The latest New Yorker of the Week gives students the tools to repair a bicycle and be successful in life. NY1's John Schiumo filed the following report.

When Carlos Suero was growing up, the Recycle-a-Bicycle after-school program led him down a positive path.

"I was looking for things to do outside of school, and this program was a great way for me to stay away from trouble and from bad influences," he says.

Today, Carlos leads a chapter of the nonprofit that teaches young New Yorkers how to fix a bicycle and so much more. The program instills a healthier lifestyle, teamwork, problem-solving skills and confidence.

"I was a really shy person, and I felt I was always afraid of telling people what I thought would be better or giving out my ideas. But then here, I’ve learned that everything that we say counts," says student Loren Rodriguez.

"He’s someone that gives you courage," says student Miguel Vargas. "You're comfortable around him, and he's really helpful."

Carlos also mentors these students as a teacher at Gregorio Luperon High School in Washington Heights.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Carlos understands their challenges because he lived them.

"One of the things as an immigrant that you might go through is economic hardship. This program was an escape for me of all the hardship that I was going through," he says. "I see the same story with most of the students that we have here."

"Carlos is a good person," student Angelica Frias says through an interpreter. "This program helps us better ourselves as people in ways that we can recreate our mind, how we can work in teams."

Carlos leads students on rides and encourages them to give back to their community, just like he does. He runs Recycle-a-Bicycle and teaches at the same school he attended as a teenager.

"He's a role model," says Karen Overton, executive director of Recycle-A-Bicycle. "He grew up in this neighborhood, understands them culturally and is nourishing all their interests and giving them opportunities to go places they wouldn't otherwise go."

"They are so excited about this that there’s no way I would think twice of not doing it," Carlos says.

So, for gearing up youth to discover new opportunities in life, Carlos Suero is our New Yorker of the Week.