Join us on Tuesday, December 2 to celebrate the year’s accomplishments, meet fellow members, and offer a round of applause for our awardees.
The movement has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years, and there are many wins to recognize and celebrate together.
Don’t miss this annual event celebrating you, our supporters, and the work we’ve accomplished together this year!
We’ll kick the evening off with a happy hour followed by a presentation of volunteer and advocate awards, updates on Active Transportation Alliance’s work over the past year, and a preview of what we’ll be fighting for in 2026.
Registration is free and includes two drink tickets and tasty bites.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Remarks from Executive Director Amy Rynell on the state of the movement
- Roland Hayes Route Awards will go to event volunteers Daphnay Sagaille and Diamond Allen; Versatile Volunteer Award will go to Mike Neary; Advocate of the Year Awards will go to Yamilet Aceves, Jeremy Cuebas, and Valerie Kramer (see below for information about each awardee)
- A chance to connect with fellow members, supporters, and Active Transportation Alliance staff
- Fine beverages, courtesy of Revolution Brewing, and tasty food
- Election of our 2025 Board of Directors
When: Tuesday, December 2, 2025; 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Revolution Brewing Taproom, 3340 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IL 60618
Meet the awardees
Roland Hayes Route Award: Diamond Allen and Daphnay Sagaille
Year after year, these two friends who help lead the Streets Calling Bike Club, arrive before dawn at the Museum of Science & Industry on the morning of Bike the Drive. They step in wherever there’s a lack of volunteer support and ensure safety and accessibility from start to finish at the event’s South Rest Stop. Through their work with Streets Calling, they’ve strengthened our bicycle community and have been great collaborators with the Active Transportation Alliance. Their dedication, teamwork, and passion embody the spirit of Bike the Drive.
Versatile Volunteer Award: Mike Neary
Mike Neary was nominated for the Versatile Volunteer Award due to his invaluable adaptability and positive spirit within the Bike the Drive community. Each year, Mike demonstrates his commitment by volunteering for a different role during the event, ensuring that any last-minute gaps are filled and operations run smoothly. A long-time Bike the Drive volunteer, his enthusiasm uplifts both participants and fellow volunteers, energizing every shift with his readiness to help wherever he is needed.
Advocate of the Year Award: Yamilet Aceves
As part of a project for her Global Politics class at Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School, Yamilet chose to address the critical issue of bus services in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. She partnered with Active Transportation Alliance to launch a comprehensive online survey that garnered many dozens of community responses, ensuring that local voices and experiences were at the center of her advocacy efforts. Through careful analysis, Yamilet highlighted barriers faced by residents and identified clear, actionable solutions to improve public transit. Her commitment to elevating community concerns and working collaboratively make her a perfect choice for an Advocate of the Year Award.
Advocate of the Year Award: Jeremy Cuebas
Jeremy Cuebas is the executive director at Grassroots Empowerment Mission (GEM) and serves as a leader on Chicago’s Northwest Side empowering young leaders to take action on issues like transportation. Jeremy collaborated with the Chicago Department of Transportation on the Belmont Cragin and Hermosa bike network, inviting the youth to help with identifying new bike routes, key destinations, connections, and barriers to moving around. The result was 16 miles of bike lanes to be installed.
Advocate of the Year Award: Valerie Kramer
Valerie Kramer is the co-founder of Ride Riverside, a community group formed last year to make bicycling safe and accessible. The group organizes community bike rides and advocates for infrastructure improvements in the village of Riverside in suburban Cook County. Thanks to Valerie’s leadership and dedication, Ride Riverside’s social rides have drawn upwards of 100 participants including village trustees, staff, and police officers. As a passionate advocate for safer street design, Valerie has written letters to the editor, launched petitions, spoken at village board meetings, and collaborated with lawmakers to encourage the village to adopt safe streets principles and calm traffic through investing in infrastructure that prioritizes people walking and biking.
This event is just for our members and volunteers whose support helps fuel our advocacy work. Not a member? Sign-up with your registration and join us for a great night. Support the movement by becoming a member.
Presenting Sponsor
