Hidden Gems: Meet Queen Shanta Lana Hereford of Center for Truth and Healing (CFTH)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Queen Shanta Lana Hereford.

Hi Queen Shanta Lana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve never really been someone who set out chasing titles or recognition. I’ve always just wanted to make a difference, you know, make an impact. Ever since I was young, I’ve had a heart for helping people. I got it from both of my grandmothers. I believe that God gives each of us gifts, and mine has always been seeing possibilities, bringing people together, and finding solutions that can make someone’s life a little better.

My journey hasn’t been easy at all. I’ve been through divorce, financial struggles, and one of the hardest moments of my life was being in a serious car accident that left me disabled. I was told I might never walk again. As a single mother, that was one of the scariest seasons of my life. There were days when I didn’t know how things were going to work out, but I refused to give up. My faith carried me, and little by little, I began rebuilding my life.

As I started healing, I realized that everything I had been through had given me a different perspective. I didn’t just want to overcome my own challenges. I wanted to help other people overcome theirs. That passion led me into entrepreneurship, community leadership, and eventually founding organizations that focus on education, workforce development, youth, seniors, economic empowerment, and helping people create better futures for themselves and their families.

Today, I’m blessed to lead The Nation of Cherut, The Center for Truth and Healing (CFTH), First Choice International Solutions (FCIS), and several other initiatives that are making an impact locally and internationally. When people ask me how I got here, my answer is simple. I kept saying yes to the work I felt called to do. I kept learning, I kept growing, and I kept moving forward, even when it was hard. Every challenge I’ve faced has become part of my testimony, and every step has prepared me for where I am today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road. If I’m honest, there have been many moments when I questioned whether I should keep going. Building one business is hard, but building a nation and several businesses at once is extremely difficult, especially when not everyone can see why what we are building is so critical. There have been financial challenges, setbacks, disappointments, and times when I felt like I was carrying the vision almost by myself.

One of my biggest struggles has been balancing the heart for the mission with the realities of our situation. You can have an incredible vision, but without funding, the right team, and strong partnerships, it can be difficult to bring that vision to life. There have been times when doors closed, grants didn’t come through, or people made promises they didn’t keep or gave up. Those moments were discouraging, but they also taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of trusting the process.

What has kept me going is remembering why I started. Every family we’ve helped, every senior we’ve served, every young person we’ve encouraged, and every life that’s been impacted reminds me that this work is bigger than me. The challenges have strengthened my faith, sharpened my leadership, and made me even more committed to building an ecosystem, impact, and a legacy that will create lasting change for generations to come.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Center for Truth and Healing (CFTH) ?
The Nation of Cherut and The Center for Truth and Healing exist to help people build better lives and stronger communities. The Nation of Cherut provides the leadership, vision, and global network, while The Center for Truth and Healing, our 501(c)(3) public charity, focuses on delivering programs and services that improve the quality of life for individuals and families.

Together, our work spans youth leadership, workforce development, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, senior engagement, financial empowerment, environmental stewardship, and community development. We host educational workshops, leadership training, career readiness programs, community events, holiday celebrations, resource fairs, and volunteer initiatives that bring people together and connect them with opportunities to grow.

Over the years, we’ve served thousands of individuals through our community programs and events. Our annual Winter Fun Festival has provided a decade of holiday joy and resources for children and families, while our Senior Appreciation Holiday Party celebrates the wisdom and contributions of older adults in our community. This year, we launched the Cherut Youth Leadership and Innovation Academy to equip young people with leadership, communication, financial literacy, and innovation skills. We also introduced Planting with a Purpose, an initiative that promotes environmental stewardship while bringing people together to care for the communities where they live.

What sets us apart is that we don’t just offer programs. We build relationships, develop leaders, create partnerships, and connect people to opportunities that can change the trajectory of their lives. Whether someone comes to us looking for support, education, leadership development, or a way to give back, our goal is always the same: to help them become more resilient, more prepared, and more empowered than they were before. That’s the impact we’re committed to creating every day.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
What I hope people take away is that we’re about much more than programs or events. We believe in preparing people for the future by creating pathways to opportunity through education, leadership, workforce development, entrepreneurship, health, and community engagement. We work collaboratively with nonprofits, businesses, schools, faith organizations, and public partners because lasting change happens when people work together. Whether we’re investing in a young person, supporting a family, empowering an entrepreneur, or honoring a senior, our goal is always the same: to help people become more resilient, more self sufficient, and better equipped to thrive while building stronger communities for generations to come.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nationofcherut.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/truthhealingorg
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/nationofcherut
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/shantalana
• Other: https://truthandhealing.org