Celebrating Hope for Immigrants Honorees

EILS Civic Impact Honoree, Hon. Steven A. Morley

Hon. Steven A. Morley (Retired) is Of Counsel to Landau, Hess, Simon, Choi & Doebley, having joined the firm in 2022 after an illustrious nearly 12-year tenure as an Immigration Judge with the Executive Office for Immigration Review in Philadelphia. Appointed by Attorney General Eric Holder in 2010, he adjudicated complex immigration cases until his retirement in 2022. Prior to the bench, Judge Morley co-founded Morley, Surin & Griffin and served as a state and federal public defender, practicing law for nearly 34 years prior to ascending to the bench. His exemplary career includes successfully arguing Mitchell v. United States before the U.S. Supreme Court. He has served in various leadership roles, including as Chapter Chair of the Philadelphia AILA, Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section, and President of the Board of HIAS Pennsylvania. He is an adjunct professor at Drexel University's Thomas R. Kline School of Law and has taught at several other law schools, investing in the next generation of immigration legal professionals.

EILS Champion Honoree, Ange Branca

Ange grew up helping her grandmother in the kitchen where she learned the traditional techniques of Malaysian cooking, a cuisine that bears the influence of multiple cultures. She spent the first part of her career in business consulting for international corporations like Deloitte, Fujitsu and IBM, which landed her in the US. Her nostalgia for the flavors of home, coupled with concern over what she saw as a dying appreciation for humble Malaysian food back home, inspired Ange to open Saté Kampar, a restaurant focusing on satay (skewered meat grilled over coconut shell charcoal) and traditional Malaysian cooking, made from scratch with unique ingredients. The restaurant became one of Philly’s top restaurants, named Best of Philly in 2016 for Best New BYOB and in 2017 for Best Coffee Drinks. Zagat listed Saté Kampar among the top 10 most important restaurant openings, and in 2017 Saté Kampar was nominated for the James Beard Award. Ange founded Muhibbah Dinners, a charity dinner for nonprofits in Philadelphia that work with immigrants. In 2023, the first Muhibbah Dinners post-pandemic and in March of 2025, EILS was chosen as the beneficiary organization.

Celebrating Hope for Immigrants Host

Alyana Gomez, 6abc News

Alyana Gomez is a seasoned broadcast journalist who joined the Action News team in February 2022 as the co-anchor of their 10 A.M. slot. Originally from Philadelphia and raised in Collingswood, New Jersey, Alyana was drawn to journalism from a young age, aiming to use her voice to influence and help others. She studied Journalism at Salisbury University in Maryland, where she began her career in local news, earning her first Associated Press award for her reporting prowess. Alyana's career took her to Jacksonville, Florida, where she won an Emmy for her coverage of a murder trial, and later to Hartford, Connecticut, where she anchored weekend mornings and launched a consumer investigative unit. Her time on the West Coast involved impactful reporting in the Bay Area, covering major events like the Wine Country fires and issues like homelessness. A mother of two, Alyana is a prominent community figure and hopes to inspire her children with her dedication to journalism and service.

CELEBRATING HOPE FOR IMMIGRANTS CHEFS

We have an incredible menu organized by Ange Branca of Muhibbah Dinners featuring dishes from around the world!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Ray of Light

Torch of Liberty

Beacon of Hope

Media Sponsors 

Lantern of Opportunity

Ballard Spahr, LLP

The Independence Foundation

For questions about registration or sponsorship opportunities, please contact jstiving@esperanza.us or cnieves@esperanza.us

215-324-0746 X 247.