We were lucky to catch up with Chason Forehand recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chason, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Seeing the devastation within the workforce and within the communities during 2020, we decided that something needed to be done that wasn’t more rhetoric, it was about real change. We developed a system where we could bring the voices of people together to create a larger reach to demonstrate how valuing people over everything is the only sustainable and equitable action to create lasting change within the workforce and solve socioeconomic issues that plague our communities.
Imagine erasing poverty, homelessness, and reducing crime, all due to the rippling effect of people having enough resources to provide for their families. It is not a pipe dream, but a reality of change that can happen when the leaders within our world decide that people are the most important aspect of their businesses and show it with their actions.
We started talking to potential board members back in April of this year. By May we had the Board of Directors, all of our documents completed, and a base of how we wanted to operate. We were working towards creating more networking opportunities and getting prepared to file our 1023 long-form for 501(c)(3) approval with the IRS and took on a coach to help us with the process that had spent years as an attorney working with IRS adjusters. We were able to file and get approval within 6 weeks of filing because of due diligence and work with a coach. This is unprecedented! It has opened doors for us to create our fundraising platforms and move through doors that we hadn’t thought we would be able to so quickly.
Today, we have over 40 partners and have raised thousands of dollars to drive our mission to the next level.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
We are a charitable 501(c)(3) Nonprofit incorporated in Delaware and doing business virtually here in NY. Our mission is to remove the roadblocks that prevent people from finding living-wage employment. We accomplish this by shining a light on the people that are breaking down barriers, stigmas, stereotypes, and biases within their work to create change, and by giving information to leaders around the world about the benefits of creating people centric environments.
Our Partners are leaders that are showing up to enlighten the world with their people over everything initiatives, policies and most importantly, actions. When leaders care about their people, they create safe spaces for them to grow and prosper. Living-wage employment is a by-product of this care. As our numbers grow, so does the reach of our light and the strength of our purpose. We are able to create ripples that reach beyond the employee to families and communities to create lasting change. When leaders pour into their people, amazing work happens that empowers communities to rise out of poverty, homelessness, and despair.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have pivoted many times in my life. Sometimes, I didn’t have a choice, and other times it was about a personal decision to move in a different growth direction. I believe in following your dreams and going after the things you want to do in life without hesitation. At the end of 2018 I left a toxic work environment to take my side hustle to the next level. My little HR consulting company brought on clients no one else thought of. They were the small business owners with single operations. I was thriving in 2019 and loving every minute of it.
In 2020 when the pandemic hit, most of my clients were crushed, never to return. I saw the devastation outside my own business to those in my family, friends, and community. Add in the social strife that was taking place during this time frame and it was a powder keg of confusion, heartache, and misery for most. I wanted to help others, so I started giving back more to Nonprofits through probono work and volunteering. I adjusted my consulting company only to work with Nonprofits and B Corps that were changing the landscape of our world,
Then in 2022 we created hr-4u inc. to combat the growing inequalities within the pay gaps in the world. We are achieving our success through showing leaders what real, actionable people centric work looks like. We are bridging the gap and flattening the pyramid of pay inequity to create sustainable, equitable living wage opportunities for everyone in every community. Our work will break down the shackles of poverty and homelessness to create actionable change.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
If I could give anyone any advice on social media, it would be to be consistent and be authentic. Simply put, be yourself, and talk about what you’re passionate about so that others can follow you if it resonates with them. I don’t have a ton of followers, however, I have amazing engagement, because the people that connect and follow me are invested in what we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hr-4u.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasonforehand/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083379040581
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chason-forehand-rcf1222/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/hr4u_org
- Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hr_4u.org Text GIVE to 914-281-2170