Looking for a job can feel isolating. Rejection emails pile up, networking can be intimidating, and figuring out your next step often feels like something you have to do alone.

That’s exactly why Indego and the City of Philadelphia created Wheels to Work, a free workforce development program that combines bicycle education with career-building workshops and one-on-one support to help participants build confidence both on and off the bike.

Over six weeks, participants sharpen their job-search skills, learn how to ride safely throughout Philadelphia, and connect with others navigating similar career journeys. We recently spoke with three graduates from our latest cohort, and one message came through again and again: they realized they weren’t alone.

For Sara, that realization came almost immediately. After nearly two years of job searching, she joined Wheels to Work hoping to figure out what was missing. Instead, she found something she didn’t expect: a community of people facing many of the same challenges.

Sara Anastazia, 48, lives in Germantown and brings experience as a stonemason, artist, cook, gardener, and more. She hoped the program would help strengthen her job search and uncover new opportunities.

Was there a lesson, guest speaker, or activity that had the biggest impact on you?

The information on LinkedIn was especially helpful. I’d forgotten how much employment is wrapped up in how you sell yourself, and that was a vital portal I was missing. Also, the presentation on Vision Zero was very powerful. I took the pledge, and I look at those speed bumps in a totally different way now.  

What surprised you most about Wheels to Work? 

I realized that I wasn’t alone. Every single person I met had struggled to find work. We were gig workers, servers, cooks, drivers, day laborers, etc., and each of us didn’t have a full-time job with benefits. So many people are struggling to find work, and it feels like the job market is getting smaller.

How has the program changed the way you feel about riding a bike in Philadelphia? 

The Vision Zero presentation had a big impact. I’ve always loved biking in Philadelphia, so that hasn’t changed. I feel even more passionate about making biking accessible. I’m very excited about Indego coming to Germantown, where I live. 

How has participating in Wheels to Work affected your confidence, either on a bike or in your career journey? 

It helped me know I’m not alone. In my late 40s, it felt like I was missing a piece of the puzzle. Now I feel much more confident in applying for jobs.

What is Wheels to Work?

-A free six-week workforce development program that takes place in the spring
-Weekly career workshops
-Bike safety education
-One-on-one coaching
-Professional guest speakers
-Free Indego365 Plus pass for completing the program!

Like Sara, Lotus found that the connections she made were just as valuable as the lessons themselves. After stepping away from her business for about a year following a difficult personal experience, she joined Wheels to Work to reconnect with her professional goals.

Originally from New York City, Lotus moved to Philadelphia during the pandemic. She is a certified trauma-informed practitioner, a reverend, and is currently training to become a yoga teacher. Through the program, she gained new tools for resume building, interviewing, and growing her business.

Was there a lesson, guest speaker, or activity that had the biggest impact on you?

I had this sworn vendetta against LinkedIn for a very, very long time. But after having that one session, I was like, oh my God, this is so cool. There are so many aspects to LinkedIn that I had no idea about. No one ever sat down and really broke down the benefits and how it could help me grow my business and get clientele.

It was really nice to have the support of the team to help me and have a goal every week: going to a class and sitting and talking to other people and also realizing that I wasn’t alone.

How has the program changed the way you feel about riding a bike in Philly?

The program helped me be more aware of how much more intentional I can be about my safety and the safety of others. And I really appreciated that, but it just made me love biking in the city more. I bike pretty much every day now, and I enjoy that time by myself.

What does access to reliable transportation mean to you?

Reliable transportation is about freedom. It supports my mental health because it allows me to get beyond my neighborhood, explore different parts of the city, experience new cultures, and meet people I might not have crossed paths with otherwise.

I love biking to a new café or mural and taking in the beauty of Philadelphia. Having another option besides the bus, which can make me anxious, means I can get where I need to go while enjoying the ride, getting some exercise, and sightseeing along the way.

While community was a common thread throughout the program, Shanika’s experience shows what can happen when confidence begins to grow. After months of job applications and rejection emails, she joined Wheels to Work hoping for a fresh start and found the encouragement she needed to take the next step.

When Shanika received a notification about Wheels to Work just days after another job rejection, she felt like it was fate. The program helped her see a new path forward, one that ultimately led her to pursue entrepreneurship full time through her virtual assistant business, TheWerkbug.

What surprised you most about Wheels to Work?

I didn’t know there was a program in a place like this that includes such assistance and community building. I could feel the togetherness throughout this program. We had The Wardrobe give us interview fashion tips and the Free Library educate us on job resources. I am now enrolled in a new study course through LinkedIn because of the Wheel to Work program.

Can you share a moment during the program when something “clicked” for you?

I really am in control of my path. The many tools I learned from our wonderful instructor, Bria Spivey-Lockley, and the amazing women behind her have been great. Also, thank you for saving my LinkedIn account, it was on its last leg.

How has participating in Wheels to Work affected your confidence, either on a bike or in your career journey?

This program increased my confidence tremendously. My mom can vouch for that; shout out to my amazing mother, Trinetta.  I got ALL my bike essentials at this program: a helmet, first aid kit, and most importantly, full bike safety training.

I will be putting my Wheels to Work completion certification in a picture frame. It is that serious! As for my career, I have decided to step into entrepreneurship full time as a Virtual Assistant, and am going to apply what I learned from Wheels to Work to grow my small business, TheWerkbug.

What does access to reliable transportation mean to you?

Getting me from Point A to Point B without the hassle. Biking reduces a lot of stressors that come with driving a vehicle. I like to be able to go in places a car wouldn’t. Indego allows me to get around the city without worrying about gas or the bus not arriving on time.

Every Wheels to Work participant comes to the program with a different story, but this cohort shared one powerful takeaway: career journeys don’t have to happen alone.

Thank you to Lotus, Sara, and Shanika for sharing their experiences with us. Keep an eye out for the next Wheels to Work cohort launching this spring. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your resume, expand your professional network, or simply gain confidence getting around Philadelphia by bike, we’d love to see you there.