Meet our California Regional Program Manager: Leslie Cubias

Leslie

Cubias

PALS California Regional Program Manager

Hi PALS Programs community! My name is Leslie (she/her/hers), and I’m thrilled to join PALS as the new California Regional Program Manager. I’ve spent over 15 years working in the nonprofit sector, focusing on education, youth development, and program leadership. Much of my work has centered on equity, mentorship, and creating meaningful connections. I’m passionate about empowering young people and deeply believe in the transformative power of inclusive programming and community belonging.

I began my journey at the University of California, Riverside, earning a B.A. in Psychology while interning with a local school district to support opportunity youth on their path to graduation. From there, I continued on to California State University, San Bernardino, where I completed a dual Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management and Marketing. Throughout college, I worked in various tutoring and in-home support roles, fostering growth and confidence in young learners.

After graduate school, I briefly entered the for-profit sector as an underwriting manager, providing financial support to community members. Soon after, I returned to my nonprofit roots and to my high school alma mater as a Site Coordinator for Youth Action Project (YAP), where I had the opportunity to run and provide after school programming. Youth Action Project (YAP) provides youth and young adults with transformative experiences coupled with professional development training, career coaching, and paid work experience. I later became the Assistant Director of Programming, overseeing AmeriCorps, after-school, and workforce development programming and initiatives.

I had the privilege of working with youth aged 16–25 experiencing homelessness, incarceration, and foster care and supported in connecting them with employment and educational opportunities and offering wraparound support. Whether shopping for interview clothing, exploring career pathways, or simply being a supportive listener, I aimed to empower youth to define and pursue their own success. Witnessing their resilience and growth remains one of the most meaningful experiences.

I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of PALS and continue the journey of building spaces of belonging, empowerment, and joy. While I’m still gaining experience with the Down syndrome community, I am honored to learn and grow alongside everyone at PALS. 

In my free time, you can usually find me with my two children, always up to an adventure—whether we’re at the park, cheering for my daughter at her volleyball games, visiting family, or enjoying a day at a theme park!

I’m truly excited to be part of the PALS community and can’t wait to build lasting connections with you all. 

Meet our Program Director: Matt Lafreniere

Matt Lafreniere

PALS Program Director

Hey PALS Programs family! My name is Matt, and I’m thrilled to have joined PALS as the new  Program Director. As someone who has worked at summer camps during my college years, run after-school programs, and overseen complex operations for a national non-profit, this role at PALS is an amazing opportunity to challenge myself and offer a new perspective to enhance the work we do.

My career has always been in the service of historically underserved communities. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, I got my professional start as an AmeriCorps volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua. There, I ran social recreation and community service programs before stepping into the Clubhouse Director role, where I oversaw all programming for our 8-12 year old age group. During my time at the Club, we were awarded grant funding for a program called Camp Mariposa, where I served as Camp Director. This program provided off-site camp activities and therapeutic services to youth affected by the opioid crisis. 

I relocated to Maryland in 2017, and after some time working in the grants administration space, I joined the operations team at Kids In Need of Defense (KIND). KIND supports youth who migrate to the U.S. in search of safety, and my role was to ensure my colleagues had all the necessary tools and guidance to conduct their work and find success. I was privileged to work with people from so many backgrounds in that role, which has pushed me to be a better leader and more collaborative partner. 

Joining PALS in this capacity feels like a full-circle moment for me. I’m a total believer in the power of camp programming and its ability to transform lives and change attitudes. While I have not previously worked with the Down Syndrome community, I feel particularly lucky and grateful to be able to use my experience to deliver an inclusive and empowering experience for our participants—and make new friends along the way! 

In my free time, you can usually find me with my partner and our dogs (and cat), going on hikes, working in the garden, or throwing axes with our friends! 

I’m so excited to be part of this community and look forward to meeting everyone who makes all of this happen. We can’t do it without you!

Meet our Intern: Kamille Burris

Kamille Burris

PALS Intern

Hi, my name is Kamille, she/her, and I am excited to be an intern for PALS Programs. I am completing this internship for my college program, Gwynedd Mercy University, where I am a senior in my academic year.  I am from Pennsylvania, where I grew up with my family and friends who support me and take care of me from birth until adulthood.

For my internship, I am working with PALS, where I help the staff on long term projects that make things run more smoothly. I also do outreach to people who are not yet part of the PALS community, with and without Down syndrome. My main role as an intern is to be a part of the process that ensures everyone has positive and inclusive experiences. 

I wanted to work for PALS for my internship because I have attended PALS since 2018, and I love being part of this community and this family, and making new memories with new people, and meeting my old friends. One thing I am excited about is new experiences and connecting with the people I support and believe that God had a plan for me to do well in my community.

PALS & LuMind IDSC Family Weekend

Shelby Jones

Executive Director

This season, PALS was thrilled to partner with LuMind IDSC to host Family Weekend at Great Wolf Lodge locations in Manteca, CA and Perryville, MD. This weekend brought together PALS families, volunteers, and alumni, while also introducing us to new families eager to learn about PALS.

Of course, both locations featured a highlight everyone loved—the water park!

In Perryville, the weekend captured the heart of camp with an afternoon of PALS Olympics. Attendees formed teams and competed in activities like quest, music trivia, Minute to Win It challenges, and relays. The energy and joy reminded us of being at a Camp PALS. We capped off the weekend with a 21+ afterparty, where attendees grabbed a drink and connected over shared stories and new friendships.

In Manteca, the fun flowed all day in the beautiful California weather and a private cabana at the outdoor pool. Saturday evening was a highlight as we joined the dance hosted by LuMind IDSC, complete with great music, awesome dance moves, and even a giant game of musical chairs. Later, attendees enjoyed an 18+ after party filled with games, friendship, and a surprise visit from one of the Great Wolf Lodge wolves. 

We are so grateful to LuMind IDSC for partnering with us to make this weekend possible. The laughter, connections, and joy we shared brought all the PALS magic. We can’t wait to host Family Weekend again next season!

If you’re interested in joining us, please contact support@palsprograms.org to learn more.