Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represents one of our organization’s four key mission pillars. The programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates. Best Buddies passionately believes that its program participants can lead the effort within their community and beyond to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD.

Join a Program or Volunteer

California Chapter Listing

To join a chapter, click a school name below

Academy of our Lady of Peace (San Diego, CA)
API address [ 4860 Oregon St, San Diego, CA, 92116, US, null, null, 32.7649853, -117.1357587, null]
Beaumont High School (Cherry Valley, CA)
API address [ 39139 Cherry Valley Blvd, Cherry Valley, CA, 92223-4484, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Capistrano Valley High School (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
API address [ 26301 Via Escolar, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92692, US, null, null, 33.5417264, -117.6697959, null]
Crescenta Valley High School (La Crescenta-Montrose, CA)
API address [ 2900 Community Ave, La Crescenta-Montrose, CA, 91214-3471, US, null, null, 34.2238176, -118.2432057, null]
David Starr Jordan High School (Long Beach, CA)
API address [ 6500 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA, 90805-2304, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Geffen Academy at UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)
API address [ Kinross Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90024-2000, US, null, null, 34.0593389, -118.4468107, null]
Glen A. Wilson High School (La Puente, CA)
API address [ 16455 Wedgeworth Dr, La Puente, CA, 91745-3045, US, null, null, 33.9976707, -117.937034, null]
Granite Hills High School (Apple Valley, CA)
API address [ 22900 Esaws Ave, Apple Valley, CA, 92307-4305, US, null, null, 34.5090161, -117.1664555, null]
Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles, CA)
API address [ 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 91604-2301, US, null, null, 34.1396191, -118.4127859, null]
Irvine High School (Irvine, CA)
API address [ 4321 Walnut Ave, Irvine, CA, 92604, US, null, null, 33.7020786, -117.7828719, null]
JSerra Catholic High School (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
API address [ 26351 Junipero Serra Rd, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, US, null, null, 33.5162399, -117.669586, null]
La Canada High School (La Cañada Flintridge, CA)
API address [ Hotchkin Family Gymnasium, La Cañada Flintridge, CA, 91011-3738, US, null, null, 34.19200980000001, -118.1789146, null]
Larchmont Charter School - Lafayette (Los Angeles, CA)
API address [ 2801 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA, 90057-3113, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Long Beach Polytechnic High School (Long Beach, CA)
API address [ 1600 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA, 90813-2017, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Los Osos High School (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
API address [ 6001 Milliken Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91737-7709, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Malibu High School (Malibu, CA)
API address [ 30215 Morning View Dr, Malibu, CA, 90265-3616, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Marin Academy (San Rafael, CA)
API address [ 1600 Mission Ave, San Rafael, CA, 94901-1813, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Marlborough School (Los Angeles, CA)
API address [ 250 S Rossmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90004, US, null, null, 34.0698883, -118.3267909, null]
Norte Vista High School (Riverside, CA)
API address [ 6585 Crest Ave, Riverside, CA, 92503-1102, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Oakwood Secondary School (Los Angeles, CA)
API address [ 11600 Magnolia Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 91601-3015, US, null, null, 34.1647321, -118.3847104, null]
Orange County School of the Arts (Santa Ana, CA)
API address [ 1010 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA, 92701, US, null, null, 33.7539252, -117.8680001, null]
Pacific Ridge School (Carlsbad, CA)
API address [ 6269 El Fuerte St, Carlsbad, CA, 92009, US, null, null, 33.1227671, -117.2501127, null]
Rancho Cucamonga High School (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
API address [ 11801 Lark Dr, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91701, US, null, null, 34.1322732, -117.5487821, null]
Santiago High School (Corona, CA)
API address [ 1395 E Foothill Pkwy, Corona, CA, 92881-0996, US, null, null, 33.8356908, -117.5458469, null]
The Buckley School (Los Angeles, CA)
API address [ 3900 Stansbury Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 91423-4618, US, null, null, 34.139541, -118.4435984, null]
Villa Park High School (Villa Park, CA)
API address [ 18042 Taft Ave, Villa Park, CA, 92861-4148, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Goddard Middle School (Glendora, CA)
API address [ 859 E Sierra Madre Ave, Glendora, CA, 91741-2858, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Cameron Ranch Elementary School (Carmichael, CA)
API address [ 4333 Hackberry Ln, Carmichael, CA, 95608, US, null, null, 38.6438919, -121.3335701, null]
Chaparral Elementary School (Poway, CA)
API address [ 17250 Tannin Dr, Poway, CA, 92064, US, null, null, 33.023695, -117.05171, null]
Cram Elementary School (Highland, CA)
API address [ 29700 Water St, Highland, CA, 92346, US, null, null, 34.1176779, -117.1555191, null]
ER Taylor Elementary School (San Francisco, CA)
API address [ 423 Burrows St, San Francisco, CA, 94134, US, null, null, 37.7274393, -122.4071003, null]
Foster City Elementary School (Foster City, CA)
API address [ 461 Beach Park Blvd, Foster City, CA, 94404-2713, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Killybrooke Elementary School (Costa Mesa, CA)
API address [ 3155 Killybrooke Ln, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, US, null, null, 33.68536699269217, -117.91523597106115, null]
Lemon Crest Elementary School (Lakeside, CA)
API address [ 12463 Lemon Crest Dr, Lakeside, CA, 92040, US, null, null, 32.8515895, -116.9207202, null]
Palisades Elementary School (Dana Point, CA)
API address [ 26462 Via Sacramento, Dana Point, CA, 92624, US, null, null, 33.4617134, -117.6672499, null]
Prisk Elementary (Long Beach, CA)
API address [ 2375 Fanwood Ave, Long Beach, CA, 90815-2114, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (Anaheim, CA)
API address [ 504 E South St, Anaheim, CA, 92805-5338, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Westside Elementary School (Thermal, CA)
API address [ 82225 Airport Blvd, Thermal, CA, 92274-9714, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Is your school not listed? Click here for info on how to start a chapter.

