We were lucky to catch up with Zachery Frazier recently and have shared our conversation below.

Zachery , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Growing up in inner-city Philadelphia, I was kicked out of every public school and ended up finishing my education at DeLaSalle In Town, a disciplinary school. I was an athlete, playing basketball and boxing, but my personal life was in turmoil. At 11 years old, my mother fell into addiction, and I was forced to live with my father and his wife, where I faced emotional and physical abuse. Music became my refuge during many tough nights.

At 15, after being severely beaten by my father for getting into trouble, I moved in with my grandmother. Unfortunately, her home environment was toxic, surrounded by multiple generations involved in drug dealing and use. I began down a destructive path, selling marijuana and stealing cars to afford the latest clothes and sneakers that my family couldn’t provide. All the while, I had to watch my mother continue to struggle with her addiction.

By 18, I was arrested and missed the birth of my first child, my daughter. My criminal activities continued into my late 20s, until I was arrested again—this time for a shooting. It was then that I realized I needed to change, not only for myself but also for my family. I came to understand that I had lacked emotional intelligence and had grown up immersed in toxic masculinity.

After serving time, I returned home determined to rebuild my life. I became a union carpenter and discovered a new calling as a mentor and motivational speaker, using my experiences to create a positive impact on the youth in my community. I wanted to be the change that I didn’t have growing up.

Zachery , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My personal journey has shaped the foundation of the work we do. Growing up I faced adversity, from family struggles with addiction and abuse to getting caught in the juvenile justice system. After reaching a turning point, I made the decision to rebuild my life, becoming a Union Carpenter and later dedicating myself to mentoring and advocating for youth facing similar challenges.
Ms. Jessica Hill and I Co-founded Trust Factor to address the critical issues our community faces. Together, we aim to break cycles of poverty, trauma, and violence, focusing on empowering youth and young adults to reach their full potential. Our program, Build-A-Man, teaches not only valuable trade skills like carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, but also focuses on emotional intelligence, mental health, and financial literacy. We take a holistic approach to ensure that participants develop both practical skills and the personal resilience needed to succeed.
What sets us apart is our deeply personal connection to the issues we address. Having experienced these challenges firsthand, I understand what many of our participants are going through. This gives us a unique ability to connect with them and offer real, relatable guidance. Together with Ms. Hill, we have built an organization that doesn’t just provide services, but fosters real, transformative change.
What we’re most proud of is the impact we’ve seen. Young men in our programs have not only learned trades, but also improved their mental health, relationships, and leadership abilities. Watching them grow and break free from negative cycles is what drives us every day.
We want you to know that Trust Factor is more than just about teaching trades—it’s about empowering youth to overcome obstacles, build emotional intelligence, and lead successful lives. We are committed to making a lasting impact in our community, and we’re excited to continue growing our programs to reach even more young people.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was being judgmental, especially toward those closest to me. This became clear to me when my uncle passed away. We had a close relationship, but he was struggling with multiple diseases, one of which was curable. I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t shared more about what he was going through or sought help, and I found myself previously judging him for his past decisions in life. At the time, I didn’t realize that mentally & emotionally, he may have reached his capacity to deal with everything.
After he died, I reflected deeply on my feelings and realized I hadn’t considered the weight of what he was experiencing. That understanding hit home when I looked at his 7-year-old son, who I ended up adopting. I saw myself in him—growing up in the same toxic environment I had endured as a child. His confusion and pain mirrored what I had felt at his age. It was then that I fully grasped how important it was for me to show up for him, in ways I hadn’t known to show up for my uncle.
Adopting my cousin was a turning point. I realized that instead of judging, I needed to lead with empathy and understanding. I had to unlearn that instinct to criticize and instead focus on being present and supportive. This experience has shaped the way I approach mentoring and community work, ensuring that the young people I help don’t feel judged, but rather understood and encouraged to break free from toxic cycles.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

About three years ago, I faced one of the biggest pivots in my life when I got injured on the job as a union carpenter. Carpentry was a career I had poured everything into. After failing the test twice, I didn’t give up—I hired a private tutor and worked harder than ever to finally pass. It was a defining moment for me, proving that persistence could pay off. But when I got injured, the doctors explained that I might not be able to continue doing the job full-time.

Hearing that news was devastating. I had invested so much into this career, especially after overcoming so many obstacles to get there. The thought of having to walk away from something I worked so hard for felt like a major setback. However, that injury forced me to reevaluate my path and consider how I could still make an impact without being on the job site every day.

That’s when I began pivoting toward mentorship and community work. I realized that my story—of perseverance, failure, and success—could inspire others, particularly young men in my community who were facing their own challenges. I started focusing on programs like Build-A-Man, helping young people gain skills in trades while also teaching them emotional intelligence and life skills.

Looking back, the injury was a turning point that allowed me to find a deeper purpose. While I had to shift away from full-time carpentry, it led me to a mission that is even more rewarding—helping the next generation build better futures for themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.trustfactororg.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trustfactororg/