Auto Repair Transformation

Auto Repair Transformation (A.R.T.) is an anti-racist, feminist, LGBTQIA+ led, community-driven, nonprofit with a social justice focus. Our organization was founded to disrupt the systemic bias in the automotive industry against women, BIPOC, low-income, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We seek to be leaders in furthering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging in an industry that has historically discriminated against marginalized people.

It is the mission of Auto Repair Transformation to close the equity gap for workers and customers in the automotive repair industry by removing barriers to access, inspiring marginalized people to enter and thrive in the industry, and advocating for inclusive and equitable environments. We primarily serve and address the needs of BIPOC, Women, LGBTQIA+, and low-income people. 

JOIN THE MOVEMENT & DONATE TODAY!

Help us close the equity gap for workers and customers in the automotive repair industry! Together, we can remove barriers to access, create new employment pathways for marginalized people to enter and thrive in the industry, and advocate for inclusive work environments. 

Your donation will fuel community aid and drive positive change through four main program areas: 

• Financial Assistance makes critical safety repairs accessible for our BIPOC, Women, LGBTQIA+ houseless community members who rely on their vehicles to maintain their livelihood, shelter, and health. Low-income households often have to choose between safe and reliable transportation and other essential expenses. Financial assistance has provided roughly $120,000 for critical safety repairs for 120 individuals since 2012
• Community Workshops on the basics of vehicle maintenance and repairs makes this knowledge more accessible for BIPOC, Women, LGBTQIA+, and low-income people, which protects them from being taken advantage of by building agency and confidence around their cars. Community workshops have served over 300 participants over the more than 50 events organized since 2012.
• Lights Out on Racism provides educational resources, free exterior light inspection, and bulb replacement for our BIPOC and low-income community that is disproportionately targeted and stopped for these common safety citations. Lights out on racism has provided resources and services to more than 500 individuals since 2020.
• Apprenticeship trains new automotive technicians and service advisors in an inclusive and affirming learning environment, creating new employment pathways for marginalized people who are underrepresented in the industry. Apprenticeship has increased diversity and representation in the industry – of the 12 apprentices trained since 2012: 100% are LGBTQ+ (with 58% transgender and/or nonbinary), 42% are women, 33% are BIPOC, and 58% were low-income when entering the program.

Why is this work needed? We often say we are not just fixing cars; we are fixing an industry. Female automotive technicians make up less than 2% of the total automotive technician workforce. This male-dominated industry is also known to exclude people of color and people from the LGBTQIA+ community. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that of the total automotive repair workforce, 7.1% are Black or African American, 2.9% Asian, and 24% Hispanic or Latino. Having a safe workplace where diversity is celebrated is critical to building the automotive technician workforce that desperately needs more talent; most automotive shops are understaffed, as there is a shortage of automotive technicians nationwide. This is increasing repair costs and times for all motorists. The industry-wide shortage of skilled automotive technicians is exacerbated by the fact that the industry is leaving behind a huge percentage of the available workforce by not welcoming women and other folks from underrepresented populations.

OUR VISION: We envision an automotive industry that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive for women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and low-income individuals and communities; in which our communities are empowered with knowledge about their vehicle’s care and maintenance; and where there are abundant opportunities and shop cultures that allow our communities to enter, thrive and lead.