LACBC
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Newsletter

December 18, 2014

In this issue
Welcome to Our New Executive Director
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

Tamika Butler  

Introducing our new Executive Director, Tamika Butler!

 

After an extensive national search, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has selected Tamika Butler to lead LACBC into the next phase of continued growth as we further our mission to make the Los Angeles region a healthy, safe and fun place to ride a bike.

 

"I'm really proud of the process and results of the search and couldn't be more excited about Tamika as our next Executive Director," says LACBC Board President Steve Boyd. "Tamika is the ideal leader to write LACBC's next chapter." 

 

Tamika brings to LACBC a proven track record of sustainably expanding and running programs and organizations, as well as a policy and advocacy background. She spent three years as an employment lawyer at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center and most recently comes from Liberty Hill Foundation, where she was the Director of Social Change Strategies. She first made her mark in Los Angeles as the California Director at the startup policy and advocacy organization Young Invincibles, where she managed the west coast regional staff, was the media and policy spokesperson, organized and led coalitions, developed curriculum and trainings, and fundraised to expand the organization's presence on the west coast. She also developed relationships with community leaders and state and local lawmakers to advance the organization's policy goals.

 

Tamika Butler "I am thrilled to have the privilege to become the next Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and look forward to continuing the success, growth and cutting edge work of the organization. Biking in Los Angeles County has personally changed my life and deepens my love of the region every time I go for a ride. We're lucky to live and bike in a county full of diverse communities that motivate this talented staff and me to push towards building a healthier, more vibrant Los Angeles County. I am excited to start pedaling, dig deep, and get to work with our members and partners, within and across sectors, as we race to the front lines of the nationwide movement to create bikeable, safe and sustainable neighborhoods." One of Tamika's top priorities is to grow the diversity of LACBC staff and coalition membership.

 

When Jen Klausner started as Executive Director in 2007, there was only one other employee at headquarters and it was a real struggle to keep doors open. Jen and the organization faced an uphill battle at City Hall to pass the Los Angeles Bicycle Plan and get pavement striped with room for bikes. Seven years later, under her leadership, there are now twelve employees working on your behalf with a LOT of successes! Our growing roster of twelve local chapters will extend that reach even further as we strive to more fully represent the diversity of those who bicycle and want to bicycle in all neighborhoods across Los Angeles County. Tamika brings deep experience in social justice work and looks forward to working with the full range of communities across the county. We couldn't be more excited.

 

Jen says, "Our new Executive Director Tamika Butler brings a fresh perspective to the leadership of LACBC, and one that is so relevant to the growth of the bike-ped movement and to important dialogues happening here and in cities across the nation. I am confident in Tamika's ability to take LACBC to the next level, and I, for one, will be staying tuned and keeping my membership current, because this organization is poised to do great things in the coming years. Please join me in extending a very warm welcome to Tamika!"

 

Jen Mishory, Executive Director of Young Invincibles, agrees that Tamika will make a great Executive Director: "Tamika is a dynamic, innovative leader who will be a huge asset to the LACBC team. She brought Young Invincibles to new heights and I know that she'll do the same in her new role!"

 

We look forward to introducing Tamika to our members, partners and supporters at the first available opportunity in January. Look for announcements of those opportunities in our weekly newsletter, on the website, and through Facebook and Twitter. And don't forget--as part of our end of year campaign, any donation at the $250 level and above will get you an invitation to our January 22nd Donor Thank You Party--an intimate gathering with our brand new Executive Director, Tamika Butler, in attendance. Hope to see you there!
Events, Meetings, & Volunteer Opportunities

Kevin's Annual Finish the Ride to Camp 9
When: Sunday, December 21; 7:45 a.m.
Where: Bicycle John's Santa Clarita - 26635 Valley Center Drive, Suite 108, Santa Clarita
Join 2nd annual non-memorial ride to celebrate Santa Clarita Valley Bicycle Coalition member Kevin Korenthal's successful recovery from a bike-on-car collision at Bear Divide on Sand Canyon Rd on December 22nd 2012. This event is sponsored by SCVBC and the Forged by Fire Foundation. See Facebook event.

Team LACBC Climate Ride Lunchtime Meet and Greet - DTLA
When: Wednesday, January 6; 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Where: LACBC HQ - 634 S. Spring St., Downtown Los Angeles

Are you interested in joining Team LACBC for the 2015 Climate Ride on the gorgeous Northern California coast but want to know more? Come to a brown bag lunch and meet Climate Ride Ride Director, Blake Holiday!  He will be on hand to discuss Climate Ride and answer your questions! RSVP here.

 

Team LACBC Climate Ride Evening Meet and Greet - Culver City
When: Wednesday, January 6; 6 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Culver Hotel - 9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City
Are you interested in joining Team LACBC for the 2015 Climate Ride on the gorgeous Northern California coast but want to know more? Come to happy hour at the Culver Hotel and meet Climate Ride Ride Director, Blake Holiday!  He will be on hand to discuss Climate Ride and answer your questions! RSVP here.

Chinatown Firecracker Run & Ride
When: Saturday, February 28 (bike ride with LACBC bike valet) & Sunday, March 1 (run)
Where: Chinatown
Ring in the Lunar New Year by riding or running, and celebrate the Year of the Goat! For the past few years, we've partnered with the excellent Chinatown Firecracker Ride & Run by providing bike valet for the event. Also, for each registrant who indicates that they were referred to the event by LACBC, the Firecracker organizers will donate $7 to LACBC! More info.
LACBC Local Chapters - Join when you become an LACBC member or renew your membership!


Other Events Around Town

Join LACBC or Renew

 

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is a member-supported organization that works for you to build a better, more bike-able L.A. County. 

Members are the backbone of LACBC! Help keep LACBC strong by becoming an 
LACBC member (or renewing your membership) and be part of the change!
Contact Information

Carol Feucht
Membership & Communications Director
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

carol@la-bike.org

 

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