BEST BUDDIES IN ALABAMA HOSTS FIRST LEADERSHIP TRAINING DAY FOR CHAPTER LEADERS

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, 2023 – Best Buddies in Alabama is a state affiliate office of Best Buddies International (BBI), and recently hosted their annual Local Leadership Training Day for students throughout the state. BBI is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Local Leadership Training Days are hosted by Best Buddies offices annually for chapter leaders (students) and advisors (teachers) from elementary schools all the way up to college programs on how to best run their Best Buddies chapter. Through the training, students share best practices on effective strategies to recruit peers to join the club on campus, plan engaging and meaningful activities throughout the school-year, set specific and measurable goals for the program, and provide training support and resources from the Best Buddies staff. With the guiding principal that change comes from a passionate volunteer movement led by young people on a peer-to-peer level, Best Buddies focuses intentionally on supporting student leaders to be the change agents on their campus and throughout the community. Attendees left Leadership Training Day feeling empowered and prepared to guide the Best Buddies mission at their school.

“I loved getting to know more people in different Best Buddies programs such as Homewood, UAB, and the University of Alabama. I liked learning about their events and how they are unique to each of their chapters,” Will Pylant, Buddy Director at the University of Montevallo, said. “I also enjoyed learning how a chapter needs to be set up. I’m excited to be Buddy Director and set up events for my chapter.”

This year Best Buddies in Alabama held its first ever Leadership Training Day welcoming nearly 10 leaders from 5 schools across the state. Best Buddies in Alabama is looking forward to the 2023-24 school year to creating meaningful friendships and successful inclusion on campuses throughout the state.

If you are interested in learning more about Best Buddies in Alabama or getting involved and supporting this work, please email Alabama@bestbuddies.org or visit www.bestbuddies.org/alabama.