Why am I doing this trip?

Honestly, I’m biking across the country because I want to. I love riding my bicycle, and I like to find new challenges. There’s no better way to really see a place than on the seat of a bicycle. Off the interstates, moving slowly with no glass between you and the land – it doesn’t get any better. (Check back on this one. Feelings may change on a 100-mile day through wind and rain.)
However, I also deeply believe in the mission of the Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle School, and the broader work that Achievement First and othr organizations are doing for educationally disadvantaged students. If we can give all kids a quality education, and offer them the opportunities of higher education, we’ll go a long way to solving many of society’s problems. It will be a big win for all of us, not just the kids we help. I’ve worked with several organizations that share this goal. The bike ride is just another way to continue the work.
In New York City, charter schools enjoy full funding from the city, as well as usage of existing school facilities. Children in Connecticut are not as fortunate. Connecticut underfunds operating expenses, and requires schools to fund their own physical plant. Public charter schools receive approximately 70 percent of the per-student funding allocated to traditional public schools. Legislation to address this inequity was recently killed before it made it to the floor of the legislature. Every dollar raised for a quality Connecticut charter school has a quantifiable impact on kids’ lives.
The Achievement First Bridgeport Academy, while fairly new, has had some amazing results, including being the top middle school in the state for student performance gains over the course of the year. This place gets the job done! A second school in Bridgeport will open next year, with plans for more – if you help out.
Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states, and has some of the nation’s top public schools. Sadly, education for poor and minority students is among the worst in the country. The statistics will shock you. Connecticut has the nation’s largest achievement gap for eighth graders, and ranks in the bottom 10 of states in several measures of poor and minority student performance. You can read more about it here. It’s a very interesting read.
So, yes, I want to do this trip, but the cause is good, and the need is great.