by Marco Calvani, 2025 Gala Honoree

This Giving Tuesday, help create a culture where every immigrant voice matters.

When I first arrived in the United States, what struck me most was that artists had dignity here. That dignity is critical — not just for me, but for every immigrant and queer artist who has the power and agency to reshape how our stories are told.

In Italy, making a living from my art wasn’t possible, but here I sensed both boundless opportunity and deep uncertainty. The energy of possibility was paired with loneliness, financial strain, and the pressure to prove I belonged. Many immigrants who come to the United States live in that same limbo, caught between hope and hardship, while working tirelessly to demonstrate our worth.

Today, that struggle is compounded by anti-immigrant rhetoric, which has led this country to continually overlook one of its greatest assets: immigrant talent. Nearly half of recently arrived immigrants hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, yet two million are underemployed, driving taxis, waiting tables, and working far below their skill level.

We all know what it’s like to be underestimated. For immigrants striving to find work, that challenge is often compounded by the realities of building a life in a new community and country. When immigrants find work that is meaningful and aligned with their skills and expertise, we contribute to key industries, invest in our communities, and enrich American culture.

Yes, immigrants contributed $2.1 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023, but that framing alone misses the bigger picture. Immigrants don’t just drive growth; we have a profound cultural, community, and artistic impact on American society.

Hollywood itself was built on immigrant innovation: When Italian immigrant A.P. Giannini founded the Bank of Italy, he welcomed savings from immigrant communities excluded from traditional finance institutions. That bank — which became Bank of America — financed early filmmakers when no one else would.

Just as our labor powers key industries, our stories and creativity shape this nation’s identity. If we want an honest national conversation about immigration, it must reflect not only our economic contributions but also our influence on the cultural fabric of America. 

Cultural production from communities under attack, like immigrants and LGBTQ+ people, is fundamental to bridging divides and creating strong communities. While meaningful work allows us to contribute fully, art allows us to be seen fully.

Art is a gift, an act of kindness, and a vision for what America can be. When audiences are given the opportunity to experience the limbo of immigration through art, they’re reminded that immigrants are whole people whose contributions and ingenuity strengthen this country.

We can give dignity back to immigrants, honoring their struggle and the courage required to immigrate to America, often fleeing difficult situations from their home country.

Building a culture of belonging starts with action: creating spaces where immigrant and queer voices are represented in leadership and storytelling, and practicing everyday inclusion that affirms people’s dignity.

America is strongest when immigrants are acknowledged and celebrated as essential to our workforce, our culture, and our future. That way, immigrants — and indeed everyone — can flourish because we are here for one another.

This Giving Tuesday, you can help make this vision real. Your gift to Upwardly Global ensures that immigrant and refugee professionals can rebuild their careers, share their talents, and strengthen the communities we all call home.

In a time of division, your support sends a powerful message: dignity belongs to everyone.