UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS
EMBRACE STARS - An inclusive Talent & Fashion Show. - Registrations OPEN
MARCH 22, 2025, Saturday 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Seating Begins at 2:30 PM
Experience the power of inclusivity and talent on March 22 at Folsom High School from 3 to 6:30 PM as WeEMBRACE presents its Annual Inclusive Talent Show. With over 100 performers who are neurodiverse sharing their gifts in dance, music, drama, instrumental, and fashion modeling, this is an event not to be missed.
Tickets are available online for $10.00 per person at https://www.weembracefamilies.org/event-details/march-22-saturday-embrace-stars-talent-show-an-evening-to-remember.
Come and show your full support to our amazing, hard working 100 plus performers who will showcase their talents in Music, Drama, Dance, Instrumental and as Fashion show models.
Please purchase your tickets at
https://www.weembracefamilies.org/event-details/mar-22-saturday-embrace-stars-talent-show-an-evening-to-remember
Ages 4 and above - $10.00
Individuals who are neuro - diverse - $5.00
HOLI CELEBRATIONS - Registrations OPEN
MARCH 29, Saturday in FOLSOM
DEADLINE - MARCH 27, 2025
HOLI CELEBRATIONS for Families who have individuals who are neuro diverse ONLY
Ages 4 through 8 - $10.00
AGes 9 and above - $15.00
APRIL 26, FAMILY PICNIC - Registrations OPEN
DEADLINE - APRIL 15, 2025
MORE DETAILS WILL BE SHARED ON OUR WEBSITE PAGE
BOWLING SOCIAL in APRIL AND MAY
More details and Register at https://www.weembracefamilies.org/socialactivities
Open GYMNASTICS in MARCH, APRIL AND MAY
More details and Register at https://www.weembracefam
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS JAN THRU MARCH 2025
Family of the Month:
Helena MacGunigal: Finding Community and Inclusion with WeEmbrace
For Helena MacGunigal, finding a supportive and inclusive community has been a lifelong journey. After growing up in an era with limited understanding of neurodiversity and facing significant challenges, she and her sister Maria discovered WeEMBRACE—a community that has since transformed their lives.
Helena was born in Spain and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of three. Growing up in a time when institutionalization was common for individuals who are neurodiverse, her mother, who spoke little English, fought tirelessly to advocate for her. Despite financial struggles and societal barriers, Helena and her family built a foundation of resilience, love, and advocacy.
In 2019, as their mother’s health declined, Helena moved in with Maria for support. The passing of their mother in 2021 left them feeling isolated, but their search for meaningful connection led them to WeEMBRACE. "It felt like discovering an oasis in a desert," Helena recalls. "The people are kind, family-oriented, and deeply committed to advocacy and inclusion."
Since joining, WeEMBRACE has provided Helena with a sense of belonging, enriching activities, and a community that embraces her. One of her most cherished memories is attending the WeEMBRACE Talent Show, where she witnessed an outpouring of encouragement and celebration. The experience reinforced the power of inclusion—something Helena has spent her life striving for.
Today, Helena and Maria continue to grow within the WeEMBRACE family. Whether it's walking nature trails with their dog Georgina, cooking, or traveling, they find joy in the little moments while advocating for greater acceptance. Helena hopes her story inspires others to seek connection, embrace community, and know that they are never alone.
"Inclusion means participating fully and without barriers in all aspects of society," Helena shares. With WeEMBRACE, she has found not just a community but a family that empowers her to live life to the fullest.
Volunteer of the Month:
Empowering Through Inclusion: Ayaan Raza’s Volunteer Journey with WeEMBRACE
Since 2021, Ayaan Raza, a 10th grader from Campbell, California, has been a dedicated volunteer with WeEMBRACE, using his passion for coding to create an inclusive learning environment for students who are neurodiverse. His journey in volunteering, however, began much earlier. In third grade, Ayaan volunteered with ActionAid India, introducing Lego model building to underprivileged children in Chennai. Later, during the COVID-19 lockdown, he transitioned to online teaching, sharing his coding expertise within his community.
Motivated by his belief that everyone should have access to learning opportunities, Ayaan reached out to WeEMBRACE to offer coding classes. As a member of the WeEMBRACE coding program, Ayaan developed an engaging curriculum tailored to different learning styles, ensuring that students who are neurodiverse could grasp programming concepts in a fun and accessible way. His efforts, combined with strong parental support, helped create a collaborative and positive learning environment.
Ayaan's experience with WeEMBRACE has profoundly shaped his perspective, fostering empathy, patience, and a deeper understanding of individuals who are neurodiverse. One of his initial challenges was adapting his teaching methods to suit various communication and learning needs. Through research, mentorship, and persistence, he refined his approach, making coding more accessible and enjoyable for his students.
He and his sister, Numaa Raza, organize fundraisers to support inclusive programs, ifor WeEMBRACE abd ither organizations. . Ayaan is also part of the WeEMBRACE center (WeHaven) Committee team, and he has raised funds for the center Programs and Activities. in 2024. .
Looking ahead, Ayaan hopes to expand WeEMBRACE’s reach by encouraging more volunteers to join and advocating for work-based learning opportunities for individuals who are neurodiverse. He remains committed to making a lasting impact, ensuring that every student, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to learn and thrive.
Ayaan extends his gratitude to WeEMBRACE founders, fellow volunteers, and parents for fostering an inclusive and supportive community. His journey highlights the power of compassion, dedication, and the belief that small efforts can create significant change.
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