Plugged In’s mission has always been to be the kind of program that makes a difference in both our local and global communities. For the past ten years, we have accomplished just that through the production of our benefit concert series.

Every session students at Plugged In Teen Band Program are introduced to the charitable component of the program. Students are encouraged to research and present charities they feel deserve to be recognized for the special work they do. After many presentations and much discussion the students vote and the winner becomes the recipient of the session’s benefit concert.

This year marks the tenth year of benefit concerts and we couldn’t be more excited. From the beginning, we’ve envisioned these concerts to be more than just entertainment, and those who attend, more than just members of an audience. Everyone involved is part of creating a greater community bound together with music and the desire to do good in the world by supporting a great cause.

The students of the Plugged In Fall Session 2012 have made their voices heard and they have chosen to honor Bikes Not Bombs at the next benefit concert! So please join us for “Rock the Bike” and help us spread the word.

Your participation helps ensure that Bikes Not Bombs continues to be an inspiration for us all to make the change we want to see in our world.

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Rock The Bike

A Benefit Concert for Bikes Not Bombs

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When: Friday January 18, 2013. 7:00pm to 11:00pm

Saturday January 19, 2013. 7:00pm to 10:00pm

Sunday January 20, 2012. 3:00pm to 6:00pm

Where: The Great Hall. Needham Town Hall. 1471 Highland Ave. Needham, MA 02492.

Tickets: Tickets are sold at the door only. $5.00 for students. $10.00 for seniors. $15.00 for adults.

Plugged In accepts cash, check and all major credit cards.

If you’re unable to attend the concert or wish to provide additional support please consider making a donation at our fundraising page.

All proceeds from this event are donated directly to Bikes Not Bombs.

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Rock the Bike concert t-shirts are now available for order!

Place your order online today and pick your shirt up at the show.  You can also purchase a shirt at the show (while supplies last).  Proceeds from t-shirt sales will be added to our donation to Bikes Not Bombs.

To order your concert t-shirt today click here or visit the Rock the Bike event homepage by clicking here.

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Bikes Not Bombs

Using a bicycle to make positive change in the world may seem like a novel idea but Bikes Not Bombs (BNB) has been doing exactly that for the past 28 years.  BNB has shown that something as common as a bicycle can empower individuals here and across the world to better their communities by addressing the root causes of inequality, violence and oppression.  By reclaiming and reusing thousands of bicycles and bicycle parts each year, BNB maintains both local and global programs that provide opportunities for skill development, jobs and sustainable transportation.

Locally, BNB runs an extensive selection of youth programing as well as a Bike Shop.  Youth from the greater Boston area learn city riding, bike safety and bike maintenance as well as leadership skills in a co-ed, hands-on, peer-led environment.  Over 3,000 Boston youth have benefited from participating in BNB youth programing such as the Earn-A-Bike program, where youth work toward earning their own bike and the STRIVE program, focused specifically on providing pre-vocational and vocational training to youth with disabilities.

The BNB retail Bike Shop reconditions and sells some of the donated bicycles.  The shop employs many program graduates, teaching them marketable job skills and leadership skills.  Profits generated from bicycle sales, parts sales and repairs flow back into the organization, providing additional funding for BNB programming.

BNB is active all over the world and provides services directly and through international partner organizations to locales throughout Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.  BNB uses the bicycle and their partnerships to encourage social change through economic empowerment, leadership development, technological innovation and affordable transportation.  BNB also works to design and build bicimáquinas.  A collection of pedals, gears and other bicycle parts, bicimáquinas are bicycles modified to pump water, grind corn, shell nuts, etc.  Bicimáquinas are easily replicable on site with standard parts and offer a technological solution to streamline many labor intensive daily activities, allowing individuals and communities to move closer to sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Recently, BNB shipped their 50,000th bicycle overseas, proving without a doubt, that even something as common as a bicycle can inspire and enable us to work toward a world of peace and of social and economic equality.

Learn more about Bikes Not Bombs by visiting their website, Facebook or Youtube channel.