As this week marks National Volunteer Week, we want to thank the incredible individuals who power Experimental Station through their time, talent, and care. Since our early days—and especially with the launch of the 61st Street Farmers Market in 2008—volunteers have played a vital role in building a more equitable and sustainable food culture in our community.

Today, they continue to show up across our programs: setting up the 61st Street Farmers Market, tutoring youth and fixing bikes at Blackstone Bicycle Works, tending the Jackson Park Terrace community garden, and organizing arts and cultural events.

In alignment with this year’s theme—“Shining a Light on the People and Causes that Inspire Us to Serve”—we’re proud to spotlight three inspiring volunteers: Breonne, a Market regular turned core team member; Saul, a lifelong cyclist and mentor at Blackstone Bicycle Works; and Joanna, a recent graduate bringing lived experience and heart to youth programming.

Volunteer Spotlights

***Saul [left] working on bikes with Alex [right], BBW’s Cycling Services & Advocacy Manager***

Saul Espejel:

PEDALING PASSION INTO COMMUNITY IMPACT

For Saul, biking has always been more than just a way to get around—it’s a way of life. Growing up in a family of long-distance cyclists, he learned how to ride and repair bikes from his father and uncles. “It’s in my blood,” he says. From fixing flats to tuning chains, the skills are passed down through generations.

Now a lifelong cyclist, Saul rides daily—even in winter—and shares that passion with his two daughters, biking together to parks, trails, and Critical Mass rides across the city.

Saul first discovered Blackstone Bicycle Works (BBW) in the early 2000s through a quick conversation with a mechanic, but it wasn’t until 2024 that he returned, curious to reconnect and share his skills with the community. Finding a welcoming atmosphere and a mission he believed in, Saul began volunteering, helping with bike repairs and mentoring patrons in the shop. By late 2024, he joined the BBW team as a part-time mechanic.

While his main role is assisting community members during Open Shop hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays, he also supports BBW’s Cycling Services & Advocacy Manager in preparing bikes for youth programs, including after-school sessions and Earn-A-Bike camps during spring and summer. “It’s been great,” he says. “I love interacting with the kids. They see me working and get excited to learn how bikes work.”

Since joining BBW, Saul has brought friends and fellow cyclists into the fold, expanding a network of support for the shop and its programs.

“This place teaches you how to fix a flat and maintain your bike. I wish there were one in every neighborhood so more people could join and ride bikes everywhere,” he says.

***Joanna (left) leading a University of Chicago tour for BBW’s Spring Break Camp participants.***

Joanna Li:

VOLUNTEERING WITH PURPOSE

Joanna Li, a recent neuroscience graduate from the University of Chicago, brings curiosity and compassion to everything she does. Drawn to questions about memory, empathy, and what drives people to care, Joanna’s academic journey and personal experiences have shaped her deep commitment to building community. She first discovered Experimental Station through the 61st Street Farmers Market, where the name sparked her interest in real-world experimentation.

Once she stepped into the space, she quickly felt a connection. She says, “Experimental Station goes far beyond what I imagined—it’s not a lab in the traditional sense, but it is a hub of creative, community-centered experimentation: cooking classes, 3D printing art, bike-powered smoothie blenders—you name it.” She soon started volunteering with Blackstone Bicycle Works, especially drawn to the Earn-A-Bike youth program.

For Joanna, volunteering is personal. Growing up low-income and navigating college on her own, she understands how isolating it can be. “Now, I try to be the kind of resource I wish I had back then.” Whether mentoring first-gen students or fighting food insecurity, she shows up with purpose. At Experimental Station, she helps wherever needed—from youth programming and market days to fundraisers.

But what keeps her coming back is the people. “Everyone here genuinely cares—not just about the work, but about me as a person.”

She especially loves talking with the youth. “They’re incredibly sharp, creative, and thoughtful—I see so much potential in each and every one of them,” Joanna says.

“I may not have everything figured out, but I can show up for them. I can help however I can. Maybe I won’t make some huge scientific breakthrough in my lifetime. But maybe one of them will. And if I can be even a small part of that story, then I’ll have done something that really matters,” she adds.

Breonne Crawford:

FROM MARKET REGULAR TO MARKET VOLUNTEER

Originally from Battle Creek, Michigan—also known as “Cereal City”—Breonne (or Bre, as most know her) came to Illinois in 2006 after graduating from Michigan State University.

She discovered the Market in 2012 while living in Hyde Park and came for the fresh produce and yoga. Even though she has since moved to Avalon Park, she remains a regular at the Market. In 2021, after the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bre decided to start volunteering at the Market as a way to reconnect.

“It was the perfect Saturday workout,” she shared. “I’d do more in two hours than all day!” Since then, she’s become a core part of the team—helping with setup, register, and market counts, and even supporting Experimental Station’s events and fundraisers like Sounds Like Jazz.

“The Market has been exactly what I needed,” Bre says. “I always leave feeling good, connected, and looking forward to the next time.”

Learn more about Experimental Station’s volunteer opportunities and join our inspiring group of volunteers here.

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Happy National Volunteer Week April 20–26, 2025