Kendall Martin was raised in an environment that inspired him to give back to his community. When he realized he was often the only Black boulderer on any given day at the boulder fields in Chattanooga, Tennessee—a city where roughly 30% of the population is African American— Kendall decided to do something about it.

Kendall—center in green shirt—with some of the kids from WeClimb.

That something is WeClimb, a nonprofit that Kendall founded while attending University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Over the past two years, Kendall has introduced hundreds of youth in Chattanooga and surrounding areas to climbing, hiking, and stewardship. This past year, he hosted a guest speaker series and several field trips to meet with community members and have them share their stories with the kids. This fall, Kendall presented at the Access Fund Annual Climbing Advocacy Conference just before he completed his undergraduate degree. Now that he’s graduated, he has big plans for the future of WeClimb—read on to learn more.

Six Questions for Kendall

Tell us a little bit about WeClimb and what you do in the community.
WeClimb uses rock climbing to help underserved youth become better versions of themselves and increase diversity in the climbing world. We do this by partnering with local nonprofits and schools that are interested in introducing alternative sports to their youth, bringing local leaders and business owners to talk to our kids and take them climbing outside or inside on a regular basis. Our efforts are currently focused on the Chattanooga metropolitan area, where WeClimb is based.

What surprised you the most about starting a climbing nonprofit?
I was surprised by how quickly the climbing community supported our cause. It confirmed that what we’re doing is needed.

What’s your advice to new advocates?
Listen and talk to the community you are reaching out to; this is a task I cannot stress enough. I was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, and I did not start climbing until I moved to Chattanooga. That means no matter how much I love and care about Chattanooga, there will be things within “Chattanoogan” culture and history that I simply don’t understand. This means that I have to constantly talk to community activists, local organizations, educators, parents, children, and others, to make sure that our organization is relevant and useful to the community that we have vowed to help. Talk to as many people as you can.

It’s also really important to take time for yourself and learn how to delegate tasks to others. As advocates, we clearly love the outdoors and everything that it has to offer. The last thing we want is to make the space we enjoy being a part of feel burdensome.

What’s your favorite cause in climbing advocacy right now?
Adaptive climbing. I just learned about it within the past few years. What that entire cause is doing is truly inspiring; it is extremely difficult to even explain the importance of that cause and the way it has shaped my worldview of outdoor recreation as a person without a disability.

What does it mean to you to be a climbing advocate?
I’m naturally an introvert, which means that over the past few years, I had to learn how to fit into the role of an advocate. Even now, after more than six years of climbing, it still feels difficult to settle into. So, what I’ve done over the past few years is learn to view my role as a climbing advocate as bringing dope people into a sport that I love, nothing more and nothing less. Because the moment I view this role as something more, I will probably pack all my stuff up, throw away my technology, and move to Rocklands or somewhere out of the country.

Who is another climbing advocate whose work is really inspiring you right now?
Tiffany Blount is an amazing climbing advocate and an inspiration to me. She started Black Girls Boulder and organized the Blk Out Fest last year, and has been an inspiration for me. Aside from her being fine with me taking on the role of the annoying little brother she never asked for over the past few months, she has helped me navigate many things within the climbing industry along with helping WeClimb and other organizations do great and amazing things.