Located in Houston, Texas, Bel Inizio, (which means beautiful beginning in Italian), is a nonprofit that helps disadvantaged women develop self-confidence and life skills through fitness and nutrition. Participants train to complete a 5K, which helps prepare them for the ultimate race — the race for a better life.

Houston has a generous giving community and great compassion for those in need. We have emergency shelters, transitional housing, and halfway houses. The agencies offer case workers, recovery programs, and job skills training. What gets lost, and is critically needed, is helping individuals achieve the self-esteem and confidence that can come from an ongoing exercise and nutrition program.

Bel Inizio was launched to help meet this need. We work with women from many partner agencies including Santa Maria Hostel, Dress for Success, Brigid’s Hope, Star of Hope, Redeemed Ministries, and The Women’s Home. Our clients are individuals who had a variety of challenges from sexual abuse, substance and alcohol abuse and homelessness. Most are in recovery, and all are working hard to re-enter the community. With Bel Inizio many have the opportunity to succeed in a way that they never thought possible: they will set a healthy goal and achieve it.

Bel Inizio teams train to complete a 5K, and in the process learn about commitment, fitness, and nutrition. They see healthy behaviors in action and are offered tools to help them succeed once they are out on their own. Bel Inizio shows each woman that they matter.

After completion of the 5K training program, participants have the opportunity to continue on to the phase 2 program called Beyond the Finish Line (BTFL). BTFL is a program designed to foster continuity of support and lifelong community for women as they transition from Bel Inizio’s 5K program to further pursue the ultimate race – the race for a better life.

Executive Director Kendra Atkins is a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) with a decade of experience in nonprofit management, program operations and community outreach. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Houston. She is passionate about changing the lives of underserved populations and is excited to work with Bel Inizio’s staff, volunteers, donors, and partners to achieve remarkable outcomes toward the mission of the organization.

Our Founder, Theresa Strong, started in Bel Inizio in 2010 and after 14 years passed the baton to Kendra Atkins.  Theresa remains active in Bel Inizio and in many other volunteer activities in the Houston area.

Program Coordinator Julie Mandimutsira has her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University. She has gained a deep love for community building and women’s empowerment through both academic and extracurricular activities, including serving as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Duke HEEAT (addressing Health disparities through Equity, Engagement, Advocacy, and Trust) Lab, participating in the Health, Culture, and Latino Community service-learning course, serving as a resident assistant, Females and Allies Excelling More in Math, Engineering, and Science (FEMMES+) Volunteer, and Ignite Fellow at the Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies. She is passionate about creating inclusive and welcoming spaces where all feel encouraged to be their authentic selves and build the rich, fulfilling lives they deserve.