Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represents one of our organization’s five key mission pillars. The 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.

Join a Program or Volunteer

Missouri Chapter Listing

To join a chapter, click a school name below

Chaminade (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 425 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63131, US, null, null, 38.6497465, -90.4071501, null]
Lutheran South High School (Affton, MO)
API address [ 9515 Tesson Ferry Rd, Affton, MO, 63123, US, null, null, 38.5474833, -90.3338818, null]
St. Joseph's Academy (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 2307 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63131, US, null, null, 38.6249982, -90.4079325, null]
Westminster Christian Academy (Chesterfield, MO)
API address [ 800 Maryville Centre Dr, Chesterfield, MO, 63017, US, null, null, 38.6371668, -90.5036792, null]

Bernard Middle School (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 1054 Forder Road, St. Louis, MO, 63129, US, null, null, 38.4951272, -90.32649289999999, null]
Hazelwood West Middle School (Hazelwood, MO)
API address [ 12834 Missouri Bottom Rd, Hazelwood, MO, 63042, US, null, null, 38.7811586, -90.4122885, null]
Hixson Middle School (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 630 S Elm Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63119-4047, US, null, null, 38.5796082, -90.35869149999999, null]
Jefferson Intermediate (Saint Charles, MO)
API address [ 2660 Zumbehl Rd, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, US, null, null, 38.798251, -90.53272439999999, null]
Lasalle Springs Middle School (Wildwood, MO)
API address [ 3300 MO-109, Wildwood, MO, 63038-2201, US, null, null, 38.5517185, -90.63892589999999, null]
Martin City Middle School (Kansas City, MO)
API address [ 201 E 133rd St, Kansas City, MO, 64145-1408, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Nipher Middle School (Kirkwood, MO)
API address [ 700 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, MO, 63122-5929, US, null, null, null, null, null]
North Kirkwood Middle School (Kirkwood, MO)
API address [ 11287 Manchester Rd, Kirkwood, MO, 63122-1122, US, null, null, null, null, null]
North Point Middle School (Wentzville, MO)
API address [ 2275 W Meyer Rd, Wentzville, MO, 63385, US, null, null, 38.8279502, -90.90418509999999, null]
Parkway West Middle School (Chesterfield, MO)
API address [ 2312 Baxter Rd, Chesterfield, MO, 63017-7721, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Rockwood South Middle School (Fenton, MO)
API address [ 1628 Hawkins Rd, Fenton, MO, 63026-2629, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Rogers Middle School (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 7550 MacKenzie Rd, St. Louis, MO, 63123-2746, US, null, null, 38.5729965, -90.3192974, null]
Sperreng Middle School (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 12111 Tesson Ferry Rd, St. Louis, MO, 63128-1728, US, null, null, 38.5177227, -90.3657381, null]
Washington Middle School (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 5165 Ambs Road, St. Louis, MO, 63128, US, null, null, 38.4922291, -90.3710803, null]
Wildwood Middle School (Wildwood, MO)
API address [ 17401 Manchester Rd, Wildwood, MO, 63038-1906, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Coldwater Elementary (Florissant, MO)
API address [ 1105 Wiethaupt Rd, Florissant, MO, 63031, US, null, null, 38.82590649999999, -90.325076, null]
Conway Elementary (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 9900 Conway Rd, St. Louis, MO, 63124, US, null, null, 38.64016489999999, -90.3927927, null]
Edgar Road Elementary School (Webster Groves, MO)
API address [ 1131 Edgar Rd, Webster Groves, MO, 63119-4950, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Eureka Elementary (Eureka, MO)
API address [ 5350 Rockwood Arbor Dr, Eureka, MO, 63025, US, null, null, 38.5104725, -90.66211179999999, null]
Fairway Elementary (Wildwood, MO)
API address [ 480 Old Fairway Drive, Wildwood, MO, 63040, US, null, null, 38.5688697, -90.6196531, null]
Green Pines Elementary (Ballwin, MO)
API address [ 16543 Green Pines Drive, Ballwin, MO, 63011, US, null, null, 38.5907915, -90.6267629, null]
Journey Elementary (Wentzville, MO)
API address [ 2000 Interstate Dr, Wentzville, MO, 63385, US, null, null, 38.801205, -90.8984138, null]
Jury Elementary (Black Jack, MO)
API address [ 11950 Old Halls Ferry Road, Black Jack, MO, 63033, US, null, null, 38.7883144, -90.2699842, null]
Long Elementary (Saint Louis, MO)
API address [ 9021 Sappington Rd, Saint Louis, MO, 63126, US, null, null, 38.546572019601, -90.381509992472, null]
Old Bonhomme Elementary (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 9661 Old Bonhomme Rd, St. Louis, MO, 63132, US, null, null, 38.6691369, -90.3890246, null]
Point Elementary (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 6790 Telegraph Road, St. Louis, MO, 63129, US, null, null, 38.4403932, -90.3212124, null]
Pond Elementary School (Wildwood, MO)
API address [ 17200 Manchester Rd, Wildwood, MO, 63040-1021, US, null, null, 38.578633, -90.65072020000001, null]
Ralph Blevins Elementary School (Eureka, MO)
API address [ 25 E North St, Eureka, MO, 63025, US, null, null, 38.5108402, -90.6261566, null]
Reed Elementary (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 9060 Ladue Road, St. Louis, MO, 63124, US, null, null, 38.6527539, -90.36338669999999, null]
Ridge Meadows Elementary (Ellisville, MO)
API address [ 777 Ridge Road, Ellisville, MO, 63021, US, null, null, 38.5721779, -90.6015457, null]
Robert T. Geggie Elementary (Eureka, MO)
API address [ 430 Bald Hill Rd, Eureka, MO, 63025, US, null, null, 38.496362, -90.63011430000002, null]
Rogers Elementary (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 7700 Fine Rd, St. Louis, MO, 63129, US, null, null, 38.4198413, -90.33667439999999, null]
Spoede Elementary (Creve Coeur, MO)
API address [ 425 N Spoede Rd, Creve Coeur, MO, 63141, US, null, null, 38.6631427, -90.41583179999999, null]
Wohlwend Elementary School (St. Louis, MO)
API address [ 5966 Telegraph Rd, St. Louis, MO, 63129, US, null, null, 38.4595074, -90.30452939999999, null]

