ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — While violence against Asians has been increasing since the start of the COVID pandemic, including a mass shooting at an Atlanta area spa Tuesday, Central Florida has been welcoming and inclusive, some local residents said Wednesday.

“I have lived here 34 [years],” Little Saigon restaurant owner Sean Wynn said. “It’s a very good place to live.”

“People work with people,” according to Wynn, who moved to Orlando from Vietnam. “They are friendly, helpful, I have lived here for a long time. Maybe it’s why I never want to leave.”

Joseph Kim, who moved to Central Florida from Miami a year ago, agreed with Wynn.

“Everybody wants to be in a place where they feel welcome and they feel accepted, and Orlando definitely gives you that,” Kim said.

The nonprofit Public Allies Central Florida works to encourage the community to be inclusive to all cultures and races by being an ally.

Some Central Florida leaders are actively working to provide equal access and make change in the community, according to Prita Chhabra, who works with Public Allies Central Florida.

“We see resiliency,” she said. “We see people coming to together make our community a better and safer place,” she said.

As a community, members need to continue to work to make a difference, Chhabra said.

“We are going to need to continue this work, but I think we are doing a good job,” she said.