By Brenda Dixon
Seven years ago this summer, I helped start a nonprofit to support the growth and development of the Major Taylor Trail on Chicago’s South Side. I had no idea it would grow to such a community project!
Since then and continuing through the formation of Major Taylor Trail Keepers Chicago (MTTKC), our vision has been carried forward in part by the generous, skilled, and often unseen contributions of individuals and organizations who give freely of their time, expertise, and resources.
These individuals and organizations, in addition to our financial sponsors and donors (many of whom are recognized on our Donate page) have been essential to our organization, which in turn ensures the continued development of the Major Taylor Trail.
My only concern in sharing this list of gratitude is whether I left someone out by accident or not keeping good notes over the years. The truth is there has been almost too much support to name everyone.
We want to lift up these partners but also recognize the hundreds of people who have helped and countless riders who become ambassadors for our trail. Thank you (and if you should be on this list and I accidentally omitted you – email me)!
We’ve been fortunate to receive two types of support from community partners:
Gifts of Expertise– professional services, technical knowledge, and specialized skills provided pro bono or at reduced cost
Gifts of Heart volunteer time, community presence, and an ongoing commitment to our mission through hands-on participation.
You can see that these categories might overlap and in fact many individuals and organizations have provided both types of help
Here are a few that come to mind (this is honestly a partial list – we truly have a village of support!) thank you to every single person and organization below-
Gifts of Heart
ComEd Exelon’s ComEd Exelon Volunteer Group provide volunteer traffic monitors at key intersections during our annual Celebration Ride on an ongoing basis.
Cub Scouts Pack 114 members and parents provided youth volunteers for Earth Day Trail Cleanups in 2024.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. sorors from the Epsilon Nu Sigma, Lambda Chi Sigma, and Theta Chi Sigma chapters have provided annual Earth Day cleanup support on an ongoing basis. Theta Chi Sigma has officially adopted our beloved Major Taylor Trail as one of its chapter initiatives.
Out Our Front Door Collective has served as a volunteer crew for annual Earth Day cleanups, consistently riding from the North Side to support South Side efforts from 2020 to the present.
Gifts of Expertise
Arcadis provided pro bono support in writing and submitting the Chicago Prize grant applicatio.
Craig Barnes (BrandWell Creative) created a logo design and complete brand asset package including over 20 files and he has continued to support our design needs over the years.
Gordon Mayer Communications has provided website development, communications strategy, and editing services.Metropolitan Planning Council The Metropolitan Planning Council offered technical support, planning, and guidance in our crucial early years.
Gifts of all of the above, and more
Then there are the people and groups who have done so much, we would have to come up with too many categories to recognize their contributions!
Major Taylor Cycling Club Chicago (MTC3) paid for Bicycle Illinois to manage the first 3-4 years of annual ride events while also providing consistent financial and volunteer support.
Ramona Westbrook (DesignBridge / Modern Urban Planning) provided urban planning services for early MTTKC trail work and maintained a volunteer presence at community events, as well as volunteeringat community events and planning sessions
Simone Woods (Youth Coordinator) has provided consistent volunteer support at events in addition to her formal coordination responsibilities.
Trust for Public Land in addition to their role as a funder of trail improvements of raised funds for landscaping between 111th and 115th streets and for an upcoming art installation on the trail, while serving as instrumental coordinators for the South Side park and trail consortium
Thank you all! This Hall of Gratitude is our living tribute to those who built this trail, this movement, and this hope for future generations. We honor those who gave their knowledge, their dollars, and their time—and we know the list is always growing.