This month is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and we are excited to highlight some of our fantastic AAPI team members.

Francesca (Fran) has worked for our Y for about a year now, while Fiona has been working here for about 9 months. They first heard about the School Age Child Care position online while actively looking for childcare jobs and “were immediately intrigued by what the YMCA had to offer.”

Fran and Fiona enjoy interacting with the children in the after care program. “They bring much joy and energy to our day,” they said. “We love being a part of their lives and helping them with any of their needs. It is extremely satisfying to watch them learn and grow into amazing people.”

Their favorite aspect of being a SACC counselor is knowing that they are making an impact on the children in the program. “It is extremely rewarding when we receive positive praise and appreciation from them,” Fran and Fiona said. “Just their smiles are enough to brighten anyone’s day.”

Fran and Fiona are Filipino, Asian Pacific Islanders from the country, Philippines, and were both born and raised in New Jersey. As Catholics, their favorite holiday is Christmas, which they spend with their close family. During this holiday, they eat delicious Filipino cuisines, play traditional Filipino games, and watch movies.

“This is our favorite holiday because we cherish the moments with our loved ones and we adore the act of gift giving,” they said.

Another favorite pastime for the sisters is going on trips together as a family and exploring new places. “We enjoy traveling, seeing new sights and learning about different cultures,” they said, adding that Paris, France is their favorite destination so far.

Both Fran and Fiona believe it’s important to celebrate months like AAPI Heritage Month to promote diversity, and for our YMCA community to discover the different backgrounds of staff members.

“We think that it is important for the Y community to celebrate and embrace diversity to acknowledge our differences, unite us as a whole, and to educate others,” they said. “Being exposed to different cultures at the Y helps strengthen our community and bond. It expands our knowledge and spreads awareness that would have otherwise been impossible.”