Best Buddies Young Leaders Council Trains Next Generation of Leaders

Miami, FL, March 8, 2024 — Nathan Moldavsky never expected to be here.

The 19-year-old college freshman never thought that his participation in his high school’s Best Buddies Friendship chapter, a program of Best Buddies International, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), would result in him becoming one of the most recognized leaders in the organization and an incoming co-chair of the Best Buddies Young Leaders Council (YLC).

“I’ve always been drawn to the Best Buddies’ mission,” Moldavsky, who has two family members with IDD, said. “I never really expected that my involvement would lead me here, but I was so glad that this is where I ended up.”

Nathan and Margo — Nathan Moldavsky (left) with 2022-2024 YLC co-chair Margo Meley.

This opportunity was made possible for Moldavsky and 37 other esteemed leaders through their participation in the YLC, which is a “diverse group of leaders of all abilities who bridge the gap between the participant perspective and staff experience…[through] conceptualizing, designing and executing initiatives.”

The YLC was founded in 2012. Members with and without IDD are recruited from Best Buddies programs worldwide to participate in the selective group. Membership in the YLC lasts two years, while members elected to a leadership position serve five years.

The YLC boasts a diverse and impressive cohort. Members from the council reside in 14 states in the U.S., and two members come from abroad — one from Canada and one from France. During the 2022-23 term, out of the 24 members on the council, four of them led Friendship chapters that were within the top five of Best Buddies Friendship Walk fundraising, three were previously recognized as Chapter President of the Year, three led chapters that were once awarded Most Outstanding Chapter, two were recognized as Champions of Inclusion, one was recognized as the Best Buddies Employee of the Year and one earned the highest award a participant can receive from Best Buddies — the Spirit of Courage Award.

Additionally, 11 of the members were or are chapter presidents, six were or are State Ambassadors and two were or are Global Ambassadors. The alumni network is also strong, with former YLC members going on to become Ambassadors or join Best Buddies as full-time staff.

“The YLC is a great mix of leaders, but I think what is even more impressive is how the members of the council all bring in years and years of experience volunteering and working with Best Buddies,” William McClennan, a former member of the YLC, said. “I was blown away by my peers and tried my best to keep up with all the amazing stuff my fellow YLC members were accomplishing.”

Since its inception, the YLC has grown rapidly in size and scope, with its members gaining more autonomy and taking on larger “initiatives” to forward the organization. These initiatives are projects that seek to tangibly improve Best Buddies and range anywhere from fundraising programs to employer outreach. Currently, the YLC has seven initiatives in progress.

“As a person whose disability includes a mobility device, I am thankful that the YLC has chosen me to be a leader,” Vanessa Ocana, the upcoming YLC chair, said.

Vanessa_Maddie — Vanessa Ocana (left) with 2022-2024 YLC co-chair Maddie Quigley.

One of the most successful initiatives, the Student Advisory Board (SAB), is led by Avelyn Garlish, a former member of the North Texas SAB and a first-year YLC member. SABs are essentially mini-YLCs – groups of student leaders who bridge the gap between local student volunteers and statewide staff. Currently, the YLC supports 14 SABs across nine states.

“SABs are tailored to the region where they are located and fill the gaps in Best Buddies student programming, whether it’s helping with local networking, providing leadership training or giving a glimpse into what higher-level leadership looks like at Best Buddies,” Garlish said. “I love seeing the leaders we impact, and I love seeing them shine in ways that make them feel confident.”

The YLC also provides its members – and chapter leaders — with opportunities for leadership development and networking to set them up for future success. One such example is the Specialist Night, where student leaders from around the world meet with YLC members to learn how to run a successful chapter.

“I’ve learned how to reach out to people, present myself in a professional manner and make a lot of connections,” Garlish said. “I have grown so much in my leadership, and the YLC has given me the strength and the tools to go out and fight for inclusion.”

Moldavsky, whose term as the YLC co-chair begins next year, has high hopes for the future of the program.

“It’s been an incredible journey to get up to this point,” Moldavsky said. “I can’t wait to see what is next.”

YLC applications open in July to Best Buddies members worldwide.

“If your heart is on fire for inclusion, this is the right place for you,” Garlish said. “We can never have too many leaders that fight for inclusion in Best Buddies, and I really feel like the YLC is a place for everyone.”

To learn more about the YLC, read their yearly reports or visit their website.

About Best Buddies
Best Buddies^® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ 12 formal programs — Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters, Transitions, Inclusive Living and Eunie’s Buddies— engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 45 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly one million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit bestbuddies.org or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.