Your impact!
July 20-23, 2018 Indiana University – Bloomington, Indiana
2,275 participants
including 45 international participants
1,512 128 178 325 81 51
Student Leaders
Community Leaders Ambassadors and Jobs Participants Staff Volunteers Special Guests
Participants enjoyed walking for inclusion at the annual BBLC Friendship Walk.
I’m not scared to be seen . . . I make no apologies,
this is me.
from The Greatest Showman
The Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC) brings together leaders with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities from middle schools, high schools, colleges, and communities worldwide, providing chapter leaders and ambassadors personalized training that helps them develop the leadership skills they need to organize a Best Buddies chapter and to effectively communicate and share the Best Buddies mission of inclusion. David Quilleon, Daniel Noltemeyer and Best Buddies participants and staff perform “Come Alive” from The Greatest Showman during Closing Ceremonies.
During the past
29 years,
BBLC has inspire d thous a nds of
par ticipants to become advocates for Best Buddies and for inclusion – empowering them to bring about social change in their schools and communities.
45
States. . . Arizona, California, Capital Region (including Virginia and D.C.),
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin
Best Buddies Expansion States
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming
International participants with Anthony K. Shriver, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Best Buddies International
Canada Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Germany Haiti,
Hong Kong
Lebanon, Macau
Mexico
South Korea
. . . and 13 Thailand Countries! and the U.S.
David Quilleon with participants at a World Café round table discussion
Best
Buddies’
global
volunteer
movement
is changing the world for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and creating more inclusive communities. These student leaders are the catalyst for all of our programs and I’m excited to see how they leverage our mission of friendship, jobs and leadership development as agents for social change on their own campuses. David Quilleon
Senior Vice President Global Mission, State Development & Operations
Ambassador Training:
100
Educational Training Sessions
Owning your voice and telling your story
80
Speech Coaches
150
Ambassadors
Best Buddies is changing lives.
It is teaching people around the world to see our abilities instead of our labels. In one weekend, Best Buddies taught me to be a public speaker. I left here, one year ago, with life-changing skills. Skills that I have used to educate others across the country, to better my life and discover my passion for public speaking. Jack Mayor Best Buddies Global Ambassador
Young Leaders Council members
Every year, BBLC participants learn about how to become effective advocates – developing skills to take action both individually and as part of a group, for a common cause.
They discover the power of their voices, their actions and their energy. The Young Leaders Council (YLC), comprised of 15 members from around the U.S., is a diverse group of young leaders of all abilities who bridge the gap between the student perspective and staff experience for Best Buddies International initiatives.
At BBLC, I was blown away by seeing how many lives Best Buddies has impacted not only in the US, but the whole world. Hearing all the stories and accomplishments of the buddies and members was really inspiring! I left BBLC feeling empowered and ready to make a lasting impact in my community. Roshni Patel
Young Leaders Council, Texas
Best Buddies Ambassadors Mollie Noble and Jack Mayor congratulate Reagan Kallina, chapter president, and Tania Swani, chapter vice president, from Seven Lakes High School.
Students Who Lead and Serve
The Best Buddies Chapter at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas, grew from 30 members to nearly 300 in just two years. In addition, this chapter raised the most funds in the state for their local Friendship Walk!
At BBLC 2018, select schools and promoter chapters were honored for their service and commitment to Best Buddies during the 2017-2018 school year.
Outstanding Chapter Award Recipients • Cole Middle School, Rhode Island • Seven Lakes High School, Texas • The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill • Montgomery Bell Academy, Tennessee
79
Community Leaders
Phenomenal Advisors
48
Board Members and State Event Chairs
The BBLC Advisor Track offers training opportunities specific to the roles advisors play in Best Buddies chapters. Speakers, collaborative educational experiences and panel discussions are designed to provide teachers with strategies and resources needed to effectively manage and empower student leaders of the Best Buddies movement. Faculty advisors gathered at BBLC included (from left): Debbie Rodriquez, Gateway High School, Orlando, Florida; Gail Thomas, Miami Edison High School, Miami, Florida; and Suzanne Nocchi-Dill, advisor for Best Buddies Delaware.
Randy Kersh practices his speech with the help of Frank Ebels, speech trainer.
365 BBLC Scholarships were funded
through major Best Buddies events!
I would not have been able to go to BBLC had I not received financial aid. I’m so thankful Best Buddies helped me get there, because Leadership Conference was a life-changing experience. I consider it one of the best experiences of my life. Kiera Barstad, Deer Valley High School, Arizona
Special thanks to the Suzanne Jovin Leadership Fund for its support of BBLC scholarships.
81
VOLUNTEERS Volunteers are instrumental to the success of BBLC. Whether they work in Registration or as speech coaches, they are unsung heroes! I’ve been going to Leadership Conference since 2010 — 13 years as a participant and the past five as volunteer. I have made so many friends in Best Buddies that I consider family. I love seeing them at Leadership Conference and catching up. Best Buddies gives me hope that some day we will not have people who judge folks like me. Shawn Rector Best Buddies Indiana Shawn Rector and Christina McDougle, BBLC volunteers from West Lafayette, Indiana.
Students and advisors gathered in Alumni Hall for World Cafe discussions.
The support of private family foundations enables Best Buddies to bring together nearly 2,300 student leaders and other participants from regions throughout the United States.
Best Buddies participants by region
481 299 632 479 Midwest States
Northeast States
Southern States
Western States
Building Lasting Relationships . . . and Community During my time at Best Buddies Leadership Conference, I experienced so much acceptance and inclusion that warmed my heart. This taught me that we should spread inclusion and accept anyone, no matter their disabilities. Sophia Pregadio Dreyfoos School of the Arts —West Palm Beach, Florida
From left: Emmery Wilson, Homestead High School; Amari Campbell, Brown Deer High School; and Janeenah Dawson, Jefferson High School (Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
I’m here today to share my journey of self-acceptance. Best Buddies helped me to see that my autism doesn’t define me! I’m happier now and everyone who knows me has noticed the dramatic change in me. This makes me more determined than ever to keep on fighting the good fight and be happy for who I am and not what I should be! THIS IS ME!
Tsukasa Richard Nakai — Buddy Director, Best Buddies UCLA
Ambassador Speeches: Closing Ceremonies
Of 150 Ambassadors five are chosen to give their inspiring speeches at Closing Ceremonies. These participants share their personal Best Buddies stories they’ve developed and practiced during their time at BBLC.
Will Macon and Bryan Link, buddies since 2010, have been attending BBLC every year since they were matched.
Global Headquarters
leadershipconference@bestbuddies.org 100 Southeast Second Street, Suite 2200 Miami, FL 33131 P 305.374.2233 | F 305.789.5577
BESTBUDDIES.ORG