My name is Mikoyan Salganek, but my friends call me Mik. I am a Buddy, a Jobs participant, and an Ambassador for Best Buddies in New Mexico.Before Best Buddies, I was lonely and I did not have many friends. My mom had to fight for me.
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.
When sophomore Brianna Mathis was asked by her friend and Chapter President Christopher to join Best Buddies she knew it was something in which she wanted to be involved. “I wanted to join Best Buddies from the minute I heard about it. My brother, Alex, has a physical disability and […]
School Friendship Participant Courtney Kaltenbach shares her story as a member of Best Buddies and friend of Joe
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).
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.
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.