Sara McGuirk is the Volunteer Coordinator at the Bike Library and currently teaches communications, writing, and diversity, equity, and inclusion courses at the University of Iowa Magid Center for Undergraduate Writing and Tippie College of Business. McGuirk is driven by outreach and advocacy initiatives that demand action--ones that prompt meaningful impact by sharing meaningful human experiences in original ways. McGuirk holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a BA from the University of Notre Dame where she studied English Literature and Film production. This was her first journey into audio production, and podcast narration writing interviewing, editing, etc. She's extremely thankful to have spearheaded this initiative with such an incredible team of dedicated movers and shakers.
Tracy Jon Sargeant is the founder and Executive Director of the Multicultural Development Center of Iowa (MDC Iowa), a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing racial equity. Tracy Jon has spent 26 years in the technology industry and for most of his career he has been the only person of color in the room which he aims to change through focused outreach and continued representation for young learners. Tracy Jon and the MDC Iowa team serve Johnson county through four main initiatives including: STEM Factory – a program designed to improve diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through year-round learning experiences for historically underrepresented people in STEM, a BIPOC Business Accelerator program, cybersecurity training and career development, and a mentoring program to support each initiative. Embracing project-based education, MDC Iowa provides hands-on learning experiences at no cost to the community in an effort to remove any barriers to participation. Whether it is STEM education, entrepreneur support, or workforce development, MDC Iowa has a program for anyone regardless of age, race, or socioeconomic status. Join them in the ‘Dream It. Learn It. Make It.’ revolution.
Caroline Garske is a historian and graphic designer who recently relocated to the Chicago area. Originally from St. Louis, Caroline spent seven years in Iowa City: first as a student of history and political science (BA, 18) and then as the Undergraduate Program & Outreach Coordinator for the Department of Geographical & Sustainability Sciences at the University of Iowa. In addition to her work with the Bike Library, Caroline has enjoyed working with Inside Out Reentry Community and the Women’s Resource & Action Center in Iowa City. In her free time Caroline enjoys exploring local bike trails, reading about history and art, and sharpening her Russian language skills.
Hannah holds an MFA in Fiber and Material Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a BFA in Sculpture from The Ohio State University. Prior to teaching at the University of Iowa, Hannah taught sculpture courses at The University of Chicago, and collaborated with Art and Public Life Arts Incubator workshops. She has been an artist in residence at the Chicago Artist Coalition, Vermont Studio Center, 8550 Ohio, and Umoja Center for the Arts in Arusha Tanzania. Her works have been exhibited nationally and internationally at venues such as The Cultural Center in Arusha Tanzania, The Banff Centre, 4th Ward Project Space, Logan Exhibitions, Chicago Artist Coalition, Flatland Gallery, and DEMO Projects.
Austin Wu is a recent graduate from the University of Iowa College of Public Health and a board member at the Bike Library. Short of calling himself a bicyclist in the strict sense, he would consider himself to be a "person who rides bicycles" for commuting, leisure, and exercise, and sees bicycles as an important tool for creating healthier, safer, and cleaner city streets. In his spare time he also enjoys folk music and breakfast food, and contributes to the Iowa City Press-Citizen as a columnist writing about local history, urban planning and design, as well as how a better tangible future in eastern Iowa can be imagined through taking inspiration from principles of the past.
John Lyons is a recent graduate from the University of Iowa’s English and Creative Writing program. This is John’s first year volunteering with the Bike Library, and the world of cycling itself is very new to him! But he’s found this past year to be a truly invaluable experience and would like to thank everyone at the Bike Library and all those in the community who make such an indispensable space as the BL possible. As he continues to learn more about the world of cycling, John will be spending time in Iowa City this upcoming year reading, writing (hopefully), and trying to find ways to continue to get to know the Iowa City community more fully.
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Devale Gates is the CEO and Founder of Victory Over Odds (VOO). VOO is a design and apparel company based out of Iowa City, Iowa. Devale is also a master in upholstery. When he heard about the Raise It Up Ride he knew that his skills could come in handy. He felt that it was part of his title and duty to put something together for the historical Raise It Up Ride event, and he made a one-of-kind, custom made VOO jacket. It is on display at the Bike Library. He also helped design and installed the covers for the five apparatuses at the ride checkpoints. Right now he's part of MDCIowa's BIPOC INCubate Accelerator Program. He works with Tracy Jon to help other entrepreneurs innovate for the future.
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Audrey Wiedemeier is the Executive Director of the Bike Library. She got her start working on bikes as a volunteer at the BL over a decade ago. She is a graduate of the United Bicycle Institute and raves about the 1st annual WTF Bikexplores Summit she attended in Whitefish, MT. Her dear friend Tony Branch and her have been working together for many years to get more kids on bikes, and they co-founded Women Empowerment Ride (W.E. Ride), a program for girls to develop confidence and skills through biking. She invites any women-identifying and gender non-conforming folks to join in at W/T/F (Women/Trans/Femme) Night. Her skill sets include MTB, mechanics and connecting with kiddos while out riding.