by Marvin Poquiz
There’s something special about hearing a story straight from the heart, and at this year’s High School Leadership Academy at Concordia University Irvine, that’s exactly what happened.
More than 50 students and 15 leadership coaches from around the country gathered on campus for a week of growth, connection, and leadership-building. Among the many sessions on the schedule, one stood out in a big way: “Compassionate Leadership for People with Special Needs,” presented by Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC).
But this wasn’t your typical presentation—it was led by two incredible Athlete Leaders and Global Messengers with SOSC, Alana Mauga and Charlize Faure. They were joined by SOSC team members Dustin Plunkett and Brian Richter, who provided support as needed, butAlana and Charlize were the stars of the show.
Their message was clear: real leadership means creating space for everyone—especially individuals with intellectual disabilities. Through a newly developed Unified Leadership training, Alana and Chalize helped students explore how to move from unconscious bias to conscious inclusion, and how we all can be part of creating welcoming, empowering environments.
For Alana, this marked her first time speaking at a public event like this—and she delivered an outstanding performance.
“It was an honor to speak to those students about Unified Leadership. I felt very uplifted knowing I was able to reach people with my story of being Autistic and how Special Olympics changed my life. I was proud of myself, especially since it was my first time speaking like that! I hope I inspired those students to become great leaders, with or without a disability,” she shared.
Alana wasn’t the only one beaming with pride. Watching from the audience, her mom, Jennifer, knew something had shifted.
“As a mom of two autistic young adults, I’ve always been a protector. But this time, I stepped back. I watched Alana speak from the heart, and I realized I no longer needed to hover. She knew her message and shared it bravely. I’m so thankful she had this moment to shine,” Jennifer said.
Charlize also took time to reflect on the experience, sharing how meaningful it was to be part of something so impactful. She spoke about the connections she made, the sense of community she felt, and how the experience inspired her on a personal level.
“I really enjoyed being part of the athlete panel and hope I was able to inspire the students at the High School Leadership Academy to be more inclusive and to get involved with Special Olympics! I hope I was able to encourage them to be more compassionate leaders.”
The session struck a chord with everyone in the room, including Dr. Kent Schlichtemeier, Director of Concordia’s Servant Leadership Institute.
“Your words of inspiration were truly one of the big highlights of the week.” he shared in a note to the Athlete Leadership team. “I heard a number of students and coaches rave about your presentation. Our deepest thanks to Alana and Charlize for their time and inspiring words as well.”
The session may have been just an hour long, but its impact will last a lifetime. When we lead with compassion, believe in our athletes, and ensure every voice is heard, extraordinary things happen.