In Action
Youth Cycling in the MTICA Community
From historic bike rides to convention youth tracks — young riders are at the heart of everything MTICA does.
Major Taylor was 13 when he first got on a bike. We're keeping that spirit alive — putting the next generation on two wheels and giving them the same chance he had: to be extraordinary.
Donate to Youth FundAt age 13, Marshall Taylor began working at a bicycle shop and performing tricks on a bike. That early exposure to cycling set him on a path to becoming the greatest cyclist of his era — the first Black American world champion in any sport.
MTICA believes that every young person deserves that same opportunity. Cycling teaches discipline, builds physical health, creates community, and opens doors to experiences that many kids in underserved communities never get to access.
Through youth chapters, club programs, and the annual convention, MTICA is working to ensure that Major Taylor's legacy is more than historical — it's the fuel for the next generation of champions.
We support Major Taylor kids, and we support other youth organizations wherever we can. That might mean donating a few dollars to an organization providing helmets to young cyclists. It might mean donating bikes to a group where young people can learn to repair them — and potentially become the next generation of bike mechanics. It might mean gathering our gently worn cycling apparel and putting it in the hands of young riders so they can feel just like the cyclists they aspire to be.
We want to be a part of that. Your donation helps us help young people in a lot of different ways — and it's 100% tax deductible.
From historic bike rides to convention youth tracks — young riders are at the heart of everything MTICA does.
MTICA is proud to partner with Major Taylor Kidz, the national youth cycling organization founded by Charise Stephens. More than just a cycling program — it's a movement that encourages young people to embrace adventure, challenge themselves, and become leaders in their communities.
Charise Stephens is the guiding light of the youth program that Major Taylor would be proud of. Under her leadership, Major Taylor Kidz has grown to 14 emerging youth chapters across the country, giving hundreds of young riders access to cycling, mentorship, and community.
Major Taylor Kidz is an integral part of the MTICA Annual Convention. Every year, a dedicated youth track at the convention brings young riders together to learn about the joys and health benefits of cycling, connect with peers from across the country, and experience Major Taylor's legacy firsthand.
Visit Major Taylor Kidz →MTICA is proud to partner with the Middle Georgia Major Taylor Club — the only all-youth Major Taylor club in the entire Major Taylor universe. This groundbreaking club proves that young people can lead the way in honoring Major Taylor's legacy.
All adults working with young people through MTICA and Major Taylor Kidz have completed thorough background checks. We are committed to ensuring every environment is safe, appropriate, and welcoming for our youth.
Is your Major Taylor club or cycling club interested in launching a youth chapter? MTICA and Major Taylor Kidz have everything you need to get started. We'll guide you through the process and make sure all the right safeguards are in place for your young riders.
Program structure, curriculum, and best practices from established youth chapters across the country.
We ensure every adult working with youth has been properly vetted. Safety is non-negotiable.
Connect with 14 existing youth chapters and Charise Stephens' national network for mentorship and guidance.
Your youth club gains access to the MTICA Convention's dedicated youth programming — a space just for young riders.
Major Taylor believed that the road ahead belongs to those we lift up today. MTICA is honoring that belief through our partnership with Major Taylor Kidz — our official youth cycling organization, headquartered in Macon, Georgia and led by its remarkable founder, Charise Stephens.
Charise is more than a founder — she is a guiding light. Her passion for introducing young people to the joy, discipline, and community of cycling has already sparked 14 emerging youth chapters across the country, and she is ready to help your club start one too. If you believe in the next generation of cyclists, Charise will meet you right where you are.
We call on every Major Taylor club to support Major Taylor Kidz — in every way you can. Share your expertise. Open your rides. Mentor a young cyclist. And if your club is ready to build something lasting, Charise can walk you through starting a youth chapter of your own.
Our youth enjoy complimentary admission to the MTICA National Convention. Not a single dollar. Every young person who comes through those doors receives the same experience as every adult — the rides, the sessions, the gala, the community, all of it. That is a promise we keep every year, made possible entirely by the heartfelt donations of our cycling family. When you give to MTICA's youth fund, you are not just covering a cost. You are giving a young person a seat at the table. You are showing them that this community sees them, values them, and wants them here.
We have begun accepting donations of gently worn cycling gear — jerseys, kits, shoes, helmets, and gloves — so that every young rider can feel exactly like the cyclist they already are. When a young person pulls on a real cycling kit for the first time, something shifts. They don't just feel like a rider. They know they are one. Your donated gear makes that moment possible.
Ship gear to Major Taylor Kidz Headquarters
Major Taylor Kidz
594 DT Walton Senior Way
Macon, GA 31201
Major Taylor rode against every barrier imaginable — and he won.
The least we can do is make sure today's young riders never have to wonder if there's a place for them in this sport.
There is. And we are building it together.
Durham, North Carolina was the backdrop for one of the most memorable youth moments in MTICA history. Young riders from across the country came together, made lifelong friends, learned about cycling and health, and discovered their own connection to Major Taylor's legendary story. The energy was electric — and the smiles said it all.
Young riders hit the streets of Durham together — rolling through the city on two wheels and bonding over every mile.
Every young rider who completed the convention ride earned a medal — and a memory they'll carry for life.
Youth explored the Major Taylor exhibit and heard his story — connecting history to their own journey as young cyclists.
Kids from Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, California, and beyond — finding common ground through cycling and the Major Taylor legacy.
Every dollar you give to the MTICA Youth Cycling Fund goes directly toward getting young riders on bikes — jerseys, helmets, bikes, race registrations, and scholarship support for the annual convention.
MTICA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN: 87-1839938 · All donations are tax-deductible
