What Equiticity does

Equiticity is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2017 that operates a racial equity movement focused on increasing mobility access for Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, primarily in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood. The organization is led by President & CEO Olatunji Oboi Reed and operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees from its headquarters at 1655 S. Blue Island Ave. #753, Chicago, IL 60608. Equiticity's work is organized around five integrated pillars: research, advocacy, programs, Community Mobility Rituals, and social enterprises, with the explicit thesis that increasing mobility is a mechanism for reducing violence, improving community health, and creating equitable jobs in underserved neighborhoods.

Equiticity's core product portfolio centers on the Go Hub community mobility center model, a physical and digital space that integrates a shared mobility loaner fleet (e-bikes, e-scooters, shared electric vehicles, charging infrastructure) with community programming, travel training, and advocacy coalition building. The first Go Hub operates in North Lawndale, and a second is in planning with the Regional Transportation Authority in the Bronzeville neighborhood near the 51st Street CTA Green Line station. Adjacent programs include BikeForce, an apprenticeship for high school students focused on emerging transportation technologies (e-bikes, e-scooters, battery systems, electric motors); the Mobility Opportunities Fund, which distributes stipends of $350 for conventional bicycles, $750 for e-bikes, $1,500 for e-cargo bikes, and $3,500 for electric vehicles to low-to-moderate income residents; the Moving Freely Interactive Photography Exhibit (a traveling pop-up); the One Lawndale Bicycle Team (a youth mentorship program with Enlace and Farragut High School); and Squad Ride Management Training. Underlying community engagement is delivered through Community Mobility Rituals, including weekly bicycle rides, neighborhood walking tours, group scooter rolls, public transit excursions, and open streets events.

As a 501(c)(3), Equiticity is funded through donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships rather than commercial revenue. Identified disclosed funding includes $50,000 from REI Cooperative Action Fund (2024), $25,000 from TechRise Chicago (2022), and $5,000 from TechRise Chicago (2021). ComEd|Exelon is the named sponsor of the Mobility Opportunities Fund, and additional supporting partners include the Health Care Foundation, Justice Advisory Council, Renaissance CDFI, and Greenlining Coalition. The go-to-market motion is community-led grassroots organizing rather than traditional sales or marketing, with Community Mobility Rituals, annual events, and earned media coverage serving as the primary engagement mechanisms. Equiticity has no commercial product distribution, no paid software offering, and no API or SDK; its 'distribution' is the direct delivery of programs and services to community members in Chicago.

Name

Equiticity

Legal name

Equiticity

Website

https://equiticity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Equiticity is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates a racial equity movement providing mobility solutions, workforce development, and community organizing programs for Black, Brown, and Indigenous residents through its Go Hub mobility centers, BikeForce apprenticeship, and the Mobility Opportunities Fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Advocacy and Mobility Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

E-Bike Rentals (THADAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate/University/Fleet-Based Carsharing (TLAFAMAD), E-Bike Retail (CRAMAHAE), E-Mobility Connectivity, Apps & Anti-Theft Tracking (consumer devices/services) (CRACASAM)

Keywords

• Racial equity advocacy
• Community mobility programs
• Workforce development training
• Mobility justice initiatives
• Nonprofit community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Others, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Equiticity relies primarily on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. The organization encourages tax-deductible donations to support racial equity work and community programs.
2. Social Enterprise Revenue: Equiticity operates social enterprises that provide economic development and job creation opportunities in Black and Brown neighborhoods while also serving as a source of financial support through their shop.
3. Program Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships fund specific programs. For example, ComEd|Exelon sponsors the Mobility Opportunities Fund which provides climate-friendly transportation to North Lawndale residents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Equiticity is a 501(c)(3) non-profit racial equity movement that delivers free community programs in Chicago, including Go Hub mobility centers (physical and digital spaces providing shared e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric vehicles), the BikeForce youth apprenticeship in emerging transportation technologies, the Mobility Opportunities Fund stipends for climate-friendly transportation purchases, and recurring Community Mobility Rituals (group rides and walking tours) designed to build grassroots power among Black, Brown, and Indigenous residents.

