When Gifts Make Room: A Night of Success at the HACSA Gala.
Sometimes, the assignment comes before the plan. That’s exactly what happened when JoiB Consulting was asked to step in and coordinate the closing gala of the HACSA Sankofa Summit 2024 at the Harvard Club in New York City.
The gala was the grand finale of a two-day conference held at Columbia University under the theme “Inspiring the Youth, Healing Communities.” It was designed to celebrate and raise support for the Tech4Girls initiative — a cause dedicated to empowering young women through technology and education.
With Ambassador Johanna Svanikier founder HACSA
When I came on board, there were still so many moving parts. And then, one day before the event, I got a call that stopped me in my tracks: there were no floral centerpieces. None. The ambassadors wanted something clean, elegant, and beautiful. The challenge? We had less than 24 hours to make it happen.
But this is what we do — we build solutions out of what’s available. After a quick prayer and a lot of determination, we drove out to find what we needed. That’s when Gina from More Than A Gift in Union, New Jersey, stepped in. She graciously donated hydrangeas, and we purchased roses to complement them. I grabbed vases from IKEA, ordered water crystals from Amazon, and DIY’d every centerpiece with gold accents that tied the whole look together.
With Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury in Bridgerton)
And that was just one part of it. Behind the scenes, I was finalizing the program with the team in Ghana, ensuring the auction site was live, creating the run of show, confirming the seating chart, and coordinating the volunteers so everyone knew their exact roles. It was fast-paced, faith-fueled, and full of purpose.
When the night finally arrived, it all came together beautifully. Guests like Adjoa Andoh of Bridgerton, Omo Bello, Melanie Liburd from This Is Us, and Jimmy Akingbola of Bel-Air filled the ballroom, and the atmosphere was electric. By the end of the night, over $200,000 had been raised to support Tech4Girls.
For me, this night was also about family and legacy. My little sister stood right beside me helping bring everything to life. My brother, who recommended JoiB Consulting to the ambassador, made the connection that opened the door. And our “brother from another mother,” who we grew up with, DJ’d the event — turning a last-minute assignment into a full-circle moment of excellence, teamwork, and faith.
The Dream Team
As I stood in that room, watching everything unfold, I thought about Proverbs 18:16 — “Your gift will make room for you and bring you before great people.” That verse lived itself out in real time.
So to every planner, coordinator, and behind-the-scenes leader reading this — keep showing up. Your work may not always get the spotlight, but it carries weight. The excellence you bring will always speak for you.
And if you’re an organization, church, or visionary leader in need of someone who can bring structure, creativity, and calm to the chaos, JoiB Consulting is here to help you turn purpose into impact — beautifully and strategically.
