{"id":2850,"date":"2024-12-09T10:52:39","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T15:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/?p=2850"},"modified":"2024-12-20T16:52:25","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T21:52:25","slug":"meet-lonnie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/meet-lonnie\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Lonnie"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Meet Lonnie<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Spotlight: Best Buddies Jobs participant<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Lonnie\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Lonnie, a Chicago native works 20-30 hours a week in his dream job thanks to his involvement in the Best Buddies Jobs program. Watch below to learn more about his inspiring story.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Lonnie\u2019s journey is a testament to the power of inclusion. Diagnosed with autism at age three, he discovered an early passion for music, excelling in both piano and cello. With determination, he graduated from The Chicago High School for the Arts and went on to earn a BA in Music from St. Xavier University.\u00a0<\/p>

Despite his musical achievements, Lonnie faced communication barriers that made interviewing for full-time employment a challenge. That\u2019s when Best Buddies stepped in, offering guidance with his resume, applications, and interview preparation. With the help of the Jobs program, Lonnie secured a position at the Lyric Opera, where he discovered more than just a job; he also found a supportive community. Over the past two years, Lonnie\u2019s confidence has soared, and he takes great pride in his meaningful contributions to the workforce.<\/p>

Help more people with IDD find their dream job. Give the gift of employment today.\u00a0Your support makes inclusion in the workforce possible.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
A matched rivalry in giving. <\/br>Support Best Buddies this holiday season.<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSupport Your State<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Your Support Transforms Lives<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"Sandy<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMeet Sandy\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

A passionate a advocate and mother of two.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"Andres\"<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMeet Andres\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

A Best Buddies Living resident and advocate for inclusion.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"Fran<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMeet Fran\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Best Buddies Global Ambassador, Board Member, Jobs participant, and talented rapper.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"Lonnie<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMeet Lonnie\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

A Chicago native who works 20-30 hours a week in his dream job.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"Hunter<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMeet Hunter Huff\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

My life before joining this organization was very challenging. It was hard for me to make friends.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\"Josh<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMeet Josh Felder\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

I am showing the world that my Disability is actually my \u2018Superpower\u2019.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Chicago native who works 20-30 hours a week in his dream job.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":2854,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-best-buddies-participants"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2850"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2850\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3021,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2850\/revisions\/3021"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/stateshowdown\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}