Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ali Vongsathian. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ali, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I established Pokemon GO San Diego purely out of my love for the game. It was never meant to be a community or a non-profit business structure initially. After sustaining a major back injury that required me to be more mobile, I observed people playing Pokemon on their phones while walking in the park one day. I decided to re-engage with the game and became deeply involved. However, I noticed a lack of community aspect, which is integral to the game. This realization prompted me to take the initiative and establish a community with the explicit mission and purpose of fostering that sense of community.

The community expanded rapidly during COVID-19 as many people sought to re-engage with social interaction. The mission of my community is clear: To unite all those who are passionate about bringing people together under a common interest.

This mission statement is incredibly important to me because I have overcome struggles with social anxiety and the challenges of being a social outcast. Despite not being the most popular or outgoing person in high school, I stayed true to myself. I firmly believe in being a kind and genuine person because the universe rewards positive energy.

The person I used to be would never have taken the initiative or made the effort to create something like this. I was never seen as helpful, caring, or showing any leadership qualities. This was out of character for me, but I knew I had to grow as a person, and this would be the first step. I just didn’t realize how much of an impact it would have on me.

The game has truly had a profound impact on my life, bringing me closer to people and filling my interactions with joy and happiness. I love meeting new people and discovering aspects of myself in them, especially when I’m just starting out or in need of a friend. The supportive community has truly helped heal a part of me that was previously neglected, and my goal is to be the source of support that I wished for when I first started playing.

I will commit to continuing this for the next 20+ years in my free time. I’m passionate about it because it has helped shape me into the caring, helpful, and understanding person I am today. We all need a break from stress, whether it’s from work or personal issues, and playing this game helps us reset our mental health. This mission is incredibly important to me and it drives my passion to keep nurturing and growing this community. I hope that one day, someone who shares the same values and mission will take over from me. Until then you’re all stuck with me, my little mammals.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Ali Vongsathian and I’m a Community Ambassador and Owner of Pokemon GO San Diego.

Pokemon GO San Diego is a self-organized group of local players within San Diego who share the same goal of creating a welcoming, friendly, and helpful environment for all players. Our community is made up of committed players who demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills to reach our objectives. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of what a community should be and hold ourselves accountable accordingly.

We host weekly and monthly meetups and events in every county of San Diego. Our active members and staff organize these events on Discord.

I became a Community Ambassador for Pokemon GO in 2023. I simply wanted to play the game and bring people together for fun.

My proudest achievement was creating a petition that received over 100,000 signatures to overturn a decision affecting many rural and physically challenged players.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As COVID-19 began to subside, players swiftly transitioned back into the real world, aligning with the original goal of Pokémon GO. We had grown accustomed to the convenience of playing from home and operating remotely, which was a favorable experience for many players and staff.

Our community was built upon remote play and online interaction, so we confidently pivoted our business model to playing outside and meeting with players in the real world. This presented a challenge for all of us, but we were ready to take it on. We began hosting meetups at Balboa Park as a starting point, and to our delight, it quickly gained traction.

We expanded our meetups to cover each county of San Diego, reaching Carlsbad, Escondido, La Jolla, La Mesa, National City, and Old Town. Despite initial uncertainty, our risk paid off, and these meetups significantly strengthened and expanded our community. What initially seemed like a negative decision ultimately led to a positive outcome.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I never doubted that this idea would work. Looking back, I can’t help but laugh at how uncertain I once was. I took the plunge, and it not only became successful but continues to thrive today.

There were days when I questioned if all the effort and time would amount to anything. However, I have no regrets for trying and not giving up. It has brought many people into my life, and the joy I received can never be taken away.

I constantly reminded myself, “Do this for yourself, stay true to who you are, and remember why you decided to play this game and what you needed when you started.” It can be discouraging when you don’t see immediate results or growth, but I persisted. I hosted meetups and engaged with many players in person. I didn’t focus on becoming a fast-growing community. I focused on becoming the best and most helpful community there is. I began outsourcing and expanding the community on social media platforms and things started to turn around.

We have witnessed a remarkable surge in engagement across Discord, Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit. This growth didn’t happen overnight and required time and effort. However, I firmly believe that true value and a solid foundation are not established hastily, and this mindset has bolstered my resilience.

Contact Info:

• Website: pokemongosandiego.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pokemongosandiego.gg/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pokemongosandiego
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/pkmongosandiego
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pok%C3%A9mon-go-san-diego-san-diego
• Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60750-d25195100-Reviews-Pokemon_GO_San_Diego-San_Diego_California.html https://www.dexerto.com/pokemon/pokemon-go-remote-raid-petition-surpasses-100k-signatures-2114770/ https://gamerant.com/pokemon-go-remote-raid-changes-bad-petition-accessibility-rural/ https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-go-remote-raid-battles-petition-50k-signatures/