GEORGIA SENDS 18 REPRESENTATIVES TO THE 2023 BEST BUDDIES LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

Atlanta, Georgia – August 25, 2023 – Eighteen Best Buddies representatives from Georgia attended the 2023 Best Buddies Leadership Conference: Reunited for Inclusion in Bloomington, Indiana, from July 21-July 24, 2023.

Best Buddies International is a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). After two years of virtual Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC) and one year of localized leadership conferences, BBLC returned to Indiana University, with this year’s event theme being Reunited for Inclusion. The leadership conference prepared student leaders to operate the Best Buddies chapters at their schools, which involves recruiting new members, planning group activities for their chapters and promoting social integration for people with IDD.

The Georgia office, which has approximately 800 participants across its Friendship, Jobs and Leadership programs, was opened in 2019. Georgia sent 18 representatives to BBLC, which consisted of four staff, one Community Leader, three Faculty Advisors, eight students and two Ambassadors.

“It was lovely meeting such a beautiful group of people,” Tonya, the faculty advisor at Cedar Grove High School, said. “I learned and absorbed a lot of imperative information in such a short period of time. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again next year!”

Nearly 2,000 students, leaders, volunteers and staff members, representing Canada, Chile, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey and the United States traveled to participate in the conference. Students, selected to participate in the conference for their active leadership roles within Best Buddies, attended a series of interactive workshops focusing on leadership development, community service, civic responsibility, IDD and volunteerism. The leadership conference was live-streamed and showcased the amazing performances, speakers and education sessions that took place this year.