Nonprofit Highlight: ChangingGears

ChangingGears works to remove a major barrier for Cincinnati families living in poverty: access to private transportation. The ChangingGears team is dedicated to removing transportation barriers for people working their way out of poverty, with the hope that the freedom of affordable and reliable transportation serves as a catalyst to remove other barriers towards self-sufficiency. Its three main programs are:

1. 1. The Vehicle Purchase Program, for clients who need a car to get to work.
      • Donated and purchased cars are restored and sold to approved clients
      • Cars are sold at half of their retail value with a no interest loan, typically 12-18 months in length
      • There are two different financing options based on the client’s employment situation
   2. The Repair Program, for clients who have a car that needs affordable repairs.
      • Includes free bumper to bumper vehicle assessment
      • Repairs are performed at half-off retail prices
      • Service is performed by certified ASE Master Technicians on staff
   3. The Automotive Technician Training Program, for students looking to start a new career in the automotive industry.
      • Free four-week training collaboration with CityLink Center
      • Hands on training with ChangingGears ASE Master Technicians enables students to master the basics of oil changes and tire repair & replacement
      • Connections to local employers for shadowing experiences and job opportunities
      • Includes soft skills training and supporting services from CityLink Center

   ChangingGears celebrated 10 years of serving our community last fall and has been a client of PBPO for much of that time. Most recently, PBPO worked with ChangingGears on a major project, with the goal of expanding its program to serve a broader population in our community. 

   We are so thankful for PBPO. The team at PBPO has been a steady support for ChangingGears over the past 10 years. Through webinars, legal checkups, and actual legal matters (some of them very unique), PBPO has helped equip ChangingGears to accomplish our mission.” – Joel Bokelman, Executive Director

   

2. The success of ChangingGears’ program shows through its outcomes. Since 2020, it has saved clients more than $68,000 through its Vehicle Purchase Program, increased service visits for its Vehicle Repair Program from 213 to 527, and recently celebrated the graduation of its largest Automotive Technician Training class, with each student graduating with a job offer.

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4. PBPO is proud to partner with organizations like ChangingGears – strengthening their foundations one legal matter at a time.