Dustin LaFont, 29
Director, Front Yard Bikes
It all started in 2012, when Dustin LaFont helped a kid from his neighborhood repair his bike in Lafont’s front yard. After a few years, dozens of other kids and hundreds of more bike repairs, a nonprofit called Front Yard Bikes was born. As director, LaFont teaches inner-city youth how to build, repair and maintain bikes, while empowering them with business skills, critical thinking and ways to give back to their community. LaFont was chosen to speak at TEDxLSU in 2014 and received the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Angel Award in 2015 for his efforts. But to LaFont, it’s not about him or about the accolades. It’s about the kids—and helping them realize their potential. “We empower our youth to see themselves in the business world, challenge their critical thinking skills, and teach them to seek ways to give back to their communities,” he says.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
1. Being a speaker at TEDxLSU.
2. Founding our nonprofit, Front Yard Bikes.
3. Receiving the Blue Cross Blue Shield Angel Award.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
I’m the director of Front Yard Bikes, a 501(c)(3) that teaches youth and adults how to fix, build and maintain bikes. We empower our youth to see themselves in the business world, challenge their critical thinking skills and teach them to seek ways to give back to their communities. We also go on bike rides with our youth every Friday to parks, libraries, museums and local businesses, so they can benefit from the vast local resources in Baton Rouge.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
The Alchemist.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
A children’s book author or police officer.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
Sweeping floors at a grocery store in Houma at 15.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
Catching fish bait for my boss’s family at $10 an hour.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Magpie Café, a dark roast coffee.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
My strong relationship with my family and kids at our shop.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
I think about our youth and how I get to represent them.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Seeing our youth realize their potential has been my greatest achievement.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA MOMENT?”
When I had numerous community members coming to my house to see our concept turn into a 501(c)(3), I knew it was time to act.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Creating innovative time for my team, so we can dream a little.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Everyone you teach has to eventually choose success. You can’t force it on them.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR JOB WOULD SHOCK CUSTOMERS OR CLIENTS IF THEY KNEW ABOUT IT?
Some days, I enjoy the work so much I would do it all for free.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
Cast away casual.
WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
Seeing one of our kids succeed mechanically, academically or spiritually. I also really enjoy seeing a customer fall in love with a used bike! I hate any perception of our youth (sometimes self-inflicted) as incapable. That’s what we are here to change.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
Your kids love you, Dustin!
MAC OR PC?
Mac.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Facebook and Instagram.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
10-20.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
It has died on me many times. I remain calm and get the charger out.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
0.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Pandora.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Smart watches, though I don’t have one.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Snapchat.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
6 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Either at home or on the go. Depends on the day.
THE SAYING GOES: ‘BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.’ SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU ‘BEING’ TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
A compassionate teacher.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP”?
When I was left in charge of a group of kids during my AmeriCorps year with City Year.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Hiking in the redwood forest in north California with my wife.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
My younger brother.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
I’d like to breathe underwater. There is so much beauty in the ocean and rivers.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
DROD and Uncle Dune.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
If you garden, always plant by the moon.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
My mother.
WHICH FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
Finn the Human.
FAVORITE DRINK?
Swamp Pop Filé Root Beer.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
Risky Business.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Office Space.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Jaden Smith.
WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?
Snakes and snakes.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
The haters are wrong about you. Be the person God made you, and you’ll see great things in your life.
PETS?
Two dogs, Bobby Hebert and Dan Marino.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS? WHAT HAPPENED?
I encounter famous people every day. They are just kids right now, but you’ll see what happens as they grow up.
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
I went with my church to Nicaragua to volunteer with some churches. It completely changed my worldview and perception on life.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
Developing welding courses and organic cooking.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
The power of social media.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
The youth in my program and the people God is making them.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Don’t shy away from being the wonderful person God made you.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
I plan to be in Baton Rouge until our nonprofit no longer needs me.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?
A unified city, beyond race, economic status and religion.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
1. Learn Cajun French.
2. Bike/travel across the U.S.
3. Convert a Hummer/bus to bio-diesel.
