February is Black History Month

When you look around the team at WayForth, you will see employees that reflect the variety of clients we serve. That is by design and the intentional way this business was built. Because February is the national celebration of Black History Month, we want to honor our team and share our philosophy around diversity, equity and inclusion and working at WayForth.

All walks of life

Our hiring practices encourage people from all walks of life. Our clients are diverse and we want our employees to reflect that. From our corporate headquarters to our local offices, potential employees will see people who represent real diversity and look like them.

By celebrating diversity across all spectrums, including but not limited to race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran/military status, and age, we are a strong company and culture.

According to Deseria Creighton-Barney, WayForth’s Director of People Development and a leader on our Diversity & Inclusion Committee, WayForth has equitable policies across the board.

“When someone is interviewed here, the candidate will see people that look like them and from similar backgrounds,” said Deseria. “As a woman of color, I was welcomed from day one and I truly feel heard here. You won’t feel isolated working at WayForth.”

WayForth hires on three things: attitude, aptitude and skills, in that order. Our employees should have an insatiable curiosity, be able to learn quickly and work as a team. The culture of belonging at WayForth shows in our employee statistics:

• 52% of WayForth employees are people of color
• 48% of WayForth employees are women
• 100% pay equity for women and men

In addition to our Diversity & Inclusion Committee, we have a partnership with Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) that handles companywide training initiatives. We also are focused on developing recruitment initiatives that maintain our diverse workforce.

Meet Towana Scott

As a Regional Client Service Specialist, Towana Scott is just one of our employees who has found a home working at WayForth.

“WayForth is big on diversity and inclusion and I’m so grateful for a company that recognizes African Americans,” said Towana. “I feel valued here and it gives me a chance to be who I’ve been created to be.”

Towana has been with WayForth for about two and a half years. She started out as a project manager in Virginia and then was asked to work as a specialist in the office which gave her access to all the clients we serve in that market.

Next, WayForth tapped Towana to help with organizing new offices in Texas.

“They actually asked me to help with the organization in Texas to get the new offices started,” said Towana. “Opening the new office showed how much they appreciate me and my skills. WayForth looks at the person and what they can bring to the company.”

When asked about what she would tell a friend about working for WayForth, Towana replied, “Have you ever worked for a company that allowed you to be who you are and be a better self?”

She went on to say that her job allows her to bring love, joy, peace, togetherness to all the clients she serves. “You are allowed to have this at WayForth. I love this feeling. And that’s what I get here,” Towana explained.

Deseria agrees and feels the same about her career at WayForth.

“I’ve never regretted my decision to work here. WayForth valued my experience and what I bring to the table,” said Deseria. “I feel seen here. My talent and ideas are appreciated.”

We take pride in our talented and diverse team of people who focus on our customers every day. Their combined intelligence, spirit, and creativity make WayForth a wonderful place to work, learn and grow.

Want to know more about WayForth’s culture and career opportunities? Check out our Careers page on our website.