My name is Garrett Duke. During my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I was involved in the friendship program of Best Buddies. I thought it was a good program. After I graduated high school in 2014, I enrolled in APS Transition Services. I worked a lot on resumes, interviewing and I did some volunteer work at a community center, but I did not have much success finding a job.
The Spirit of Inclusion Awards program recognizes community members who make significant contributions to further the inclusive spirit that drives Best Buddies. The awards are based on the three pillars of the Best Buddies mission; one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
The 28th Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference was held at beautiful Indiana University in Bloomington, IN in July of this year. More than 2300 leaders from around the world came together to Bloomington, Indiana to learn, share, and be inspired.
Best Buddies Month is a time for Best Buddies participants to reflect on the importance of friendship, jobs, and the development of future leaders. Most importantly, it is a time to show the world the significance of these essentials in every individual’s life. What began in 1993 as a one-day event has become a month-long celebration of the Best Buddies mission. 2017 marks our 28th Anniversary, and we want you to celebrate the impact our friendship, jobs, and leadership development programs have had on your life.
Do you know any transition-aged students who are preparing to enter the workforce? Then please help us spread the word about Project SEARCH, an innovative school-to-work internship program that gives young adults with disabilities, ages 18-21, the opportunity to learn marketable job skills to help them gain employment.
On November 29, 2016, nearly three hundred people came together at the Albuquerque Marriott for the first ever Big Bright Breakfast.
Supporters old and new were entertained by the incomparable local meteorologist Steve Stucker, heard inspiring stories from keynote speaker actress Lauren Potter, and learned the impact of Best Buddies…
The Spirit of Inclusion Awards program recognizes community members who make significant contributions to further the inclusive spirit that drives Best Buddies. The awards are based on the three pillars of the Best Buddies mission; one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
John Baker Elementary School, New Mexico’s first Elementary Promoter’s Chapter, started off the 2016/2017 school year in ship-shape fashion!
Incredible things are happening in the Best Buddies New Mexico Jobs Programs. Take a look at all of the inclusive success the Project Search Embassy Suites team has achieved so far in the October Newsletter. To think – this is only the beginning! Congratulations to all of the participants, and to the incomparable Alex Rios for her leadership.
On Saturday, September 17, 2016, Chapter Leaders and Buddy Ambassadors came together for the Local Leadership Training Day! The thirty two attendees networked, shared ideas from their chapters, had a refresher on Best Buddies Basics and resources, were energized about the Best Buddies Friendship Walk, and learned how to put the “Fun” in “Fundraising”