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

Offers people with and without IDD the opportunity to gain the public speaking skills, self-esteem and confidence needed to successfully advocate for themselves, their peers and Best Buddies in communities, workplaces and government.

Attend a Training

Host a Training

Male Buddy Ambassador speaking at an event podium

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

Empowers youth to become advocates for people with IDD and help open new Best Buddies chapters and programs by organizing special events that promote awareness to the disability rights movement.

Join a chapter

Group of Promoter Chapter members playing football on a field

How The Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

When a Best Buddies participant joins the Ambassador program, they enter into a series of group and private training in speech writing and public and conversational speaking to become advocates for themselves and the disability rights movement.

Public Speaking

Once trained, Ambassadors work with Best Buddies staff to identify public speaking opportunities in their local community, where they can share their personal stories with Best Buddies chapters, businesses, legislators, interest groups and donors.

Speech Coaches

Each Ambassador is paired with a speech coach, who helps them brainstorm, organize, write, edit and practice a speech and provides one-on-one attention as needed.

Ongoing Development

Throughout their participation in the program, Ambassadors have access to a variety of ongoing advocacy trainings led by Best Buddies staff.

Advancement

As Ambassadors gain advocacy experience in conversational and public speaking, they have the opportunity to grow into a State or Global Ambassador where they may be invited to speak nationally or internationally on behalf of Best Buddies.

How The Promoters Program Works

Connect

Students attending a school without a special education program can join a Promoters chapter to develop connections with people with IDD, or can start one by contacting their local Best Buddies state office.

Ongoing Support

Each Promoters chapter is led by a President from the student body and a Faculty Advisor, and is assigned a Best Buddies staff person who offers regular support and guidance.

Advocate

Once formed, Promoters chapters host events, activities, fundraisers and assemblies where they advocate for people with IDD, educate the public about inclusion and promote the ideals of the Best Buddies mission.

Events

Throughout the school year, Best Buddies encourages all Promoters chapters to host as many activities as possible (minimum of 4) on and off campus that are inclusive of people with IDD.

Leadership Development (California)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

California Chapter Listing

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

How The Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

Public Speaking

Speech Coaches

Ongoing Development

Advancement

How The Promoters Program Works

Connect

Ongoing Support

Advocate

Events

Best Buddies in California

Best Buddies International

Leadership Development (California)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

California Chapter Listing

BESTBUDDIES® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES® Promoters

How The Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

Public Speaking

Speech Coaches

Ongoing Development

Advancement

How The Promoters Program Works

Connect

Ongoing Support

Advocate

Events

Best Buddies in California

Best Buddies International

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters