Jaliyah Gonsalves

Jaliyah Gonsalves is a lifelong resident of New Bedford and serves as the Programs and Operations Coordinator at the Women’s Fund SouthCoast, where she helps lead the organization’s youth leadership, community engagement, and program operations.

A graduate of Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School, where she studied Media Technology, Jaliyah continued her education at Suffolk University and graduated cum laude in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Film and a concentration in Production. Throughout her creative and professional work, she has been passionate about storytelling and creating opportunities that elevate the voices and experiences of underrepresented communities. In 2023, she served as an associate producer on Roxbury, a documentary created by Suffolk University’s College of Arts & Sciences Media Studies Department in partnership with Suffolk University Law School’s Housing Discrimination Testing Program. The film centered the experiences of Roxbury residents navigating discriminatory housing practices.

Jaliyah joined the Women’s Fund SouthCoast in the fall of 2024 as Executive Assistant and quickly grew into an expanded leadership role within the organization. Today, she leads the New Bedford Young Women’s Initiative and its Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC), supporting young people in developing their leadership, advocacy, civic engagement, and philanthropic skills. Under her leadership, YWAC members have engaged with elected officials, participated in regional and statewide leadership opportunities, and directed $20,000 in youth-led grantmaking back into their communities. She is also helping oversee the implementation and expansion of the Young Women’s Initiative into Fall River, creating a second regional YWAC cohort in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Fall River.

In recognition of her leadership and commitment to girls and young women across the SouthCoast, Jaliyah received the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts Spirit of Leadership Award in 2025. She also serves as a Commissioner on the Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Youth Commission, bringing her commitment to youth leadership and representation to statewide advocacy. In 2026, Jaliyah and members of YWAC presented The Everyday Philanthropist at the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s Girls Empowerment & Leadership Initiative Summit, sharing the Women’s Fund’s approach to youth-led philanthropy and community change.

Across her work, Jaliyah remains committed to creating platforms where young people—particularly those whose voices have historically been excluded from decision-making—can lead, advocate, and shape the future of their communities.