07/16/2026
Hampton Inn Kayenta and Reuben Heflin Restaurant was honored to support Zayy and Dee Jay in their Faith Walk across America.
Faith, Purpose, and Hospitality: HMBL Zayy’s Journey Across America Brings Him to Kayenta
KAYENTA, Ariz. — HMBL Zayy (Isaiah Thomas) arrived in Kayenta on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, as part of his ambitious Faith Walk Across America, a journey that began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and will ultimately take him to California. His mission is to raise awareness and funds to help build a trade school that will provide young people with opportunities and pathways to success.
Kayenta Town Manager Jarvis Williams learned of Zayy’s presence in town while checking in on his Twitch livestream. Upon realizing the young entrepreneur and motivational figure had reached Kayenta, Williams immediately wanted to ensure he received a warm welcome.
“Let's get this guy a meal and let him rest up for the evening,” Williams recalled thinking.
Williams believes that extending hospitality to visitors reflects the values of both Kayenta and the Navajo Nation.
“At the end of the day, they’re just wanting a comfortable, nice place to relax, get some dinner, and rest,” Williams said. “Let’s welcome them to town and be a good host. They don’t ask for much. They’re humble and trying to shed some light on their cause. If it’s just a room they need to rest in and a hot meal, that would be something we could offer to them.”
To support the travelers, Kayenta Township provided HMBL Zayy and Dee Jay, his one-man technical support crew, with a meal and lodging at the Hampton Inn in Kayenta, including dinner at the Reuben Heflin Restaurant.
For Zayy, the cross-country walk represents far more than endurance. It is a mission rooted in his experiences growing up in Philadelphia, where he witnessed the devastating effects of gun violence, kids losing their lives at a young age, and the lack of opportunities facing many young people.
Zay asked himself, “What is missing? Why are these kids losing their lives at a young age?” Zayy explained, “A lot of them had a lack of opportunity and a lack of being in the correct environment.”
As a young entrepreneur, Zayy said he recognized the importance of investing in youth and helping them discover their potential.
“My vision was always, how can we create an environment that helps kids thrive, believe in themselves, and gives them an opportunity to reach the next level?” he said. “It really starts with the kids—they are the future. The number one thing is being able to connect with them and give them a head start in life. I feel having a trade is one of the important things.”
Zayy believes many young people today face challenges from negative influences, including social media, street violence, and unhealthy environments.
“How can you put them in a different position and introduce them to something different in life?” he asked. “A lot of negativity goes on in this world, no matter where you’re from. Negativity is the reason why things are corrupt.” Zay emphasized that building a better environment is his main goal.
Despite walking through varying regions, elevations, and climates—including the mountains of Colorado and the severe weather conditions of the Great Plains—Zayy says faith and mental determination continue to carry him forward.
“I believe in God carrying me through,” he said. “You could quit. Giving up is an option. It’s all about where your mind is going to take you. You can choose to quit or you can choose to keep fighting. My mind set, going through the Colorado mountains and through Kansas where there are tornados, is mentally pushing myself every day. I’m going to keep going…keep going, no matter what. What doesn’t kill us is going to make us stronger.”
Williams said he hopes the hospitality shown by Kayenta leaves a lasting impression on the travelers.
“I hope HMBL Zayy finishes his journey safely, returns to his family safely, and says that at one point in his trip he came through a town on the Navajo Nation and they welcomed him very well,” Williams said. “A lot of folks online are talking about the Navajo Nation being a great, wonderful place, and I hope that Kayenta Township is living up to that standard.”
As HMBL Zayy continues westward on his journey, his message of faith, perseverance, and opportunity serves as a reminder that even a single act of kindness—or a single step forward—can help inspire change.
By Lawson T. Benally Jr.
Public Information Officer, Kayenta Township
