Media Coverage
Volunteers from Idaho Central Credit Union deliver donated bicycles to River City Youth Ops office in the Saranac Commons on July 25. The nonprofit’s relaunch will be this fall with a “Bike Bus,” in which volunteers pick up kids from their homes and they all bike to West Central schools together. A similar bike bus in Portland has been a huge hit for the kids and on social media. (COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
Spokesman review
Local nonprofit aimed at giving West Central youth life skills relaunches with Bike Bus program
When Kate Burke was hired as executive director of River City Youth Ops, it felt like a perfect fit: both were going through a reset.
After deciding not to run for re-election to her seat on the Spokane City Council in 2021, Burke took time to rest and reflect, traveling for a year and reconnecting with the things that made her happy.
Mentoring, teaching, organizing and riding her bike are some of those things…
Young Kwak photo
Kate Burke is working to rebuild River City Youth Ops.
Inlander
As she takes the lead at River City Youth Ops, Kate Burke hopes to reinvigorate the organization where she got her start
For Kate Burke, stepping into her role as the executive director of River City Youth Ops this June marked the start of a new phase for herself and the organization.
"When I saw the job description, I realized that this is something that truly brings me joy," she says. "Working with young people, community building, networking and working for something that you believe in is super important to me."
The sense of purpose and positivity that the position offered were especially important to Burke. Her time as a Spokane City Council member was still fresh in her mind; the burnout from that experience had led her to step away from elected office after her first term ended in 2021…
Hailey Coll, right, signals as she leads a group of elementary kids on bikes up to a corner on their way home from Holmes Elementary School in the West Central neighborhood Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. Taking up the rear of the group is volunteer Tami Linene-Booey at far left. The "bike bus" concept of having adults ride to and from school with children is catching on after River City Youth Ops started a bike bus program at Holmes Elementary. (Jesse Tinsley/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
Kate Burke guides youth program with new ideas.
Spokesman review
All aboard Holmes Elementary’s ‘bike bus,’ which teaches kids independence and safe ridership to and from school
For a handful of Holmes Elementary kids, the big yellow school bus is out and the “bike bus” is in.
In the West Central Neighborhood school, some opt for a less traditional approach. Led by experienced adult riders, kids peddle single file down city streets on their way to and from school and make stops at each kids’ home.
Not only does it get kids outside and active, riding with adults teaches them bike safety and builds their confidence to ride independently once they’re older.
“It’s about instilling bike safety that us adults do on the road,” said Chelsea Hardenbrook, operations manager for River City Youth Ops, which organizes the bike bus rides, supplies kids with bikes and helmets and teaches bike safety. “We use hand signals, wear helmets, that kind of thing.”…
the fig tree
River City Youth Ops empowers today's youth
By Sofia Sanchez - Intern
Kate Burke, the executive director of the River City Youth Ops, is back, bringing fresh energy to the organization after spending some time in politics.
Growing up in Spokane, she worked 14 years ago for the River City Youth Ops. Ten years ago, she served on the board.
Kate hopes River City Youth Ops will lay a foundation for today's youth as it has for so many youth in West Central Spokane. The nonprofit promotes social services and job training such as growing food on small urban farms.
Now she is working with the board and neighborhood to expand it from its focus on summer and fall agricultural programs to include programs that run year-round…