MIT Spokes

This summer, MIT Spokes is embarking on a cross-country bike ride to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workshops to underserved K–12 communities. Over 75 days, our team will bike over 4,100 miles, from Washington, DC, to San Francisco, and host learning festivals, all-day events containing hands-on STEM workshops taught by Spokes members.

A central goal of MIT Spokes is bridging the gap in STEM education and empowerment among rural, low-income, and underserved communities across the country. Unfortunately, rural communities are often left behind in terms of education quality. The practice of funding schools through property taxes only exacerbates inequality. Schools may lack funding to provide experiential learning and develop engaging activities for students. MIT Spokes also strives to address the lack of engaging educational opportunities for incarcerated youth. Students in juvenile detention receive less instructional time than other students in the United States, and courses are often limited in scope and complexity. The creativity and dynamism of experiential learning are not prioritized within these educational systems.

WHO WE ARE

The current Spokes team is made up of eight MIT students who came to the Institute to pursue their passions in math, science, engineering and the humanities. More importantly, we believe in sharing our knowledge with others to inspire future generations.

2024 Spokes Team

• Amulya Aluru ’23, ’24; Computer Science and Molecular Biology
• JD Hagood ’27; Mathematics, Physics
• Clelia Lacarriere ’27; Mathematics, AI & Decision Making
• Rebecca Lizarde ’24; Materials Science and Engineering, Urban Science and Planning
• Varsha Sandadi ’23, ’24; Computation and Cognition
• Hank Stennes ’26; Computer Science and Engineering
• Sophia Wang ’24; Aerospace Engineering
• Jessica Xu ’23, ’24; Computer Science and Engineering

WHAT WE DO

Inspired by MIT’s hands-on approach to education, we create STEM curricula that complement those of our K–12 host schools. We teach these workshops to schools, libraries, and summer camps across the United States. We establish strong connections with communities, students, and host families. We document our experiences. We sweat (a lot).😊In the process, we become a family.

Oh yeah...and we bike the whole 4,100 miles.

WHY BIKE?

We want to show that engineers and scientists can be athletic too. We’re breaking stereotypes. We’re also stepping out of our comfort zones, physically and mentally. And... how many people can say they’ve biked across the United States of America?

WE NEED YOUR HELP

With a big trip, we need the support of dedicated individuals like yourself. In addition to corporate sponsorships, we’re looking to crowdsource $10,000 to make this trip happen. If you are a cycling advocate or enthusiast, please consider supporting our journey. If you connect with our mission and want to help us reach out to kids across the US, please consider supporting us.