Product overview

Equiticity is a racial equity movement organization offering a portfolio of mobility-focused programs designed to serve Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities in Chicago. The core offerings include two Go Hub mobility center initiatives (one in North Lawndale as a physical/digital community space, another planned for Bronzeville), the BikeForce workforce development apprenticeship program for youth, the Mobility Opportunities Fund providing financial stipends for climate-friendly transportation purchases, and various community programming including the Moving Freely photography exhibit, One Lawndale Bicycle Team, and Squad Ride Management Training. These products are unified by the organization's mission to operationalize racial equity through increased mobility, equitable job creation, and community power building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BikeForce: Apprenticeship program for high school students and young adults focusing on emerging transportation technologies such as e-bikes, e-scooters, battery systems, and electric motors.
• Mobility Opportunities Fund (MOF)
• The Go Hub
• Moving Freely Interactive Photography Exhibit

Products and services

• The Go Hub: Community Mobility Center A physical and digital community space in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood where residents access a mobility loaner fleet (e-bikes, e-scooters, shared electric vehicles), charging stations, transportation information, and travel training, alongside advocacy coalition building and community programming.
• The Go Hub Bronzeville A planned mobility hub in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, developed in partnership with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), to provide transit riders with bike sharing, car sharing, and public programming near the 51st Street CTA Green Line station.
• BikeForce Workforce Development Program An apprenticeship program for high school students and young adults in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, training participants on emerging transportation technologies such as e-bikes, e-scooters, battery systems, and electric motors to prepare them for careers in the transportation sector.
• Mobility Opportunities Fund (MOF) A program providing financial stipends to low-to-moderate income residents served by ComEd for the purchase of climate-friendly transportation, including conventional bicycles ($350), e-bikes ($750), e-cargo bikes ($1,500), and electric vehicles ($3,500).
• Moving Freely Interactive Photography Exhibit A traveling pop-up photography exhibit exploring how mobility can contribute to the fight for racial equity, mobility justice, and environmental justice, celebrating Equiticity's Community Mobility Rituals across Chicago neighborhoods.
• The One Lawndale Bicycle Team A bike team program hosted in partnership with Enlace and Farragut High School in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, providing mentorship, leadership development, advocacy training, and basic bicycle mechanics education for high school students.
• Squad Ride Management Training Training program for the Squad Ride Management Team responsible for leading safe and enjoyable cycling experiences for community members and other road users during Equiticity's Community Mobility Rituals.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2024Equiticity and RTA are partnering on a planning, visioning, and site selection effort for a planned mobility hub (Go Hub) to be located in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. The project is part of RTA's Community Planning Program and involves community advisory council meetings, site selection, financial analysis, and conceptual design for a mobility hub near the 51st Street CTA Green Line station.
• Justice Advisory CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJustice Advisory Council is listed as a partner organization, appearing in the organization's visual branding and supporting equity initiatives.
• Renaissance Community Development Financial Institution (RCDFI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCDFI is listed as a partner organization, appearing in the organization's visual branding.
• Greenlining CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenlining Coalition is listed as a partner organization, appearing in the organization's visual branding.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Tri-State Transportation Campaign: Northeast-based mobility equity advocacy organization. Comparable mission and policy-advocacy orientation, though focused on the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut region rather than Chicago.

Broad incumbents

• PeopleForBikes: National bicycle industry trade association and advocacy organization. Both Equiticity and PeopleForBikes work to expand bicycle access and ridership, though PeopleForBikes operates at industry-wide scale while Equiticity focuses on equity-centered community mobility in Chicago.
• League of American Bicyclists: National bicycling advocacy organization with a long history of equity-focused programming. Comparable to Equiticity in its mission to broaden access to cycling, though it operates federally and across all demographics rather than centering Black and Brown communities.

Direct peers

• Major Taylor Bicycling Club: Chicago-based Black-led cycling club promoting cycling among African Americans through group rides and community events. Closely comparable to Equiticity's Community Mobility Rituals and grassroots cycling programming in the same metro area.
• Recycle-a-Bicycle: New York-based nonprofit combining bicycle education, workforce development, and community access. Closely analogous to Equiticity's BikeForce apprenticeship and youth-focused mobility programs.
• Safe Routes Partnership: National nonprofit advancing safe walking and bicycling to and from schools and communities. Comparable to Equiticity in its focus on active transportation access for underserved populations and policy-level advocacy.
• Greenlining Institute: Oakland-based racial equity advocacy organization addressing economic, health, and mobility justice. Already listed as an Equiticity partner, and shares the same multi-issue equity frame applied to transportation.
• Transportation for America: National coalition advocating for equitable, sustainable transportation policy. Shares Equiticity's framing of mobility as a racial and economic equity issue and its emphasis on community-led advocacy.
• Slow Roll: Detroit-based community cycling organization hosting large group rides to build neighborhood connection. Directly comparable to Equiticity's Community Mobility Rituals as a community-organizing vehicle using cycling as the entry point.
• Detroit Greenways Coalition: Detroit-based nonprofit advocating for connected greenways and equitable active transportation. Shares Equiticity's model of community-led advocacy tying mobility infrastructure to neighborhood revitalization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/equiticity
• Facebookfacebook.com/equiticity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Equiticity