Dress for Success Worldwide’s Post

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Join us in welcoming Luka Sea to the Dress for Success Worldwide Team! We are delighted he joined us today as our new Social Media and Special Projects Coordinator. Luka is a dynamic and innovative social media strategist with a passion for crafting engaging and impactful digital content for a diverse range of clients. He has previously worked at SAGO, Dimension6, and Nonviolence International, a non-governmental organization in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Luka utilizes his background in photojournalism to develop successful social media campaigns that drive brand awareness and foster community engagement. He also has a passion for health and fitness and is a certified Fitness Coach and Personal Trainer for LevelUpWithLuka. Welcome, Luka!

Hear from Dress for Success Global Ambassador, Juanita of Dress for Success San Antonio, this 4th of July.  

Each #FourthofJuly we celebrate the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. That day, the Thirteen Colonies that we now know as the United States of America asserted their autonomy and became a beacon of hope for many nations that later declared their independence. This #IndependenceDay, Global Ambassador Juanita Sepulveda from Dress for Success San Antonio--a United States Marine Corps veteran, author, and entrepreneur--reflects on the significance of being a first-generation American, and a veteran advocate.   

July 26 marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which became law in 1990. Since then, disability advocates across the country have established July as Disability Pride Month (Source: U.S. Department of Education.) The ADA states that disabilities "in no way diminish a person’s right to fully participate in all aspects of society,” and acknowledges that many people with different forms of disabilities face discrimination. The Nation, the ADA maintains, should "assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for such individuals.” At Dress for Success, we reaffirm our commitment to those living with any form of disability and reinforce the need for accessibility for all. To learn more about how you can support our mission, visit dressforsuccess.org.

Join us in welcoming Gabriella Jones—Gabbie—to the Dress for Success Worldwide Team! We are delighted she joined us today as our new Development Associate. Over the past two years, Gabbie has worked with the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), where she led an initiative focused on enhancing transparency and accountability within the United Nations Security Council. Before relocating to New York, Gabbie spent a year in Geneva, Switzerland, working with WFUNA while earning her Master's Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy at the International Institute of Geneva. Prior to that, she completed her undergrad studies with Majors in International Relations and Sociology with Minors in Law and Arabic. She graduated from Colorado State University, during which she was an intern for the Texas Advocacy Project (TAP). Gabbie was born and raised in Texas, and calls Austin home. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, hiking, exploring new workout classes and restaurants in New York City, attending concerts, and traveling whenever she gets the chance. Welcome, Gabbie!

Throughout June, we honor the unique voices of queer culture as cities around the world celebrate #PrideMonth. Today we continue shining a light on our global affiliates and Worldwide staff members who wished to express their support for the LGBTQIA+ cause as members, advocates, or allies. Special thanks to the affiliates featured in this reel: 🌈Dress for Success Northwest Arkansas 🌈Dress for Success Kelowna 🌈Dress for Success Mexico City 🌈EmBe (Dress for Success Sioux Falls) Dress for Success® Worldwide proudly stands for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, supporting individuals with any gender identity and regardless of sexual orientation. Join our mission and learn about the ways you can support us at dressforsuccess.org. #PrideMonth #Pride20234 #LGBTQIAplus #LoveisLove

Today, on #WorldRefugeeDay the United Nations honors refugees around the globe. Refugees are defined as “people forced to flee their own country and seek safety in another country. They are unable to return to their own country because of feared persecution as a result of who they are, what they believe in or say, or because of armed conflict, violence or serious public disorder.” (Source: The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.) World Refugee Day helps to focus global attention on the plight of those fleeing conflict or persecution. According to UNHCR, there are currently 35.3 million refugees worldwide. Dress for Success helps women of all walks of life, including women who have lived the experience of being a refugee. Today we spotlight two women who were willing to share their stories. 💙Meet Iryna from Dress For Success Luxembourg asbl Iryna found her way to Dress for Success Luxembourg in the midst of the Ukranian war. After working as project manager while running a business in her country of birth, she never thought she would lose everything and be forced to start over. Iryna migrated with her children to Luxembourg where she now works as a marketer at the non-profit organization, LUkraine. She also volunteers at Dress for Success Luxembourg. 💙Meet Vanessa from Dress for Success Western MA Vanessa Saavedra fled political upheaval in Venezuela with her teenage son, leaving everything behind. Previously an interior and custom furniture designer, she left her country and career knowing just basic English, determined to give her son a safer, better life. After living in the Unites States for only three months, Dress for Success Western Massachusetts entered Vanessa’s life. She was soon able to secure a bilingual marketing position with a great company, changing her limited English from a barrier into an opportunity! She has settled into her new role as a bilingual marketer and is currently looking to enroll in college to further her marketing career. Find your local affiliate and learn how to get involved at https://lnkd.in/eKvbX6V

Today is #Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom. Observed for several decades, largely by the Black American community, this day was formally recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. On June 19, 1865, the Union army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in Texas were free by executive decree, a day that came to be known as "Juneteenth", “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day.” Across the state, freed people pooled their funds to purchase land to hold their celebrations. The first one took place in Austin in 1867 and drew thousands of attendees. With the principles of self-determination, citizenship, and democracy magnifying their hopes and dreams, those Texans held fast to the promise of true liberty for all. (Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture.) Pictured Above: Emancipation Day celebration, June 19, 1900, held in "East Woods" on East 24th Street in Austin. Photo Credit: Austin History Center. Swipe to learn more about the historical legacy of this holiday.