Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly and Samad Hubbell-Hinton.
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
BLK Beetles is starting a movement to push the boundaries and meaning of wellness. As a growing wellness community, our vision has remained the same from day one: making wellness not only accessible but a true joy for everyone, especially those who have been underserved and marginalized among us. This vision was conceived upon the realization that “the outdoors”and nature’s healing power can be a driving force to address the existing health disparities when it comes to one’s well-being – physical, mental, and social wellness.
In 2021, as COVID pandemic started to trend downwards, BLK Beetles kicked off our community meetups with a series of running and walking meetups in downtown Houston. These running and walking meetups served as a cornerstone in our ability to create community and culturally relevant experiences where community members were able to show up authentically, irrespective of background or economic status. Fast forward to 2023, we have been fortunate to expand our wellness experiences more broadly by adding a collection of new movement series that include community hikes, trail runs, yoga, which we had the opportunity to launch through great partnerships with brands such as HOKA and Propel Water.
Additionally, in 2023, , BLK Beetles was selected to participate in the HBCU Founders Initiative’s Spring 2023 Pre-Accelerator program and the 2023 Embark program powered by Founded Outdoors and REI Path Ahead Ventures. This afforded BLK Beetles with the opportunity to build and launch our digital streaming platform. Our digital platform provides us with the ability to provide greater anytime, anywhere access to guided on-demand wellness content and other storytelling content as well. You can join our digital community at https://blkbeetles.stream/.
As we reflect on these milestones over the past two years, we have so much gratitude for the number of stories we get to hear from our community members who are finding new community, connections, and inner peace through our various wellness experiences. Looking ahead, our goal is to deepen our impact in Houston while also exploring ways to replicate our model in other communities. This voyage has taught us that through collaboration, innovation, and passion, making wellness joy achievable for all is becoming closer to a reality than a dream.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Wellness is all about connections and shared experiences. Since those early community running and walking meetups to where we are today, our journey has been a learning process filled with both rewarding and reflective moments. We view these learnings as an investment into understanding the needs and preferences of our community members. Given that the destination to “be well” varies from person to person, our goal is to continue to place emphasis on offering approachable and accessible wellness services designed to foster healthy connections and reduce the feeling of social isolation. In addition, prioritizing togetherness while connecting to the outdoors has afforded us to be creative in building a more expansive community. The power of creativity led us to pilot our immersive nature-inspired yoga class and plan our community hiking experiences beyond the city bounds of Houston, which has been inclusive of great feedback from our community members.
Each moment of shared insight and feedback from our community members has prompted us to innovate, learn, and be stronger as a growing business. These learnings along the way have taught us the importance of resilience, adaptability, and remaining true to our mission. The stories shared by community members continue to be a symbol of this belief in action, ambition, and spirit.
What matters most to you? Why?
For us, the most significant impact lies within deepening our relationship with our community members and creating the experiences that allow them to connect in more meaningful ways. This focus stems from our core belief that wellness, when done in community, can address the issue of social isolation. The reason this matters so much to us is twofold: the personal transformation it can bring about in individuals and the ripple effect this transformation has on society at large.
Broadly speaking, the societal impact of social isolation cannot be overstated enough. As highlighted by the comprehensive 81-page report from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office, this issue poses a grave risk to the point in which someone experiencing loneliness and social isolation has the equivalent health impact of someone who smokes up to 15 cigarettes per day. Moreover, as noted by Cigna, individuals from marginalized racial groups experience loneliness and social isolation at a 10% higher rate than the national average.
In essence, solving the issue of social isolation not only fosters a healthier society, but highlights the importance of our work in designing more culturally relevant and holistic wellness experiences. We believe that each person who embarks on a more human connected wellness journey can be a positive symbol of change within their families, workplaces, and communities beyond BLK Beetles. This desire for a more connected and healthier society speaks to our core values, mission, and “why” in solving the issue of social isolation.
Please tell us more about your business or organization. What should we know? What do you do, what do you specialize in / what are you known for? What sets you apart from others? What are you most proud brand wise? What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
BLK Beetles, Public Benefit LLC is a wellness community with a mission to make wellness joy achievable for all. Launched in 2020, BLK Beetles is a digital and in-person wellness community designed to help individuals, especially those from marginalized communities, reduce the feeling of loneliness and improve the sense of belongingness through community experiences. BLK Beetles’ new digital platform is designed to bridge the gap between you and the great outdoors. This FREE digital community offers guided meditations, outdoor documentaries, community conversations, and more. More than just a tool, the platform serves as your companion in embracing a healthier, more holistic lifestyle. You can learn more about BLK Beetles at www.blkbeetles.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blkbeetles.com/
- Instagram: blkbeetles
Image Credits
Dennis Walls Jr.
Patrick Pressgrove
Erick Castillo
