Upwardly Global’s Equity Gala honors those in our community who are breaking down barriers and building bridges to inclusion. Chaired by Tony Goncalves, Upwardly Global Board Member and Founder of The Evrose Group, the 2024 Equity Gala honored Joana Vicente, former CEO of the Sundance Institute and Deloitte, recognizing their impact and commitment to lifting newcomers.
Events
2024 Annual Gala: Honoring Achievements and Supporters
“We Dare to Dream” Documentary Screening
Upwardly Global hosted an exclusive screening of “We Dare to Dream,” an inspiring film following members of the Refugee Olympic Team as they trained to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A panel discussion followed, featuring voices in the film industry working to uplift the stories of newcomers:
- Patrick Harrison, Vice President of Member Relations and Global Outreach at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- Waad al-Kateab, Academy Award-nominated Director
of “We Dare to Dream” - Joana Vicente, Award-winning Producer and Film Executive
- Aizzah Fatima, Actress
Job Seeker Spotlight
Amal
Egyptian Professional and Auditor for the New York State Department of Labor
After fleeing Egypt due to political persecution, Amal arrived in the U.S. with only $400 and a determination to survive. Despite her extensive experience in finance and government, she faced rejection after rejection while searching for work.
Discovering Upwardly Global became a turning point — through her career coach, Esmeralda, Amal rebuilt her confidence and learned to navigate the U.S. job market. With this support, she secured a position as an Auditor at the New York State Department of Labor, reclaiming her professional identity.
My job coach helped me condense my four-page resume to one, showed me how to use AI to search for jobs, and most importantly, helped me believe I could reclaim my career here. Upwardly Global saw me. They took my hand and gave me hope when I had none.”
