⸺About HR-4U⸺
Built from lived experience.
Driven by stubborn optimism.
HR-4U exists because one person decided that the systems meant to help people weren't doing their job and built something that would.
Our Story
Built from setbacks. Driven by what's possible.
In my 46 years in the service industry, I have learned that every setback and every part of my checkered past can become fuel for transformation, and that belief is what drives my work as Founder of HR-4U, Inc.
I am committed to building real, lasting change by partnering with organizations that share my passion for impacting lives and opening doors that have been shut for far too long. HR-4U, Inc. stands at the forefront of economic justice, championing living wages and workforce dignity for marginalized communities through bold advocacy and our groundbreaking Transformation Kitchen™️program.
In our kitchen, we do more than teach culinary skills. We create opportunity, restore confidence, and help people reclaim their futures.
"We don’t just flip eggs. We flip lives."
Chason Forehand
Founder, HR-4U
What We Stand For
The mission behind the work.
🎯
Mission
Uplifting wages, worth, and wellbeing through programs that equip marginalized individuals with the tools, training, and mentorship to build sustainable, living-wage careers.
🔭
Vision
A world where your past doesn't determine your paycheck, where anyone willing to work hard has access to the skills, support, and opportunities they need to earn a dignified living.
🤝
Purpose
Transparency over polish. Action over promises. Honest guidance, even when it's uncomfortable. We believe in second chances, living wages, and doing the work instead of just talking about it.
Top
Nonprofit podcast ranking for Time2CHANGE
students per month go through our programs globally
%
of new nonprofits fail - we help beat those odds
What We Do
Three programs. One mission.
Each program tackles a different angle of the same problem because real change takes more than one approach.
Transformation Kitchen™
12-week culinary training program for people who've faced incarceration, homelessness, or poverty. Real skills. Real certifications. Real job placement.
Advocacy
Through the Time2CHANGE podcast and community partnerships, we're changing the conversation around wages, equity, and what support actually looks like.
Mentor for Good
A 3-month mentorship for aspiring nonprofit founders who want honest guidance, not cheerleading. Sometimes the best outcome is a better plan.
Our People
Led by professionals who believe in the mission.
A board of directors with real expertise and an advisory board that keeps us accountable.
Kylie van Luyn
Candice Van Dertholen
Chason Forehand
Desiree Goldey
Our Journey
Where we've been. Where we're going.
1
Founded
HR-4U is born.
Chason Forehand founds HR-4U with a simple idea: the systems meant to help people find living-wage employment aren't working. Time to build something that does.
2
Programs Launch
Transformation Kitchen opens its doors.
The flagship program launches, providing 8-week culinary training with holistic wraparound support. Advocacy and Mentor for Good follow.
3
2024
Growth and recognition.
Time2CHANGE podcast breaks into the Top 50 nonprofit podcasts. Six organizations are mentored through Mentor for Good. YouTube channel gets monetized.
4
2025 & Beyond
National and international expansion.
TK expands to Poughkeepsie (March), with Australia, Canada, and Omaha on the horizon. The mission goes global.