Walae Hayek oversees MHA’s health equity efforts, including advocacy for health-related social needs, cultivating community partnerships, and coalition organizing. She supports members with implementing key statewide health equity-related initiatives, most recently through the Health Quality and Equity Incentive Program (HQEIP) as part of the 1115 Medicaid waiver. 

Upon joining MHA in 2021, Walae worked to advance MHA’s behavioral health priorities, including expanded access to services through the passage of the Mental Health ABC 2.0 Act, the commonwealth’s Behavioral Health Roadmap, and harm reduction initiatives. Walae has extensive experience in public policy development and advocacy, civic engagement, and cultural placemaking. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Walae organized Boston neighborhood testing and vaccine clinics that served more than 200 people weekly, including onsite interpretation services and multilingual family education programs. Walae has also developed and facilitated programming for the Mayor of Boston’s Office of Arts and Culture, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Boston University, YouthBuild Boston, Brookline Arts Center, New England Museum Association, Samuel & Associates, Tufts University, among other organizations.  

Walae holds a Bachelor of Science degree in behavioral neuroscience from Tufts University and a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University School of Public Health.