Cycling4Diversity team profiled in the Agassiz-Harrison Observer

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Raising awareness one peddle at a time

Members of the Cycling4diversity group visited two schools in Agassiz and one in Harrison Hot Springs Wednesday, May 25.

— Image Credit: Anne-Marie Sjoden/Special To The Observer

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• by  Ashley Wadhwani - Agassiz Observer
• posted Jun 3, 2016 at 12:00 PM

To mark a week of promoting diversity, not-for-profit group Cycling4Diversity visited three schools in the Agassiz and Harrison Hot Springs area Wednesday, May 25.

The C4D team spent the morning traveling between Kent Elementary and Agassiz Secondary school and later cycled to Harrison Hot Springs and spoke at Harrison Elementary, where they received a wonderful response.

The cycling group's founder Ken Herar said students were very excited to hear the group speak on  diversity..

“We are extremely honoured to have received the support from the community and the schools we visited on the first leg of our three-day journey.”

The founder said when he asked if racism exists in the area, “many of the students expressed concerns much work remains.”

For the groups’s executive director Anne-Marie Sjoden, this was her third ride, although first in Agassiz and Harrison.

“It always brings joy to me, when I hear the stories on how we have been making a difference in the peoples life’s that we have touched.  And how amazing friendships have formed all because of asking the kids to do one simple task, introducing themselves to some they had not been friends with before today,” she said.

For more information about the group, visit cycling4diversity.ca.

Surrey Now: Encouraging South Asians to step outside their culture

Cycling4Diversity urges Surrey Khalsa students to make friends with kids from other cultures

By BEAU SIMPSON
June 2, 2016 · 8:28 AM

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Cycling4Diversity founder Ken Herar talks to Khalsa school students in Surrey on May 26. / SUBMITTED

NEWTON — Students at two Khalsa schools in Surrey were asked to do one simple task on May 26 – make friends with someone outside their own culture.

It’s a simple, yet powerful request the Cycling4Diversity team has been making in schools throughout B.C. for the past six years, thanks to founder Ken Herar.

“Our team has always felt welcomed at the Khalsa schools in Surrey and students were really excited to have a conversation on diversity related topics,” he said.

Herar founded the group  in 2010 after he found out he was not welcome at a certain Christmas party because he was South Asian.

He said despite the community support and the incredible response from the schools he visits, much work remains to be done.

“When the question was asked if racism still exists in the area, many of the students expressed concerns,” he said.

Anne-Marie Sjoden is Cycling4Diversity executive director. This was her third ride.

“It always brings joy to me, when I hear the stories on how we have been making a difference in the peoples lives that we have touched,” she said. “And how amazing friendships have formed all because of asking the kids to do one simple task, introducing themselves to some they had not been friends with before today.”

beau.simpson@thenownewspaper.com