Critical Mass Summit's goal is to build a more inclusive trails, cycling, and active transportation community. This summit welcomes marginalized community members and existing stakeholders to engage in our region's built environment; we’re redefining who is a part of "the bubble" of decision and influence. With national and local voices leading the conversations, Trailblazers’ hope is that attendees walk away with the tools to positively impact the development of active transportation infrastructure and support building an inclusive culture.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDING ASSISTANCE
With the goal of removing barriers within our reach, scholarships and additional financial assistance is available for participants by request through the registration process.
Scholarships and reduced-rate tickets are available and should be selected during the registration process. Registering for a scholarship ticket serves as an application and people will be notified of their application status within 5 business days. This is intended to help bring in community members who otherwise might not have been able to join due to financial barriers. Please also look at the other financial assistance available to support participation in the summit.
Additional financial assistance is available to help cover the costs of being absent from a day of work and/or assist with child-care costs and transportation. If your participation is less likely due to covering the cost of childcare, needing to take a day off work, or a lack of transportation, please take advantage of this funding. We’ll work on an individual basis and ask that participants have an idea of the cost that they could use support for. Participants can check a box for multiple types of support during the registration process and are not limited to only one. For example, someone who could use support covering childcare and also transportation can apply for both.
For more information or with questions, please contact Lauren Hildreth at [email protected].
Critical Mass Summit is a two-day event:
Friday, November 4 is a hybrid in-person/virtual experience based at Mt Sequoyah in Fayetteville, AR and online through Zoom Events. The summit consists of sessions that engage participants in conversation around infrastructure and connectivity, creating inclusive cycling events and programs, empowering communities, becoming a leader or advocate, and working towards collective change. With tracks that focus on affinity and accountability spaces, the experience is adaptable to where individuals are in their journey.
Saturday, November 5 is available for full-weekend, in-person participants providing recreational opportunities around Northwest Arkansas. Activities range from artistic workshops, climbing, yoga and meditation, mountain bike riding, hiking, kayaking, a bike-build workshop with Pedal it Forward, and more. This is a perfect time to try something new and expand your horizons. Affinity space activities will also be available for BIPOC, Queer, and Women-only spaces. Space is limited in each activity and people are encouraged to register early to increase the likelihood of participation in their top choice.
Activities will be followed by the Critical Mass Ride in Fayetteville.
On Saturday, November 5, summit participants and community members are invited to join the first Critical Mass Ride in Fayetteville. A limited number of bicycles will be available for free and can be reserved when registering for the summit. Community members are welcome and encouraged to join, regardless of participation in the overall summit- invite your family and friends!
Meeting place in Fayetteville and time to be determined.
Attendees are able to register and participate in the Critical Mass Summit in person on Friday and Saturday or virtually on Friday only. Early bird pricing begins on September 6 and a limited number of scholarships are also available.
For more information about the schedule, registration, scholarships and financial support, sessions, and activities, please explore this website, visit the registration page on Eventbrite, or reach out to Lauren Hildreth at [email protected].
Still Have Some Questions?
Meet The Team
Bea Apple
Prentis Grayson
Kelsey
Kimberly Seay
Lauren Hildreth
Trailblazers
Trailblazers is a nonprofit formed in 2021 through the merger of NWA Trailblazers, an organization that has developed 300+ miles of multi-use trails, including the OZ Trails network, and BikeNWA, a bicycle advocacy and education-focused organization that has led the region in advocating for active transportation. Our core areas of work include Trail Development and Consulting and Community Outreach and Advocacy. Our mission is to lead the development of an innovative regional recreation and transportation movement that places trails, cycling, and active transportation infrastructure at the core of an inclusive, vibrant, and healthy culture.
Bike.POC
Bike.POC was formed by Kim Seay and Bea Apple in early 2020 to diversify the cycling community in Northwest Arkansas. They launched a series of Black Lives Matter rides to show support for racial justice issues and create a welcoming place for people of color to participate. BikeNWA supported this effort by providing bikes and logistical support. In 2021, BIke.POC joined the Trailblazers organization as an incubator initiative to further work together in diversity, equity, and inclusion of the cycling and active transportation community in Northwest Arkansas.