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

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.

Attend a Training

Host a Training

best buddies ambassador giving a speech at a podium

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

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.

Join a chapter

group of best buddies promoters participants

BESTBUDDIES^® Transitions

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.

Join the program

Best Buddies Transitions program member at work on a farm

How the Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

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.

Public Speaking

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.

Speech Coaches

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.

Ongoing Development

Throughout their participation in the program, Ambassadors have access to a variety of ongoing advocacy trainings led by Best Buddies staff.

Advancement

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.

How the Promoters Program Works

Connect

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.

Ongoing Support

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.

Advocate

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.

Events

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.

How the Transitions Program Works

Eligibility

Individuals with disabilities beginning at age 14; an annual Best Buddies Consent Form, proof of disability and/or registration documentation may be required by local vocational rehabilitation agencies, where appropriate.

Educator Collaboration

Best Buddies Transitions offers students an opportunity to practice and apply career readiness and independent living skills in enriching, community-based learning experiences with support from Best Buddies staff and supporting corporate partners.

Implementation

Participants will meet with Best Buddies staff on a regularly scheduled basis to engage in one-to-one programming, small-group sessions, or classroom-style lessons on topics covered by the five Pre-ETS Components, as outlined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014:

Self-Advocacy/ Mentoring
Job Exploration Counseling
Workplace Readiness
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Post-Secondary Counseling

Leadership Development (missouri)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Missouri Chapter Listing

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

BESTBUDDIES^® Transitions

How the Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

Public Speaking

Speech Coaches

Ongoing Development

Advancement

How the Promoters Program Works

Connect

Ongoing Support

Advocate

Events

How the Transitions Program Works

Eligibility

Educator Collaboration

Implementation

Best Buddies in Missouri

Best Buddies International

Leadership Development (missouri)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Missouri Chapter Listing

BESTBUDDIES® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES® Promoters

BESTBUDDIES® Transitions

How the Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

Public Speaking

Speech Coaches

Ongoing Development

Advancement

How the Promoters Program Works

Connect

Ongoing Support

Advocate

Events

How the Transitions Program Works

Eligibility

Educator Collaboration

Implementation

Best Buddies in Missouri

Best Buddies International

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

BESTBUDDIES^® Transitions