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.

Get Involved Today

Georgia Chapter Listing

Promoters chapters

Ambassadors program

To join a chapter, click a school name below

Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA)
API address [ 225 North Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0001, US, null, null, 33.7728755, -84.394176, null]

East Paulding High School (Dallas, GA)
API address [ 3320 E Paulding Dr, Dallas, GA, 30157, US, null, null, 33.93917200000001, -84.745683, null]
Marietta High School (Marietta, GA)
API address [ 1171 Whitlock Ave NW, Marietta, GA, 30064, US, null, null, 33.9484012, -84.5860392, null]
Pope High School (Marietta, GA)
API address [ 3001 Hembree Rd NE, Marietta, GA, 30062, US, null, null, 34.0246236, -84.4521668, null]
Rutland High School (Macon, GA)
API address [ 6250 Skipper Rd, Macon, GA, 31216-6104, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Winder Barrow High School (Winder, GA)
API address [ 272 N 5th Ave, Winder, GA, 30680, US, null, null, 34.0041142, -83.7286508, null]

7 Pillars Career Academy (Morrow, GA)
API address [ 2299 Old Rex Morrow Rd, Morrow, GA, 30260, US, null, null, 33.5938501, -84.3139762, null]
Campbell Middle School (Smyrna, GA)
API address [ 3295 Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna, GA, 30080-8258, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Blandford Elementary School (Rincon, GA)
API address [ 4650 McCall Rd, Rincon, GA, 31326, US, null, null, 32.2601594, -81.24343979999999, null]
Ebenezer Elementary School (Rincon, GA)
API address [ 1198 Ebenezer Rd, Rincon, GA, 31326, US, null, null, 32.3477507, -81.2251191, null]
Guyton Elementary School (Guyton, GA)
API address [ 719 Central Blvd, Guyton, GA, 31312, US, null, null, 32.3395478, -81.39896279999999, null]
Heritage Elementary (Macon, GA)
API address [ 6050 Thomaston Rd, Macon, GA, 31220, US, null, null, 32.8428125, -83.7582132, null]
North Tattnall Elementary School (Collins, GA)
API address [ 26268 GA-23, Collins, GA, 30421, US, null, null, 32.135942966996, -82.120421308897, null]
Rincon Elementary School (Rincon, GA)
API address [ 1703 Fort Howard Rd, Rincon, GA, 31326, US, null, null, 32.2963151, -81.2045448, null]
Rosa Taylor Elementary (Macon, GA)
API address [ 2976 Crestline Dr, Macon, GA, 31204-1237, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Sand Hill Elementary School (Guyton, GA)
API address [ 199 Stagecoach Ave, Guyton, GA, 31312, US, null, null, 32.221614998868, -81.399524994846, null]
Springdale Elementary School (Macon, GA)
API address [ 4965 Northside Dr, Macon, GA, 31210, US, null, null, 32.9048965, -83.7207749, null]
Springfield Elementary School (Springfield, GA)
API address [ 300 Old Dixie Hwy S, Springfield, GA, 31329, US, null, null, 32.3822534, -81.3197417, null]
Union Elementary (Macon, GA)
API address [ 4831 Mamie Carter Dr, Macon, GA, 31210-5650, 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 (Georgia)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Georgia 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 Georgia

Best Buddies International

Leadership Development (Georgia)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Georgia 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 Georgia

Best Buddies International

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters