In Episode 6 of the SCARS Podcast, listeners are invited into one of the most raw and powerful conversations to date—an exclusive sit-down with Al-Tariq Best, known in his community as Mr. HUBB, the visionary founder behind the award-winning nonprofit H.U.B.B. (Help Us Become Better). But before the accolades and recognition came a story of pain, survival, and redemption.

This isn’t just a podcast episode. It’s a masterclass in transformation, a testimony of trauma turned into tenacity, and a portrait of what it truly means to lead a community after surviving the kind of scars that destroy most.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This is the Truth Many Don’t Want Told

Al-Tariq Best’s journey is not polished or pretty—and that’s exactly why it’s powerful.

On the SCARS Podcast, he takes us deep into his past, detailing a childhood riddled with trauma. From witnessing murder at an early age, to being subjected to abuse, Al-Tariq’s early years were defined not by safety or guidance, but by survival. These aren’t vague references. He speaks candidly—voice shaking at times—about nights where violence echoed louder than hope, and how those formative years left emotional and psychological wounds that would follow him for decades.

“I wasn’t supposed to make it out,” he says. “But God had other plans.”

From Scars to Strategy: Building H.U.B.B. from the Pain

Rather than allow his past to consume him, Al-Tariq did what many dream of but few achieve: he built something life-changing out of the very pain that tried to destroy him.

He founded The H.U.B.B., a nonprofit that serves as a safe space for at-risk youth and families in Newark, New Jersey—a community that often feels forgotten. The organization offers everything from trauma-informed programs and anti-violence initiatives to arts education and workforce development. But beyond services, what H.U.B.B. offers is hope—something Al-Tariq was once starved of himself.

“The same streets that almost took me are the streets I now walk to protect others,” he tells SCARS.

Healing is Loud: Speaking the Truth in Public Spaces

Al-Tariq’s appearance on the SCARS Podcast isn’t just about storytelling—it’s about truth-telling.

He shares how black men, especially in urban environments, are taught to mask their trauma. Crying is weakness. Therapy is taboo. Vulnerability is a liability. But Al-Tariq challenges that narrative head-on.

“What we call ‘strong’ is often just ‘suppressed.’ But suppression kills,” he says. “We need healing circles, not just handcuffs.”

His mission is not just community reform—it’s cultural reprogramming.

Faith, Fatherhood, and Fighting Back

Throughout the episode, listeners hear Al-Tariq speak about his deep faith, his role as a father, and his commitment to ending the generational cycle of trauma. His spirituality is not performative—it’s personal. It’s the anchor that kept him from drifting into self-destruction.

He also unpacks the personal cost of leadership—the isolation, the spiritual warfare, and the exhaustion of being the “go-to” in a community that’s constantly in crisis. And still, he shows up.

“If my scars can help someone else heal, then I’ll keep showing them,” he says.