Connection, Momentum, and Community
Bike Newport’s Annual Meeting on April 23, 2026 brought together board members, staff, volunteers and supporters for a review of recent accomplishments and a look forward to emerging progress. It was a lovely evening on the rooftop at Newport Craft Brewery overlooking the Pell Bridge and the new shared-use path — representing the past, present, and future of our work. Thanks to Newport Craft and Wally’s Weiners for generously hosting our gathering!
The Bike Newport community is powered by people who give their time, energy, and passion for making progress and we’re grateful to all who guide and strengthen this work.
Business Meeting
Board Chair Peter Coriander opened the evening by welcoming attendees and introducing the Bike Newport Board of Directors — including newest members Melissa Bodnar and Katie Ellis. All raised a glass to outgoing members Chris Martin, Tyson Birch, and Glenn Bradfield with thanks for their many years of service.
The Financial Report was provided by Tom Pappas from Bike Newport’s accounting firm of record, CLA Connect. If you would like the 2025 Financial Summary, please email Bari Freeman to request a copy. You may view Bike Newport’s Annual Report online HERE.
Celebrating Impact
Throughout the evening, we celebrated Bike Newport’s efforts to connect people with opportunity, with each other, and with the places we need to go.
Executive Director, Bari Freeman, used examples from the array of Bike Newport’s programs to demonstrate how Bike Newport is navigating federal challenges by ensuring that our community members have what they need to get where they need to go;
optimizing the support, partnerships, and funding already in place; and preparing for when these constraints are over.
This compelling report of work in progress was driven home by the personal experience of Charlene Traynum — a Bike Newport participant, educator, supporter and volunteer, who shared her own powerful story. Charlene, who is the Family Engagement and Outreach Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newport, shared her long history with Bike Newport — where she started as a participant, educator and parent, and culminated in becoming a League Certified Cycling Instructor.
Her experience in the Community Bike Garage and on the road led to her leadership with youth on bikes as well as building biking into her everyday life as part of her commitment to caring for herself and her community. She also spoke about her son, a young adult with special needs. All of Charlene’s children rode bikes, except for this son — until he was introduced to an adaptive recumbent bicycle at Elliot’s Ride for Everyone (coming up on June 6th!) She spoke about the transformational joy and independence that biking brings into his life.
Julian Bessinger, Bike Newport’s new Director of Strategic Advancement, spoke about the moment we’re in and the urgency of the work ahead. “Our work is about how people get around — and that’s why it can’t wait,” he noted. “We need to connect our community, safely, for everyone.”
The evening’s keynote came from Keith Tavares of the Rhode Island Foundation, who shared that deep partnerships like those that Bike Newport facilitates across Aquidneck Island make community impact possible and drive real change:
“Through its work and many programs and services, Bike Newport has chosen to integrate and collaborate, focusing on initiatives with deep-rooted, positive impacts on the lives of youth and immigrants in our community. In my many years working within the nonprofit sector of Rhode Island, I have learned that intentional collaboration and planning are what move the improvement dial in any community, and, here in Newport,
Bike Newport is an excellent example of a nonprofit organization that intentionally collaborates and plans, setting its sights on education, advocacy, and community.
If I were to identify the most important need within our community… it would be the need for connection and collaboration — we are a stronger, more resilient and a more charitable Newport when we include and build these two attributes into our work.”
From bike education in local schools and programs – like Ciclistas supporting Spanish-speaking youth – to advocacy around transportation infrastructure and e-bike safety, Bike Newport’s work reaches across sectors of education, transportation, workforce access, and public health. As Keith noted, that kind of intentional collaboration is what moves communities forward.
Looking Ahead
Bike Newport is entering this next year with momentum and focus. Priorities for the coming year include:
- Advancing bike infrastructure projects, including identifying demonstration projects in all three municipalities on Aquidneck Island as outlined in the Ride Island plan.
- Expanding our education programs to reach more youth with bike safety education and offering e-bike safety education online and in person to the wider community.
- Building a culture of biking by hosting marshaled rides, and partnering with other organizations to help people “Get There by Bike!”
If you’d like to learn more, you can view our Strategic Plan overview here.
Thank You!
We’re grateful to all who joined us and continue to support Bike Newport’s work. Thanks to Newport Craft for hosting us, and for adding to the fun with the specialty “Bike Thief” cocktail. We’re looking forward to an amazing year ahead!
Bike Newport Board of Directors
We are happy to introduce our current Board Officers and Directors. Please visit the “Who We Are” page of our website to learn more about all of Bike Newport’s people.
OFFICERS:
- Peter Coriander, Chair
- Guillermo Rojas, Vice Chair
- Chyleene O’Connor, Secretary
- Peter Friedrichs, Treasurer
DIRECTORS:
- Jennifer Amaral
- Melissa Bodnar
- James Bracey
- Katie Ellis
- Akeia de Barros Gomes
- Brenda Delasanta
- Nicholas Del Greco
- Jim Fry
- Donald Hartley
- Stacy Hennessey
- Paige Myatt
- Robert Penha
Bike Newport