{"id":4012,"date":"2015-06-24T04:14:21","date_gmt":"2015-06-24T04:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?page_id=4012"},"modified":"2025-07-30T09:09:26","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T13:09:26","slug":"leadership-development","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/leadership-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs<\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represents one of our organization\u2019s five key mission pillars. \u00a0The programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates. Best Buddies passionately believes that its program participants can lead the effort within their community and beyond to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD.[\/vc_column_text]
<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/gVuCYJ7XRNE”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]
<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row top_margin=”0″ bottom_margin=”0″][vc_column width=”7\/12″][vc_custom_heading text=”BESTBUDDIES\u00ae<\/sup> Ambassadors <\/strong>” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%235a4397″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1447916655634{margin-top: -10px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”custom” align=”align_left” border_width=”8″ css=”.vc_custom_1447884257133{margin-top: -8px !important;margin-bottom: 5px !important;}” accent_color=”#f37735″]
<\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text css=””]Offers people with and without IDD the opportunity to gain the public speaking skills, self-esteem and confidence needed to successfully advocate for themselves, their peers and Best Buddies in communities, workplaces and government.<\/p>\n

Meet a few of our Global Ambassadors<\/strong><\/a> <\/i><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Attend a Training<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Host a Training<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]

<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”188135″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row top_margin=”0″ bottom_margin=”0″][vc_column width=”7\/12″][vc_custom_heading text=”BESTBUDDIES\u00ae<\/sup> Promoters<\/strong>” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23593f9a” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1447916666000{margin-top: -10px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”custom” align=”align_left” border_width=”8″ css=”.vc_custom_1447884267820{margin-top: -8px !important;margin-bottom: 5px !important;}” accent_color=”#f37735″]
<\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text]Empowers youth to become advocates for people with IDD and help open new Best Buddies chapters and programs by organizing special events that promote awareness to the disability rights movement.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Join a chapter<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”188136″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row top_margin=”0″ bottom_margin=”0″][vc_column width=”7\/12″][vc_custom_heading text=”BESTBUDDIES\u00ae<\/sup> Transitions<\/strong>” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23593f9a” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1718390821112{margin-top: -10px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”custom” align=”align_left” border_width=”8″ css=”.vc_custom_1447884267820{margin-top: -8px !important;margin-bottom: 5px !important;}” accent_color=”#f37735″]
<\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text css=””]Offers a combination of classroom-based training, experiential learning, and corporate mentorship to help students with IDD explore post-secondary options, prepare for independent living, and identify career ambitions. Workshops and activities offer experiences that aid youth with IDD in their transition into adulthood.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Join the program<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”182018″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”yes” top_margin=”0″ bottom_margin=”0″ background_color=”#f37735″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”42px”][vc_column_text css=””]\n

How the Ambassadors Program Works<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”42px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”42px”]

<\/i>Advocacy Training<\/h4>When a Best Buddies participant joins the Ambassador program, they enter into a series of group and private training in speech writing and public and conversational speaking to become advocates for themselves and the disability rights movement.<\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”22px”]

<\/i>Public Speaking<\/h4>Once trained, Ambassadors work with Best Buddies staff to identify public speaking opportunities in their local community, where they can share their personal stories with Best Buddies chapters, businesses, legislators, interest groups and donors.<\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”22px”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”42px”]

<\/i>Speech Coaches<\/h4>Each Ambassador is paired with a speech coach, who helps them brainstorm, organize, write, edit and practice a speech and provides one-on-one attention as needed.<\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”46px”]

<\/i>Ongoing Development<\/h4>Throughout their participation in the program, Ambassadors have access to a variety of ongoing advocacy trainings led by Best Buddies staff.<\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”22px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

<\/i>Advancement<\/h4>As Ambassadors gain advocacy experience in conversational and public speaking, they have the opportunity to grow into a State or Global Ambassador where they may be invited to speak nationally or internationally on behalf of Best Buddies.<\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”52px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”yes” top_margin=”0″ bottom_margin=”0″ background_color=”#f37735″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”42px”][vc_column_text css=””]\n

How the Promoters Program Works<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”42px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”42px”]

<\/i>Connect<\/h4>Students attending a school without a special education program can join a Promoters chapter to develop connections with people with IDD, or can start one by contacting their local Best Buddies state office.<\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”22px”]

<\/i>Ongoing Support<\/h4>Each Promoters chapter is led by a President from the student body and a Faculty Advisor, and is assigned a Best Buddies staff person who offers regular support and guidance.<\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”42px”]

<\/i>Advocate<\/h4>Once formed, Promoters chapters host events, activities, fundraisers and assemblies where they advocate for people with IDD, educate the public about inclusion and promote the ideals of the Best Buddies mission.<\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”22px”]

<\/i>Events<\/h4>Throughout the school year, Best Buddies encourages all Promoters chapters to host as many activities as possible (minimum of 4) on and off campus that are inclusive of people with IDD.<\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”22px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”yes” top_margin=”0″ bottom_margin=”0″ background_color=”#f37735″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”42px”][vc_column_text css=””]\n

How the Transitions Program Works<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”42px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”42px”]