Bonding, Laughter, and Camaraderie: All This And More at …..Nuestros Angeles

By Andrea Maio

The first meeting of Nuestros Angeles.

Making its debut on the GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough program calendar in 2016, the Nuestros Angeles program provides support, networking, and socialization opportunities for Spanish-speaking families and participants.

What started as strangers coming together (of course with the common bond of having a family member with Down syndrome) has turned into a group that feels like a close-knit family! Members look forward to their once-per-month meetings during which you will find parents having conversation and laughs over coffee and treats while their children of all ages play games, read, share, interact, listen to music, dance, and sing!

Spending time together at a friend’s home.

It all started when Kattia (mom to participant Alex) and Playhouse Manager Liz Kepniss discussed the idea of bringing Nuestros Angeles to GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough and organized the first meeting for a Sunday morning in October. I also attended that very first meeting, and I remember that from our first meeting, we all knew right then that we had a lot in common to share. After Kattia’s family moved to Florida shortly after our first meeting, the group luckily continued and evolved to what it is today.

Working together while learning from an OT.

We discovered we could use each other as a resource, as a friend, or as an extended family member. The fact that we all have kids of different ages has made the conversations even richer.

The program now offers to all the participant families, activities and information related to Down syndrome in Spanish and English. It’s educational and fun. We have invited Spanish-speaking professionals, OT and SLP, to attend and share specific activities oriented to give useful resources on some of the everyday challenges that individuals with Down syndrome may have, regardless the age group. Our program sometimes is just fun, like a game night or a dance with the Angeles.

Some of the families who planned the 2nd Annual International Festival.

Beyond the program, we organize activities to keep nurturing our diversity, such us potluck nights in someone’s house, a day in a park or a BBQ at a friend’s pool. Music and dancing is always a must. Many of us are even going to Disney World together at the end of this summer.

GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough has become a place of gathering every month for Spanish-speaking families and anyone who would like to join us.  It’s been the place where everyone’s idea is accepted and celebrated, like the Three King celebration, International Day, or the Family Picnic. We are a proud group of parents who love sharing our culture, who enjoy celebrating diversity within the diversity, and who are strong believers that dreams come true.

Nuestros Angeles meets every second Friday of the month for anyone who wants to stop in and say hello.