BY ASHLEY PARISH
PALS Community Development Associate
As PALS continues to grow and expand our reach, we must create spaces for all voices to be heard, and foster a culture where every person feels included. In order to carry out our mission of inspiring a world of belonging, we need to facilitate many opportunities for folks to engage with one another. We also want to create platforms to amplify the voices of marginalized people. To better serve all members of our community, and to create meaningful spaces for connection, we are proudly launching PALS Affinity Groups!
Affinity groups are gathering spaces for people to come together to unite around their common backgrounds or experiences. For our affinity groups, we envision spaces where folks with specific identities can come together virtually, on a regular basis, to talk, grow, and learn with one another. This spring, we will launch groups for the following identities: LGBTQ+, BIPOC, siblings of people with Down syndrome, and allies.
BIPOC: This group will bring together members of the PALS community that identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color.
LGBTQ+: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning+ community represents a wide spectrum of orientations and identities.
Siblings of people with Down syndrome: Having a sibling with Down syndrome is an incredibly unique experience, and this journey has shaped the lives of many people in our community.
Allies: Every member of our community benefits when we are strong allies. In our ally space, folks will learn more about what it means to be a marginalized person, how we can be strong allies for those with marginalized identities, and how to grow from our mistakes.
Affinity groups will meet once a month, for an hour, on Zoom. These meetings will empower our members to steer the conversation in a direction that best suits their needs, and there will be trained facilitators in each group to ensure the conversation stays safe and supportive for all involved. In order for our groups to be powerful and effective, it’s critical that participants feel comfortable and safe speaking amongst their fellow group members. Therefore, all members of each group must hold the identity of the specific group. (For example, in order to join the LGBTQ+ meetings, you must identify as someone within the spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities.) We understand that all members of our community may not align with our three identity groups, so we eagerly invite all members to join us in our Ally space, which is open to all of our PALS.
We have spoken extensively about the importance of promoting inclusion and improving access for all members of our community. Implementing PALS Affinity Groups moves us forward in achieving these goals. These spaces encourage members to embrace the diversity of their identity and to celebrate the things that make them unique. People who hold these identities represent an important piece of our community, but without access to groups and spaces like these, they may feel isolated or further marginalized. Affinity groups will strengthen our community by providing key affirmation and support to our members with diverse backgrounds. By providing a space for Allies, we will empower all members of our community to learn how to better support one another, which will help us create a more inclusive community.
Our team is so excited to be moving forward with affinity groups. We love and value every member of our community, and we are excited to provide a platform for each voice to be heard. If you are interested in joining us in our Affinity Groups, check the interest box on the Summer 2021 Volunteer and Camper Application, or email support@palsprograms.org and a member of PALS staff will be in touch with you. We hope to see you grow with us in this new space.
