Joseph Genda, New American and Refugee Liaison, Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office for New Americans

Joseph Saidu-Deen Genda was born in Manowa, Kailahun District, Sierra Leone. He currently works as the New American and Refugee Liaison, overseeing the Salt Lake County Mayor's Office for New Americans. In 2007, he arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah as a refugee through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program after spending several years living in a refugee camp in Guinea. Genda had his accounting degree from the University of Sierra Leone translated and decided to study at the University of Utah in 2013. He graduated in 2015 with a bachelor of science in economics. After his graduation, Joseph started working with Promise South Salt Lake as a site coordinator for the after-school programs in South Salt Lake. He worked closely with immigrant and refugee communities through various programs to build bridges with community partners, nonprofits, and the city.

He joined the Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office in June 2021 with a keen interest in continuing the work of providing and connecting refugees, immigrants, and new Americans to resources. Having worked at South Salt Lake for almost six years, he understands the importance of a big-picture view that Salt Lake County offers to serve new Americans countywide. He is enthusiastic about creating platforms that will help new Americans feel welcome and connected, and he is committed to connecting them with resources to help them thrive.

Genda works with various organizations to organize citizenship workshops, ceremonies, resource fairs, and other events in the County. He created the Faces of Salt Lake County project, funded by Welcoming America. The project features a storybook with journeys of residents from all continents. It was launched on April 19, 2024, at Mayor Jenny Wilson's Book Club. Book sales pay for Green Card and citizenship fees for new American residents.

He is married to Francess Genda and they have four children: Orinko, Norman, Patrick, and Elizabeth.