Pedaling With A Purpose

When Baron Hilliard rolled into my driveway in North Palm Beach, it had been 190 days since he hopped on his bicycle in Plainfield, New Jersey and headed south. The good-natured entrepreneur chuckled when he informed me, "Only 175 more days to go."

Baron is on a year long bicycle journey across America to learn more about African American businesses, history and culture. After reaching Miami, he'll turn back north to Atlanta, then on towards Chicago. He is also promoting a scholarship he initiated named the "Together AsOne Foundation." The premise is simple: If 2000 people pledged $20 per year for 5 years, an African American student's tuition and living expenses could be paid to attend a 4 year college. Baron would like to raise $1,000,000.

The 39 year-old was hardly deterred by his lack of bicycle touring experience. He is using CouchSurfing.org (which is how he connected with me) to arrange nightly accommodations along his route and has experienced the "Kindness of Strangers" on many occasions. Baron told me an ample diet of soul food has kept him energized, so I couldn't resist taking him to McCray's Backyard B-B-Q for a sampling of South Florida's best ribs & chicken.

The next morning Baron was riding along AIA in Palm Beach. He was on his way to Boca Raton to meet his next host.  I hoped his water bottle will always be full and the wind at his back.

For more information about Baron Hilliard, his journey and various missions visit:
journeythrublackamerica.com