MHA Welcomes Genisha Metcalf as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategist

SPRINGFIELD — MHA announced it has engaged Genisha Metcalf as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategist. Metcalf will lead DEI training sessions and develop a DEI roadmap to ensure a strategic approach that ensures equitable practices throughout MHA’s organization.

“In any organization’s life cycle, you have opportunities to reflect on where you’ve been and examine where you’re going,” said Cheryl Fasano, president and CEO of MHA. “So we asked, are we doing everything we can? Are there more effective ways to engage our staff to express their thoughts on how we’re doing? Are there new ways to build on our long-established commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion? We think there are new opportunities, and we’re excited to have Genisha Metcalf help us get there.”

Metcalf began her career in child-welfare services, with a focus on training, community engagement, and behavioral-health counseling. She has trained hundreds of corporate, nonprofit, and community leaders in culturally responsive practices, fundraising, and community-engagement strategies. She has held leadership positions at City Year New York, DoSomething.org, and Utica College’s ABSN program. In 2018, she leveraged her decade of experience in building diverse teams, designing immersive solutions for equitable practices, and leading social-impact programs to create Genisha Metcalf Consulting (GMC).

Metcalf is the founder and principal of GMC, a social-impact and DEI consulting firm dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations and businesses in reimagining their approach to DEI, community engagement, and philanthropy. To date, GMC has raised $10 million in funding for workforce-development and social-justice initiatives serving communities of color. Among GMC’s clients are Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC, Lincoln Hall, Harlem Grown, and Carolina Herrera.

Metcalf holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Temple University and a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University, where she serves as an adjunct professor and course developer.