Building Community Through Outdoor Adventure

In this episode of 'How We Connected,' hosts Aaron and Charlotte discuss the importance of community and connection in America - and the launch of the State of Connection report. Their guest today is Tracy Stephens, founder of the BLK Hiking Club. Tracy shares his journey from a novice hiker to leading a thriving community of black hikers in the south. The episode explores the challenges and triumphs the group faces, the transformative power of outdoor activities, and Tracy's vision for expanding the group. Aaron and Charlotte also share personal stories about their weekends and reflect on the broader impact of fostering inclusive spaces in the outdoor industry.

00:00 Introduction & Chamber Updates

15:23 Tracy's Origin Story

17:27 Discovering Hiking

22:49 The Moment That Started BLK Hiking Club

25:57 Growing the Community

31:59 Expanding Beyond Hiking

34:55 The South's Unique Context

39:21 Closing Thoughts

---

How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community.

Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy.

Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship.

Connect with Us

www.chamberofconnection.org

BLK Hiking Club

www.blkhikingclub.com

Tracy Stephens, Founder, BLK Hiking Club

Tracy started hiking back in 2018. He was introduced to hiking after his boss invited him to go to the mountains. He was hesitant because he always kind of lived by that stereotype that “Black people don’t hike”. He decided to take the chance and go on the hike. He fell in love with it immediately. Soon he was telling his friends about the hobby, hoping to get people together to hike with him. For the next three years he hiked on his own. In 2020, he created a logo for a group he would come to call “BLK Hiking Club,” but he was hesitant to get started. New Years Day of 2021 came around and he went hiking with a friend. They met a Black woman on the trail who spoke with them about her experiences. She talked about the traumas of hiking alone, seeing signs and political messages that made her fearful. Coming back down the mountain, Stephens realized what he had to do. He had the idea; the logo already solidified. It was time to make a plan and put it in action. He went home, created a social media page and the rest was history.

Heylo

https://www.heylo.com

Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you invite people to walk together and really see their city?

In this episode of How We Connected, Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey talk with Holden Minor Ringer, a Seattle community builder and transit advocate who believes walking is one of the simplest ways to fight isolation. Holden shares the story of walking more than 4,500 miles across the United States, relying on the kindness of strangers and gaining a front-row view of how cities either support or hinder human connection.

That experience inspired the Seattle Super Saunter - a 22-mile walk across Seattle that drew 300 people, even in pouring rain. Holden explains how walking creates natural, low-pressure connection, why accessibility and flexibility matter, and how the saunter model can be replicated in other cities.

This conversation is about movement, community, and the power of doing something simple together.

00:00 Introduction

04:10 Community Reflections

10:32 Meet Holden

14:41 Walking Across America

21:46 Creating the Seattle Super Saunter

29:20 Connecting Walking to Transit Advocacy

36:48 Replicating the Model

39:52 Wrap-up and Reflections

---

How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community.

Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy.

Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship.

Connect with Us

www.chamberofconnection.org

Seattle Super Saunter

www.seattlesupersaunter.com

Holden Minor Ringer

Holden is the primary organizer for the Seattle Super Saunter. Prior to returning to Seattle in May of 2024 Holden walked across the country starting March 8th from La Push, WA and over the course of 423 days, 4,500+ miles and 20 states, completed his journey in New Haven, CT on May 4th 2024. Before his journey, Holden had walked all around the Pacific Northwest to prepare, having walked from Everett to Seattle, Seattle to Tacoma, all around Lake Washington, from Ballard to Tiger Mountain (and back), as well as from Vancouver, BC back to Seattle. To make a long story short, he's a big walker.

Heylo

https://www.heylo.com

Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Intentional Approach to Building Community

In this episode of How We Connected, hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey discuss the importance of building connection and community in America. The conversation dives into Aaron's recent trip to Miami and Charlotte's adventurous holiday travel, highlighting the enriching experiences of spontaneity and connection. This week's interview features Gabriel Ghiglione, an experienced community builder who was global lead at Midnight Runners and helped expand the social running community to 18 cities globally. Gabe shares his playbook for building successful communities, emphasizing the importance of consistency, personal connection, and establishing a core group of volunteers. The hosts reflect on how to integrate these lessons into their own community-building efforts at the US Chamber of Connection.

00:00 Introduction to How We Connected

02:56 Holiday Travel Stories and Reflections

07:04 A Medical Emergency in Minnesota!

12:35 Gabriel Ghiglione's Journey: From Berlin to Global Community Building

20:40 The Playbook: Building Community in New Cities

28:30 Midnight Runners Today and New Projects

36:24 Intentional Diversity and Leadership in Communities

42:24 Key Takeaways and Closing Reflections

---

How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community.

Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy.

Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship.

Connect with Us

www.chamberofconnection.org

Midnight Runners

www.midnightrunners.com

Gabriel Ghiglione

Gabe is a community builder best known as global lead for Midnight Runners, a movement that combines running, music, and social connection to help people feel a sense of belonging in cities around the world. What began as a small volunteer-led run group grew into a nonprofit community active across 18 cities internationally. Gabriel spent nearly seven years launching chapters, developing local leadership teams, and refining a playbook centered on consistency, co-creation, and mission-led design. Today, he continues to apply these principles through neighborhood and creative communities in San Francisco, and through his work in community platforms and experiential design.

Heylo

https://www.heylo.com

Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.