National Volunteer Month 2020: Sean Doon

Thanks to PALS Volunteer Sean Doon for his National Volunteer Month submission!

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I volunteer with PALS because I believe young adults with Down syndrome deserve their own haven where they can sing, dance, goof around, and just be themselves and be accepted for who they are.

Especially with the bias in today's society toward people with intellectual disabilities, PALS is a place for young adults with Down syndrome to be themselves and be accepted and included.

This is my 3rd year volunteering with PALS. I’m also involved with PALS leadership. I am a huge believer in acceptance and inclusion among young adults with Down syndrome. I've met campers who, before PALS, had never been to a summer camp before. They had been rejected because they had Down syndrome. To give up a week of your time from your job or school to offer your friendship through this immersive experience is incredibly rewarding. That's what keeps me coming back each and every year.

I believe in acceptance and inclusion. I believe people with Down syndrome are people, just like you and me – the only difference is in the way they may do certain things. Some of my friends who are unfamiliar with PALS or the disability community tell me, "Oh cool! You took a week off to volunteer at a summer camp for people with special needs." However, I see it as taking a week off of my time and life to provide a friendship and immersive experience to young adults with Down syndrome.

Why do I volunteer for PALS? Oh boy… it's hard to choose. One memory that sticks out to me is this past February, when I traveled from Northern Virginia for 3- 4 hours to the Great Wolf Lodge Adventure in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. When my roommate’s family asked me where I was from, and how long of a drive it was for me, they said, "You drove that far just for one weekend?" I said, "Absolutely." They then told me to thank my dad for driving the distance so I could hang out with their son for the entire weekend.

Considering the impact you make on the campers, as well as the impact they make on you, PALS has really changed my life and inspired me to become more involved in the Down syndrome community, plus it’s given me a much stronger insight into the Down syndrome community. After my first summer at PALS, the campers made such a huge impact on me that I bought a blue and yellow Down syndrome bracelet that I wear every day. I tell people I wear my PALS friendships on my wrist, because of the huge impact they’ve made on me.

The impact the campers make on you and the friendships you develop over the span of just a week, will last a lifetime. 

World Down Syndrome Day 2020

On March 21st every year, the Down syndrome community gathers around the world to celebrate inclusion. This year, we had to get creative. PALS is an organization that believes fundamentally in the value of forging friendships between individuals and groups alike, so we couldn’t let social distancing get in our way!

That’s why today, in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day 2020, PALS hosted our first ever open video conference via Zoom. Amid the uncertainty faced by our community and the entire world surrounding the spread of COVID-19, our goal for this event was to give PALS campers, families, and volunteers the opportunity to join together in celebration.

In true Camp PALS fashion, we kicked things off by sorting the over 200 attendees into volunteer-led teams for introductions and collaborating on team names like The 3-2-1’s, Team Awesome Superhero Dolphins, and Team Nice People. After a lightning round of PALS Trivia, teams set off on an at-home scavenger hunt. Over two rounds, participants attempted to find interesting blue and yellow items - the colors representing Down syndrome advocacy. A few of the more memorable finds included a cat brush that can be worn as a glove (complete with a live cat demonstration), various limited-edition PALS swag, and a literal baby chick in a yellow shoe. Then, teams huddled together again to organize a karaoke classic to perform via small ensemble! The audience was treated to several PALS classics, including Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, Justin Timerlake’s Can’t Stop The Feelin’, and Circle of Life from The Lion King.

No PALS event would be complete without a little friendly competition! Teams earned points throughout the 2-hour event, and after their outstanding performance of Into the Unknown from Frozen II, the 3-2-1’s took home the gold. After crowning the victors, a virtual dance party ensued, and screens across the country overflowed with PALS campers, volunteers, and staff getting their groove on to even more PALS classic hits!

PALS exists because of the genuine, transformative, and lifelong friendships we’re passionate about fostering at our programs. We never could have imagined that remote technology would hold a candle to the magic of camp, but our open call on Zoom managed to achieve something truly special. The energy and enthusiasm of all participants was palpable! The flow between team break-out sessions and the large group had a camp-like vibe, giving each and every individual the opportunity not only to contribute and to be heard, but also to feel that they belong to something bigger: a genuine, welcoming, passionate, supportive, and FUN community.

We never thought we’d celebrate World Down Syndrome Day where “distance” was of utmost importance, but we have never felt more connected to our community and our mission. By using a platform like Zoom, we sang. We danced. We forged new friendships, while rekindling the old. We came together to celebrate inclusion, friendship, and mutual understanding - and if you ask us, that’s what World Down Syndrome Day is all about.

Thank you to all those who joined our conference, to all those who wished to, but were unable to attend, and to our entire community and beyond. We are all celebrating World Down Syndrome Day differently this year, but PALS is hopeful that by banding together and supporting one another through this tumultuous time, we will find even deeper strength within our community.

Happy World Down Syndrome Day, and much PALS love,

– PALS Programs 

1000 Congratulations Project Letters Sent!

Joy, Hope, Welcome.

