Jalen D. Hudgins, Gateway Wellness Center

This month, the Inclusive Healthy Communities (IHC) Grant Program is pleased to spotlight Jalen D. Hudgins, a dedicated team member at Gateway Wellness Center an IHC grantee (Cohort 4) that provides community-based counseling and support for individuals and families promoting mental and emotional wellness.

In March 2026, Jalen published his memoir, Labels On, Limits Off: This Is My Story, which chronicles his journey of self-discovery, resilience, and embracing identity. Through both his professional work and personal advocacy, Jalen shares an important message about self-acceptance, belonging, and recognizing the strengths that make each person unique through his warmth, humor, and ability to connect with others.

Growing up, Jalen knew he experienced the world differently. Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (now considered part of Autism Spectrum Disorder), Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), and ADHD at age four, he often noticed differences in the way he thought, learned, and interacted with the world around him. As a child, however, those differences did not define him. He was creative, curious, and full of imagination, with a particular love for British children’s television that even inspired him to adopt a British accent at home.

As Jalen got older, the perceptions of others began to shape his understanding of himself. Teachers, professionals, and peers frequently pointed out his differences, and he sometimes faced teasing from classmates. With each new transition, journeying into adolescence and then onto college, Jalen recalls struggling with feelings of self-doubt, isolation and uncertainty and often found it difficult to focus, especially during Covid 19. While these experiences were challenging, they also helped him develop resilience and a determination to focus on his strengths rather than the labels others placed on him. Over time, he learned to embrace the qualities that made him unique and, with the support of family, went on to become the first person in his immediate family to earn a college degree.

Those experiences became the foundation for Labels On, Limits Off: This Is My Story. Through his memoir, Jalen hopes to reach parents, educators, caregivers, self-advocates, and anyone who has ever felt different or misunderstood. By sharing his journey, he encourages readers to look beyond labels, embrace their individuality, and recognize the strengths that make them who they are.