Our Mission

Meet Frank Velásquez Jr. (he/him): Storyteller Extraordinaire, Social Justice Warrior, and Master of Relations! In relentless pursuit of racial and gender equity, Frank’s warmth brings folks together to talk through the tough stuff. And whether he’s delivering a keynote on leadership, language, or equity, or chatting one-on-one with a close friend or new connection, his real-talk energy remains powerful and generous. Because here's the thing – to Frank, each person’s story matters and connects, like each essential ingredient in a yummy bowl of gumbo.

From major conferences like the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference, AFP ICON, and AFP Lead to training rooms everywhere from Walt Disney World to the MGM Grand Las Vegas, Frank has reached thousands of folks with narratives that just hit different, leaving each group invigorated with his unique blend of storytelling magic, quick wit, and social justice fire!

As the Founder of 4 Da Hood and the visionary behind the Ascending Leaders in Color leadership program, Frank forges pathways for Peeps of Color to step into their power - authentically, courageously, and with unapologetic joy. Because for Frank, advancing equity isn’t just a job - it's about thriving in a world our ancestors dreamed for us, a world where communities of color have equal access and opportunity to build their generational wealth. 

And he's doing it one connection, one story, one courageous conversation at a time.