Stories

Tell us a bit about your background:

I am a native of Tallahassee, Florida. I have been in California over 25 years; I graduated from University of LaVerne with a Bachelor and Master Degree.  I have volunteered all of my life but wasn’t aware it known as volunteering. It is something I enjoy giving back to all communities and caring for others. 

Tell us a little about your background

I was born and grew up in Los Angeles during the 50s and 60s, the second of ten children. I went to nursing school in San Francisco and Baltimore and helped start one of the first free clinics in the US, in Washington, D.C. I was really drawn to work in public health since I was convinced that the environment and conditions in neighborhoods that were the biggest contributors to poor health and poor quality of life.  I went to graduate school in public health nursing at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill while I worked in a rural area as the public health nurse. I came home in the late 80s and worked for many years as a public health nurse before my retirement in 2011. I ride my bike every day for exercise, recreation, and errands. It seemed like a natural fit to look for volunteer opportunities to promote biking and that led me to the LA County Bicycle Coalition and CicLAvia. 

CicLAvia Volunteer Profile: Allan Alessio


1. Tell us a bit about your background

 I've been riding ever since I can remember actually.  I remember my father letting go of my bike after the training wheels came off, and haven't looked back since.

The latest issue of the L.A. Weekly - April 6-12 2012 - has a cover story all about how CicLAvia got rolling and what to expect. It's titled Viva CicLAvia and it's by Hillel Aron.

This week's Downtown News honored CicLAvia with one of its Downtowners of Distinction Awards. CicLAvia is in great company among the nine projects that have made their "surrounding community... a better place in which to live, work or visit."

CicLAvia Walks is an invitation to discover the riches of Los Angeles – its history, ecology, architecture, creativity, and playful happenstance. We hope that you will use CicLAvia as an opportunity to explore our great city from a new perspective and at a leisurely pace. 

CicLAvia is pretty free-form... there aren't a lot of rules. But we do want to give you, dear participant, three important DON'Ts.

CicLAvia works closely with the Neighborhood Councils along and near the route. Last year, we reached out to variouscouncils, introducing many folks to the CicLAvia concept, and receiving endorsements and letters of support. Lately, we’re returning to check in with our NC partners. So far we have presented to the East Hollywood, Boyle Heights, and MacArthur Park Neighborhood Councils. One common theme that has run through these diverse constituencies is their enthusiasm about CicLAvia.