“BELONGING IS A HUMAN NEED.”
When Samad Hinton lost his father in 2016, he found healing in nature. What began as quiet walks to cope with loss turned into something bigger. “With that grief and isolation, it was connecting to nature that helped me heal.” Years later, in the stillness following the pandemic, that connection to the outdoors inspired the launch of a running crew in 2021 and a journey to turn isolation into belonging.“ As we started to gather, we realized loneliness and social isolation were a growing issue,” he said. “We realized our people need a way to connect.”
Along with his partner and co-founder, Kelly Hubbell-Hinton, they launched their first run with low expectations, and 17 people showed up. That day became the blueprint: movement coupled with community. “We spent more time talking over coffee than we did running,” Samad laughs. “It was clear—people needed space to just be.”
BLK Beetles isn’t your average run club. It’s a fusion of culture and healing, designed for historically marginalized communities. With trail runs, yoga, meditation, and storytelling, they’re helping people reconnect with each other and the land. “Belonging is a human need,” says Kelly. “And we’re out here answering that call.”
Kelly is an indigenous woman of Navajo descent. Growing up in the high desert of northern Arizona, nature was both playground and teacher. “It taught us work ethic and respect for the seasons,” she says. “Being outside was just life.” That grounding in land, history, and healing continues to shape the group’s evolution. “We’re tackling loneliness—something half the country is experiencing,” said Kelly. “For marginalized folks, it’s even more severe.”
“NATURE ISN’T JUST A BACKDROP...”
Samad’s childhood in Fort Lauderdale was filled with days on the beach with his dad and watching his brother, one of the only Black kids with a surfboard, ride the waves. “Being outdoors for me is about reclaiming our cultural traditions,” he says. “It’s also reimagining what it means to be outside, in our bodies, and together.”
BLK Beetles is intentional about place. In such a large metropolitan area like Houston, the co-founders’ home base, it’s important to make nature come alive in unexpected ways. “We are surrounded by highways and roads,” says Samad. “It’s been really impactful to see people not only connect to peers, but also introduce them to nature in a way that they didn’t think was possible.”
Samad and Kelly envision a world where people of color are thriving with a sense of belonging, well-being, and connection, leading to healthier and more joyful lives. With growth from partnerships with brands like REI’s Path Ahead Ventures and Propel, that dream is becoming a reality.
The Hintons recognize that entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. Inspired by the legacy of Greenwood, Samad adds: “It’s about honoring those who came before us—Mother Fletcher, Uncle Red (two survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre). Their fight for justice lives in our work.”
As Kelly puts it: “Nature isn’t just a backdrop—it’s part of our humanity. And we all deserve to feel connected.”
▪️ PHOTOS BY Mani Olaniyan
Featured in Issue No. 6
In the "Outside Issue", we partnered with REI's Path Ahead Ventures to highlight entrepreneurs in the outdoor industry. Founders of color represent only an estimated 1% of outdoor entrepreneurs. We celebrate founders who are making waves and forging new paths for everyone.
