Welcoming, genuine, passionate, supportive, and fun—these are the PALS Core Values that volunteers are expected to uphold at each program. I remember my first camp like it was yesterday—I was in middle school, timid, and entering an unfamiliar, predominantly white space full of adults and teenagers at least 3 years older than I was. Having grown up in predominantly white communities, being the only Asian-American kid in the room was something I had grown accustomed to. It was an afterthought, and oftentimes, I would forget this fact altogether.

This is ironic, because I carry my identity with me everywhere. Similar to the PALS Core Values, my Vietnamese parents instilled in me the values of empathy, kindness, and the concept of unconditional affection. Almost everything that I am, including the impact I have on others, is attributed to my cultural identity and my upbringing. My parents are immigrants who have overcome boundless adversities, and have always put others before themselves. They embody the person I strive to be, particularly within PALS.

I would not be writing this piece today if the PALS Magic hadn’t moved me at my first camp. At its core, PALS is a community that welcomes all, and is centered around creating a space of inclusion and acceptance. That virtue never discriminated against the color of my skin. This is what makes PALS such a special place. I was welcomed with open arms and genuine energy by counselors and campers alike from day one, and felt free to express myself throughout the entirety of the program. Leaving camp, I felt a level of solidarity and community like none other, regardless of my personal identity.

The more time I’ve spent with PALS, the more I’ve come to know how diverse this community truly is. But as I stated earlier, the obvious must be stated—PALS is and has always been a predominantly white organization; it is a space that people of color will find overwhelming at first, no matter how amazing this organization is and what impact it has on everyone who is part of it.

However, I am proud to see that PALS made so much progress in improving DEI efforts. When Executive Director Jenni Newbury-Ross invited a group of counselors of color to lunch at PALS San Francisco two years ago, I felt a new era on the horizon. I felt fully heard and acknowledged, something that I didn’t even realize I was lacking in this space. I felt happy for our campers of color, because all aspects of their individual identity were finally put on a platform that would allow them to learn to love who they are and spark a desire to change the world around them.

Inclusion is a multifaceted concept that must be addressed on all fronts. It is not enough to push inclusion for the Down syndrome community; everyone at PALS is so different, and it is important to be inclusive to all aspects of one’s identity. Inclusion is more than just feeling accepted in a space; it’s what makes a space feel like home, a place where you are vulnerable and free to be yourself. PALS is inclusion. It’s everything you love about yourself and everything that others love about you. As I reflect upon my identity during Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) month, I celebrate not only my ethnic heritage, but also the events and people that make me who I am today. It is without a doubt that PALS is among them.