About
“my life, my life, my life, my life
in the sunshine”
– Roy Ayers
My work defies a single category but there is a thread that runs through it all: attention to the wellbeing of children, families, and communities.
Author
My writing uses vivid imagery, storytelling, and the context provided by history and data to challenge and inspire.
I have authored two books – Every Child Is Gifted, a children’s picture book, and DreamPower, written for teachers, parents, and any other adult seeking to help children succeed on their educational journeys.
In my #LiveFree blog, I write about a variety of topics including African American history and culture, community and culture in education, equity and justice, faith in daily life, community development, and missional theology and practice.
Speaker
I am an award-winning communicator who has led teacher professional development sessions, parent engagement seminars, Black history talks, team retreats, and capacity-building workshops for boards and executive leaders.
I preach and teach about spirituality in ways that are engaging, practical, and inspiring. And I absolutely love facilitating Bible studies, retreats, spiritual fitness events, and purpose discovery workshops.
Whether in a corporate training or faith setting, I communicate with authenticity, incorporating my experience and stories in ways that connect with listeners. My aim goes beyond transmitting information – I seek to mobilize others to fulfil their purpose, see the world differently, and impact their communities.
Strategist
An entrepreneur to the core, I co-founded Genesis Consulting Group, now known as Genesis Ed Solutions, in 1999. In that role I am a values- and mission-driven executive that uses a learning mindset, equity orientation, and hands-on leadership approach to facilitate community-focused problem-solving and complex change management. Genesis is a trusted capacity-building partner for public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and higher education institutions making large-scale impact in historically marginalized communities. I assemble and manage teams that have raised over $22 million in grants, conducted large scale program evaluations, led successful accreditation efforts, facilitated strategic planning processes, and partnered with boards, executives, and staff members to successfully navigate crisis and transition. Genesis clients have included Children’s Defense Fund, Bennett College, Aspen Institute, California State University, Kentucky State University, Delta State University, Parents for Public Schools, National Transit Institute at Rutgers, Jacksonville Community Land Trust, and Jacksonville Urban League, among others.
I am a skilled partnership builder, mobilizer, and organizer who enjoys connecting, facilitating, and strategizing with teams to help them meet their community impact goals.
Practitioner
It’s not just theory for me. In addition to my consulting practice, I have led as a nonprofit executive, elementary teacher and principal, professor of education, and instructional mentor. From 2015-2020, I led the multi-sector Arlington 20/20 collective impact initiative in Jacksonville, Florida, which achieved measurable community transformation outcomes and received multiple awards for community engagement.
My ministry journey includes many years directing missions and outreach at a large church and I have consulted with multiple faith communities regarding community engagement and impact. I am an ordained chaplain who serves in military and health care settings.
Caring for people. Building families. Strengthening communities. This is the heartbeat of the work. Whether listening to and learning from neighbors, leading teams, or providing spiritual care, I am a compassionate practitioner whose win is mentoring other leaders to continue the work.
Dr. Joy Hervey is a Giver Servant Helper Minister Connector Philanthropist Nurturer Advocate Practitioner Faith Leader Missionary Activist
Dr. Joy Gorham Hervey lives a fruitful life of vocation that spans the education, nonprofit, business, government, and faith sectors. She completed her Bachelor’s degree and Master of Education degree at Harvard University and her Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership and administration at Columbia University Teachers College. As a Fulbright Scholar and again as a doctoral candidate, she traveled to Ghana, West Africa, to study education reforms.
Motivated by her love for God, commitment to service, and passion for justice, Dr. Joy’s career has afforded her the opportunity to work as an elementary teacher, founding principal of a private day school, and professor of education, as well as executive and program director for multiple nonprofit organizations. She served as Director of Global Missions at Impact Church in Jacksonville, Florida, where she developed and implemented strategic initiatives related to international missions, correctional ministry, recovery ministry, compassion ministry, evangelism, and community development. In that role, she also led the church’s affiliated nonprofit organization and its award-winning Arlington 20/20 collective impact initiative that accomplished significant community transformation outcomes in partnership with neighbors and over 50 corporate, government, faith, and nonprofit partners. An entrepreneur at heart, she is CEO of Genesis Ed Solutions, a management consulting firm founded in 1999 that transforms communities by empowering teams to achieve their missions. She is also founder of Anigye, a lifestyle brand that celebrates the beauty, creativity, and joy of the diaspora.
As an ordained chaplain currently serving in healthcare and military contexts, Dr. Joy is passionate about facilitating God connections in unlikely places and among people who feel far from God. She finds happiness in life’s simple pleasures – quiet moments, time with family and friends, fascinating books, delicious food, entertaining movies, the wonders of nature, all kinds of music, traveling to beautiful places, moving her body, and learning something new from a great podcast or audiobook. She has authored two books, Every Child Is Gifted and DreamPower. She lives in Jacksonville and is privileged to be called “mom” (sometimes “ma”) by three gifted and caring adults, two hers by birth and one by marriage.