Interview with Alisha Jackman Vilela founder of 321 Buddy Fundraising for the Down Syndrome Community

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Alisha's Journey as a Special Needs Mom:

• Alisha shares her journey as a special needs mom, which began in 2020 when she found out she was expecting a child. Alisha already had a daughter.
• She talks about her son, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and a heart defect during her pregnancy, and how this marked the beginning of her special needs parenting journey.
• Alisha explains the fear she experienced, not knowing what to expect with a child with special needs and the associated medical complications.
• She discusses her experiences with her son's heart surgery and the challenges they faced due to COVID-19.

Maintaining Identity and Pursuing Interests:

• Alisha discusses the importance of self-care and how she has found ways to maintain her sense of identity amidst the demands of parenting a child with special needs.
• She emphasizes the significance of maintaining a busy but purposeful schedule to manage her anxiety.
• Alisha talks about finding a supportive community and how she feels at home and connected with like-minded individuals.

Alisha's Non-profit: 321 Buddy Fundraising:

• Alisha shares her motivation behind starting the non-profit "321Buddy Fundraising."
• She talks about the successful buddy walk event they organized, which attracted 450 participants and raised over $35,000 in proceeds.
• Alisha mentions the three annual events they host to raise funds and their plan to open a community center in the summer of 2024.

Importance of Self-Care:

• Alisha highlights the importance of self-care, emphasizing therapy, consistent massages, and taking some time for herself each month.

Where to Find Alisha:

• Alisha directs the audience to follow "321buddy" on Facebook and visit their website, “321buddyfundraising.com”, for more information about their community and events.

Words of Encouragement:

• Alisha advises other parents raising children with special needs to find their community, connect with like-minded individuals, and support each other. She stresses the importance of understanding and embracing the struggles and experiences that come with special needs parenting.

Alisha Vilela is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a social worker, and an advocate. In 2020 she became part of the community as a mother of a child with Special Needs. Her son, Cristiano, was born in the height of a world wide pandemic, with Down Syndrome and a heart defect. Though the first year was full of many struggles, Alisha was able to use this experience to help lead a community of mothers and family members to increase community events and opportunities for relationships among families of individuals with Down Syndrome. In 2021, she founded 321 Buddy Fundraising, which is a non-profit designed to promote charitable support, provide a safe local venue, and coordinate available and supportive resources for the Down Syndrome Community within Pierce County, and surrounding areas, to include community programs, partnerships, and gatherings. 321 Buddy has raised over $100,000 and is in the beginning stages of opening a community center for this population, to provide free resources, support, and groups. The goal is to open doors to A Place for Me by June 2024.

Live with Intention – Embrace the Journey

Music acknowledgement: Audio Coffee – Denys Kyshchuk

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