Since 2013, over 1000 families across the country have heard these three words upon receiving a Congratulations Project letter from PALS Programs. We are grateful for the opportunity to congratulate new families and to welcome them into the PALS community. From humble beginnings at a small camp in Philadelphia, the reach of the PALS Congratulations Project now extends across the globe. With recipients in 49 states and 28 countries, more and more families of children born with Down syndrome are experiencing a world of belonging and inclusion through the Congratulations Project.

One letter recipient recently shared this with us:

It made me emotional with all the facts that she wrote on her letter. She told me she had a job, went to college and seemed so independent. I’m so glad and at ease in my heart knowing that my princess girl will have zero restrictions. She gave me hope when I had lost it. Thank you so much.

Every day, 16 children are born with Down syndrome. If you would like to join us in helping to put Congratulations Project letters into the hands of more new families this year, here’s how.

Leadership through Service: Reflecting on Lessons from Dr. King

Every third Monday in January, the nation commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose deep patriotism, moral integrity, and righteous advocacy continues to inspire us all. Although most remember him primarily as a leader of the civil rights movement, Dr. King was much more than a preacher and civil rights activist. He spent his life in service to others, using his passion and skills to advocate for those without access to power- regardless of their background, race, or income. 

Instead of a “day off”, today is about creating more empathetic and understanding communities through our service to one another. No need to spend months designing some grand event- the concept is simple: by doing small things in great ways, every one of us is capable of making this world a safer, kinder, more equitable place to live. For example, Dr. King showed us the power of creative tension, the idea that disagreement can lead to creative ideas and outcomes. Talking through our disagreements might seem small, but committing ourselves to understanding can lead to exciting discoveries. Change and criticism is uncomfortable and rarely easy to handle. When facts contradict our beliefs, we can embrace the discomfort, hoping that mutual self-examination will bring us closer together. Or, we can become defensive, feeling isolated and defeated by the gap between our intentions and their impact that we cannot control. Understanding the source of our disagreements or differences with one another empowers us to communicate with one another more effectively and intentionally.

“We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries and the size of our automobiles, rather than the quality of our service and relationship to mankind”

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Photo credit: Marion S. Trikosko, 1964.)

At PALS, volunteer program directors and staff from around the country gathered together to start the new year at our annual Leadership Summit. This year, we focused on diversity, inclusion, and belonging with workshops led by Philadelphia’s UrbnSeek!

By leveraging “creative tension” to encourage one another out of our respective places of comfort,  we were able to transcend superficial differences and misunderstandings. Celebrating those traits that make us resilient and unique, we explored the wide array of perspectives that make us collectively stronger. Over the course of a single weekend, our willingness to engage with each other in challenging dialogue brought us closer together, illuminated opportunities for individual and collective growth, and left us inspired to be an active part in what comes next. 

Since 2004, PALS has been dedicated to creating a world of belonging for people with and without Down syndrome through our inclusive camp programs. As we seek to bring more people into the PALS community every year, our commitment to diversity and inclusion continues to guide our growth. We understand that realizing our vision will require our actions to resonate with people of all backgrounds, beliefs, abilities, and orientations.  So far, we’ve created a fund to support volunteers from underrepresented communities with travel to camp; added a bilingual program in Los Angeles to increase access to native Spanish speakers; and introduced a camp leadership role focused on diversity and inclusion to provide each camp with the tools needed to promote belonging and inclusivity.  Our hope is that regardless of who you are, you will feel authentically welcomed and genuinely valued at any of our programs. 

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remains a beacon of courage and an example of dedication to one’s values. Rather than donating money or gifts today, honor Dr. King by giving your time, energy, and passion to make a positive impact in your community. You can find out more about our commitment to ensuring a welcoming and transformative place of belonging here. 

In solidarity,

Jacob

Head of Diversity & Inclusion

PALS Programs

A Letter from the Executive Director: Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Every year at PALS, we’ve learned more about our mission, our organization, and our world. We’ve learned that the need for inclusion extends far beyond the disability community. We’ve learned that our vision reaches beyond a single week, a single region, or a single group of people. We’re building a community of passionate individuals committed to creating a better future together - because above all, we’ve learned that every person, regardless of their differences, desires to belong.

Our vision of belonging, although dedicated to those with Down syndrome, must be a vision of unity. As a PALS Family, this means embracing everyone with a welcoming culture that strives to combat and eradicate bias rooted in racial, gender, sexual orientation, ability status or socioeconomic differences.

We are an organization that sculpts leaders, that invests in the strength of young volunteers, and that transforms people’s perspectives and expectations of inclusion. We will make mistakes. And we have already. But we are determined to be better, and to set an example of a radically different world.

“I want people to know that there is hope that this world could be different. That we could live in a world that loves openly and deeply and fiercely. That we could be a people who is capable of loving all people despite all differences. I know that it is possible - because for a week, it was my reality.” – PALS Volunteer

It is our goal to be as transparent as possible in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to continue to provide updates to our campers, families, volunteers, and supporters about our ongoing efforts. To date, we’ve taken steps in the areas of financial aid, recruitment, leadership, and professional development opportunities. We will continue to post updates on our website with details surrounding these initiatives and how the PALS community can get involved.

We want to inspire a world of belonging – for everyone. And we are so grateful for your help as we work every day toward this mission.

As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions or ideas.

PALS Love,

Jenni, and the PALS Staff Team