The Young Leaders Council (YLC) is a diverse group of leaders of all abilities who bridge the gap between the participant perspective and staff experience for Best Buddies International initiatives.
These leaders conceptualize, design, and execute unique initiatives that apply to all aspects of the Best Buddies ecosystem: One-to-One Friendships, Leadership Development, Integrated Employment and Inclusive Living. The YLC is dedicated to the education, engagement, and empowerment of leaders in Best Buddies through peer-to-peer support and innovation.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The YLC provides the opportunity to network with leaders, participants and staff across the international Best Buddies community. This program instills the essentials of professional etiquette as members demonstrate themselves as both leaders and individuals with inspirational character.
The YLC is a hybrid (online and in person modal) project-based leadership development program for any participants in Best Buddies who are wanting to further their skills while making an international impact on Best Buddies and the intellectual and developmental disability community.
Members serve a 2-year term working on a minimum of two group initiatives throughout their tenure. Each initiative group has an estimated 8 months to reach their goals that were identified by the group at the beginning of the year. Members collaborate with each other and Best Buddies staff to achieve their goals. At the end of the initiative cycle members present their project results to their state staff and Best Buddies International staff affiliated with the project themes.
An initiative group is created by the members of the YLC to further the special interests of the organization.
The initiative works collaboratively for 8 months to achieve long-term goals that were designed at the start of the term.
Members of the initiative present their analysis and recommendations to affiliated Best Buddies International staff and their state staff.
Throughout a member’s term they will be asked to attend local, state and national Best Buddies events. This includes but is not limited to, Leadership Conference, Local Leadership Training Day, Champion of the Year Gala, Back 2 Best Buddies and Friendship Walk.
TERM TIMELINE
A member’s term is 2 consecutive years. If an applicant is accepted to be a member of the YLC but does not complete their full term they are ineligible for YLC leadership opportunities, membership as a YLC alumni and unable to reapply. All members have the opportunity to run for council leadership within their term (Chair or Co-Chair). The YLC leadership positions extend a member’s tenure on the council by 3 years (1 year of transition and 2 years in the role). The max an individual can serve on the YLC is 5 years.
- Members officially start their term in September at Council Camp (training)
- Members join their initiative for the year (October)
- Members attend their state/local Champion of the Year – Gala (October/November)
- Work collaboratively with members on the initiative to achieve the groups goals (October – May)
- Members support state/local staff with Back 2 Best Buddies (January)
- Members attend their state/local Friendship Walk (spring)
- Members present their initiative report to their State Directors and BBI staff (May)
- Members attend and assist staff with Best Buddies International: Leadership Conference (July)
- YLC conducts annual application cycle. Members gain experience scoring applications and conducting interviews (July – August)
- Members assist in leading their state/local Leadership Conference (August/September)
EXPECTATIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS
- All members are expected to attend the annual in-person Best Buddies Leadership Conference
- Members are responsible for the goals set by the council and their initiatives
- Expected to fulfill all responsibilities set forth by the council and initiatives
- We expect active participation with all events/meetings hosted by the council or the initiative
- All members of the initiative should be providing an equal contribution
- Attendance at all council wide (Leadership Development) meetings is expected – If you are unable to attend a meeting or event, we expect members to inform YLC leadership prior to the start of the event/meeting. No shows are unacceptable.
- To serve your full 2-year term in its entirety
QUALIFICATIONS
- An active participant in a Best Buddies chapter (High school, College or Citizens)
- Has at least 1 year of leadership experience in a Best Buddies program (i.e., One-to-one Friendship chapter leader, Ambassador, Student Advisory Board member)
- International Applicants (outside the United States):
- Active participant in a Best Buddies program
- Leadership experience within Best Buddies
- Able to speak and write in English
INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THE YLC?
Talk to your Best Buddies staff about your interest in the YLC. The application period occurs once a year and will reopen on Monday, July, 15 2024.