About Us

Founding Story

Riders for Race Amity began long before there were bicycles, routes, or organized rides.

It began in a home in Minneapolis, Minnesota—where love, diversity, and the oneness of humanity were lived, not just spoken. I grew up with parents who adopted three children from India, and from an early age we were told that because we did not share blood, we were not a “real” family. But we fought to prove otherwise—and in doing so, I learned that family is built through love, commitment, and shared humanity, not biology.

Our home became a place of refuge and belonging. At any given time, people from around the world lived with us: refugees, youth experiencing homelessness, and people searching for stability and connection. Diversity wasn’t symbolic—it was our daily life.

One lesson from my mother has never left me. She pointed to a colorful dinner plate and explained that just as our bodies need variety to thrive, our social lives do too. “The more diverse your world,” she told me, “the healthier and wiser you become.” That truth shaped how I see people—and the world.

As an adult, I entered a society that did not reflect the unity I had known. I saw division, racism, and a resistance to understanding systems of oppression. Conversations about race felt painful and unproductive—until I took a course called Copper to Gold. It taught me how to engage with honesty, humility, and peace, and gave me the tools to confront bias through love rather than anger.

During that time, a video called 'Black Thoughts' deeply impacted me. After completing the course, I traveled to the Equal Justice Initiative museums, where the history of slavery and racial terrorism—and the enduring spirit of Race Amity—came into sharp focus. You leave knowing the legacy of slavery is not past; it is present. And you leave asking: What role will I play in healing this?

Riders for Race Amity became part of my answer.

What started as a small group of adults grew into something much more when youth organically joined and rose into leadership. Their courage and clarity transformed this project into a movement—and reminded us that the next generation is not waiting to build a better world.

Riders for Race Amity exists to carry forward what I was raised with: the truth that we are one human family—and our liberation is intertwined.

-Kate Vestlie, Founder, Riders for Race Amity

Race Amity & the Urgency of the Moment

Race Amity is the practice of building real friendships across racial and cultural lines. It is not about blame or guilt — it is about understanding, trust, and shared humanity. It invites us to move beyond silence and assumptions, and toward honest conversation and meaningful connection.

We are living in a time of deep division. Misinformation spreads quickly, voices grow louder, and many people feel increasingly disconnected from one another. This moment calls for more than opinions — it calls for action rooted in relationship.

The work of unity cannot wait. What we practice now shapes the future we are creating together.
This is the moment to choose connection over comfort, listening over judgment, and courage over indifference.

Youth Empowerment

Too often, society views young people through a lens of deficiency — as inexperienced, disengaged, or in need of correction.

We see young people not as a problem to fix, but as leaders in the making.

At Riders for Race Amity, youth are trusted with real responsibility, supported by caring adults, and encouraged to use their voice. Through dialogue, service, and shared experience, they discover their strength and their power to create change.

We believe in them — until they believe in themselves.

Read our Youth Vision Statement here.

Oneness of Humanity

We believe humanity is one family. Even though we come from different backgrounds, cultures, and histories, our lives are deeply connected. What harms one group affects us all. What uplifts one community makes space for others to rise too.

The idea of the oneness of humanity doesn’t ask us to ignore our differences. It asks us to respect them while recognizing our shared dignity, needs, and hopes. It invites us to listen more closely, speak more honestly, and build relationships that go beyond surface-level understanding.

We do this work because unity is not automatic — it must be practiced. Through movement, dialogue, and shared experiences, we work to create spaces where people can meet one another not as labels, but as human beings.

Riders 4 Race Amity (R4RA) Policy on Political Noninvolvement

Riders 4 Race Amity (R4RA) exists to build relationships of genuine friendship and mutual respect across racial, cultural, and social divides. To preserve this spirit of unity, members and participants are asked to rise above partisan divisions and refrain from political involvement or discussion during R4RA trips, gatherings, and Race Amity Roundtable (RAR) discussions.

Principles Guiding this Policy

Rising Above Partisan Division
R4RA recognizes that politics often divides people along lines of party, ideology, and personal belief. Our purpose, however, is to unite hearts — not to take sides. We therefore hold ourselves to a standard of remaining nonpartisan and neutral in political matters during any R4RA activity.

Our gatherings are not a platform for political debate, commentary, or advocacy. Instead, they are spaces for healing, connection, and shared purpose in advancing race amity.
Commitment to the Oneness of Humanity
We affirm that unity is greater than any single ideology or political position. Every human being belongs to one human family. As such, R4RA participants strive to see beyond political, racial, and cultural prejudice — all of which erode the foundation of our shared humanity.

History shows that prejudice, whether racial, political, or national, has fueled division and conflict for thousands of years. Our task is to help reverse that pattern through friendship, understanding, and service
Detachment from Political Contention
Members and participants are encouraged to avoid political conversations, statements, or expressions — including through clothing, symbols, or social media posts — that could distract from or undermine the spirit of unity at R4RA events.

Our work concerns the life of the human spirit — building bridges, not barriers. The focus of R4RA is not on who holds political power, but on how we, as individuals and communities, can embody love, justice, and respect in action.
Active Engagement in Building Justice and Unity
While R4RA remains nonpartisan, it is not disengaged. We believe meaningful change comes through constructive action — service, education, and dialogue that uplift and unify rather than divide.

Our members and partners collaborate with all people of goodwill to promote equity, healing, and friendship across racial and cultural lines. We act on our belief that unity in diversity is both a moral principle and a practical path to a just society.
Respect for All
During any R4RA activity, participants agree to:

Refrain from political debate, campaigning, or partisan expression.
Speak with kindness and respect for all viewpoints.
Focus on shared values, not differences in ideology.
Uphold the R4RA commitment to creating a welcoming, nonpartisan space where every person feels seen, heard, and valued

Riders 4 Race Amity calls upon all participants to place the unity of humanity above political alignment. Our work transcends party, ideology, and division. In every conversation and every act of service, we aim to reflect the truth that humanity’s highest progress depends on our ability to see one another not as opponents, but as partners in building a world grounded in friendship, justice, and love.