven Johnson was one year old, she started volunteering at the Community Cycling Center. At the time, Raven didn’t have much say in the matter, but now that she’s six, she really enjoys being a part of the Community Cycling Center. Her favorite activity is to help distribute bikes at the Holiday Bike Drive because she knows she’s helping other kids get bicycles. Her mom Deborah says she really connects with the children at the Holiday Bike Drive. In fact, Raven is so generous about wanting other children to have bikes that she has donated all of her outgrown bikes to the CCC.
Deborah Johnson, a demographics teacher with Smart Girl Technologies, used to live around the corner from the old CCC location at Northeast 24th and Alberta. With Raven in a bike seat behind her, Deborah was a volunteer assistant on group rides through our Summer Rides program. Deborah has seen a lot of changes and growth take place at the CCC over the years, and she is enthusiastic to remain a part of the Center.
“I like that the CCC is community-oriented and reaching out to kids,” she explains, “And getting kids to wear helmets! I always stop kids on the street if they’re not wearing a helmet.”
To be able to volunteer with her daughter, Deborah says, is huge. As a single mom, it’s essential to be able to bring Raven along on volunteer projects. The CCC has made such a difference, Deborah explains, in always making it a welcoming environment for Raven to join her. Even more than that, Deborah stresses, is her desire to raise Raven in a lifestyle that naturally incorporates volunteering. Volunteering has always been a part of Deborah’s life and she hopes to raise Raven with the same dedication.
Deborah and Raven have tried a little of everything at the CCC, from bike cleaning and special event support to their current job of processing our bills once a month. As Raven gets older, Deborah looks forward to helping her learn more about bike mechanics as they volunteer.
Volunteering with CCC is just one of Deborah’s many projects. She was also recently accepted to be a volunteer grant evaluator with the Oregon Community Foundation. Together, Raven and Deborah love to ride bikes, visit the gorge, go swimming and attend the many local events that happen throughout the year.
We are so grateful to Deborah and Raven for their dedication over the years, and we have loved watching little Raven grow with us.
Bicycle 