We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Daven Asafo-Agyei. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Daven below.
Alright, Daven thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.
My mother was an amazing, powerful, and generous woman who, before and after her passing, has remained my greatest inspiration. At a very young age, my parents separated, and I was left to be raised solely by my mother, who had a tough life of her own. When I was 13 years old, she became sick, and I had to become her sole caretaker and provider. Having to grow up in the crime-ridden and poverty-stricken streets of the South Bronx and fend for myself was no easy feat. However, I was able to make it through my hardships with the love and support of my stepmother (my biological mother’s partner) and her family, who’s since become my family as they’ve accepted me as such! Through this experience, I became selfless, independent, and creative. My mother taught me many things; however, some of my favorite lessons include her favorite phrase, “Knowledge is the greatest treasure in life, something no person could ever take from you.” This is why I have decided to dedicate my life to academia and created Humane LLC. Both of my mothers were instrumental in teaching me kindness, love, and acceptance. Although the world had been a very ruthless place for my biological mother, she did not let it make her a mean or hateful person. Instead, she loved, laughed, tried her best, and succeeded in being one of the kindest people I have ever met. She taught me to work hard, give my best effort, and treat people with respect. At the same time, the love of my stepmother and our family got me through some of the most challenging moments of my life. Through that experience, I have learned that it takes a village, and everyone has a place and purpose within that village.
A Humane INC. (DBA) Humane LLC was created in honor of my mother. I wanted the world to know that good people exist, and I wanted to create a safe space for those people to live. Too often, good people are pushed to the side or lost in the cracks of this ever-changing world. I have found that the best parts of humanity reside in the darkest places, and it’s time for that to change.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Unfortunately, the truth is that tragedy is what led me down the path I am on today. After experiencing being physically assaulted by a coworker and nearly losing my life, I realized that when I looked around, I did not like what I saw of the world in front of me. So, I decided to change it, or at least do as much as possible to make the world a better place because many people are hurting, and hurt people hurt people. As we advance in technology, traditional values, morals, and reasoning are being lost. When I founded A Humane, I had no prior knowledge or experience in entrepreneurship, and I was setting out some pretty high ambitions for myself. When introducing my business concept to others in the startup phase, I’d always say that our primary mission is the research and preservation of humanity, and I was often met with puzzling looks and blank stares; what exactly did that mean? I just wanted to create a safe space for good people to exist while preserving our most important asset as a species, Mother Earth. I resigned from my job, enrolled back into school and changed my academic focus, and began volunteering at various environmental organizations such as the NYC Parks Department, FabScrap, and XR Rebellion. I currently attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice in pursuit of a CUNY Bachelorette Interdisciplinary Studies degree with an area of concentration in Human Ecology and Planetary Management. Here at A Humane, we focus on providing individuals in environmental justice communities of concern with easy and accessible methods to adapt to the climate emergency. We provide tools and resources, host educational workshops, and participate in community organizing to raise awareness and take radical action to create climate-resilient communities within low to moderate-income neighborhoods. Our goal is to show people that everyone has a place in the world and can make a difference one day at a time. Aside from operating A Humane and being a student, I also work as the Coordinator of Gardens and Operations for a small nonprofit organization in the Bronx and spend my free time volunteering as a super steward for NYC Parks Department, where I am working on a project in Spuyten Duyvil Shorefront Park. I am most proud of how far we have come and of the connections we have made so far.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
It’s safe to say that when I founded A Humane LLC in April 2021, I had NO idea what I was doing. I started the organization all alone, and I didn’t have much support. I was just a man with a vision, passion, and purpose. However, I knew in order to make impactful progress, I couldn’t do it all alone. One day in late 2021, I found a flier in my aunt’s apartment building for an entrepreneurship program in the area and decided to try my luck! Unfortunately, I was above the age range of youth they were scouting for the program; however, James Reddick, the director of youth programs at the Bronx Community Justice Center, made an exception for me, which allowed me to join the program. For this, I will always be grateful because not only did it give me an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of operating a business, but it also opened the doors to meeting my current best friend and Chief Operating Officer! Within three months of meeting her and getting to know one another, Veronica Rolling decided to take me up on my offer to join my team and assist me in building my organization, a decision that has ultimately made A Humane into what it is today! She is the backbone of this organization, and I know that I would not be here today if not for her determination, loyalty, and support. After two weeks of hopping on board, she gave me great advice on how to network and grow my business that I’ve implemented and gotten progressive results from. It is a true blessing as a business owner, especially one who makes no financial profit, to get someone to believe in your dreams as much as you do. I couldn’t ask for a better partner and friend. She is the Yin to my Yang, and I’m most certain that we will continue to achieve great things together.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Quite honestly, growing clientele is still something we are working at being a newly founded grassroots organization; it has not been easy. As the founder, one thing I’ve come to realize is that I never want to leave the field. I do not want to become a CEO that sits behind a desk and loses touch with the vision and mission, and that has been my most important takeaway in learning the best strategies for growing our clientele and building rapport with them. If I am not at work or school, I volunteer or attend various networking events. Being active and present to your consumers and within the communities you plan to serve is a fundamental part of growing your business. You have to find the people that are doing what you want to do and are humble enough to teach you. You then have to show up, remain humble, network, remain open-minded and participate. The bottom line is to be proactive so that you can begin to build positive and valuable relationships. Take what you learn and go where you are needed; there is enough room for all of us!! Finally, NEVER LOSE YOUR PASSION!
Contact Info:
- Website: ahumanellc.com
- Instagram: HumblyHumane