User:SSAsophia/The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance

The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, is a national organization working to bring the economic benefits of diversity and inclusion to the food and hospitality industry in the United States.

MFHA’s primary mission is “to bring the economic benefits of diversity and inclusion to the food and hospitality industry by building bridges and delivering solutions.” It accomplishes this by delivering events and workshops focused on professional development, cultural intelligence building and networking to individual and corporate members. MFHA also holds its award-winning career exploration event, Showcase of the Stars™, nationwide to high school students.

History
MFHA was founded in 1997 by former foodservice executive Gerald A. Fernandez to create a group that focused on creating career opportunities for minorities and people of color in the food and hospitality industry. In September 1996, Fernandez assembled a group of 17 professionals from different segments of the food and hospitality industry to discuss the concept of creating an organization that promoted opportunities for minorities and people of color in the food and hospitality industry.

Timeline

 * 1997: The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA) is founded and made its debut at the National Restaurant Association (NRA)’s annual convention with its first Diverse Leadership Reception.
 * 1998: MFHA held its first National Conference. Since 1998, MFHA has hosted seven National Conferences.
 * 1998: MFHA marked its web presence with the debut and launch of www.mfha.net.
 * 2000: MFHA delivered the first Showcase of the Stars™ event.
 * 2001: In collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company and Nation’s Restaurant News, MFHA released the first Benchmark Survey of Diversity Practices to measure diversity progress in food and hospitality companies.
 * 2006: MFHA celebrated its 10th Anniversary by hosting MFHA’s Decade of Diversity: Celebrating an Industry’s Commitment and Accomplishments National Conference and campaign.
 * 2008: MFHA revised its strategic plan to shift focus on attracting multicultural talent and cultural intelligence building.
 * 2011: Partnering with Johnson & Wales University, the Cultural Intelligence Initiative is launched.
 * 2012: MFHA celebrates its 15th Anniversary.

Membership
As of 2012, MFHA had approximately 64 corporate members in the food and hospitality industry. Membership is also available to individuals, students, educators, associations and government.

Cultural Intelligence
Launched in 2011, MFHA’s Cultural Intelligence (CI) Initiative is the result of the organization’s evolution from its diversity and inclusion roots. The workshops and programs create an open space for attendees to have intelligent discussions about race, ethnicity and culture in the workplace. Presentation topics include Latino Identity, Break Black/African-American Perspectives, Asian Insights and LGBT Employees.

Showcase of the Stars™
Showcase of the Stars™ is a live hospitality career exploration event that is hosted nationally throughout the year. The program is targeted at multicultural and minority high school and college students. Industry professional from all career levels and backgrounds participate in the event, providing a wide variety of perspectives and experiences to inspire the audience to pursue a career in the food and hospitality industry. Showcase of the Stars™ aims to communicate the vital message for students to stay in school and aim high.

Organizational structure
MFHA is run nationally by a 25-member board led by a chair. Current chairman is Roy C. Jackson, selected to replace Tony Mitchell, who resigned in 2011. Gerald A. Fernandez is the current president of the organization and took office in 1997.