Teju (he/they/any) is the Founder of GatherFor (gatherfor.org), which started in response to the pandemic. Believing people closest to the problem are closest to the solution, GatherFor organizes neighbors experiencing joblessness, food & housing insecurity, and social inequity into teams of 5-7 to support each other holistically. Drawing on their resourcefulness and wisdom, these “Neighbor Teams” work together to find and create new livelihoods, care for their children, provide stable housing to their families, and more. They receive direct cash assistance, a network of relevant partners, and the training they require as they share stories, resources, and plans to fulfill their needs. Together, they are part of building what we call “The Neighborhood Safety Net.”

Previously, Teju was co-founder and former CEO of Uncharted (which was acquired by another nonprofit called Common Future). He is a Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, an Inc Magazine 30 under 30 entrepreneur, and a TEDx speaker. When not spending time on GatherFor, he’s usually reading, meditating, cooking, or spending time with friends and family in Santa Fe, NM where he lives.