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

Illinois Chapter Listing

To join a chapter, click a school name below

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
API address [ Rebecca Crown Center, Evanston, IL, 60208-0001, US, null, null, 42.0506265, -87.6797271, null]

Amos Alonzo Stagg High School (Palos Hills, IL)
API address [ 8015 W 111th St, Palos Hills, IL, 60465, US, null, null, 41.6878991, -87.8185898, null]
Fenwick High School (Oak Park, IL)
API address [ 505 Washington Blvd, Oak Park, IL, 60302-4005, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Manteno High School (Manteno, IL)
API address [ 443 N Maple St, Manteno, IL, 60950-1003, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Momence High School (Momence, IL)
API address [ 101 N Franklin St, Momence, IL, 60954-1453, US, null, null, null, null, null]
The Latin School of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
API address [ 59 W North Blvd, Chicago, IL, 60610-1403, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart (Lake Forest, IL)
API address [ 760 E Westleigh Rd, Lake Forest, IL, 60045, US, null, null, 42.235399, -87.829451, null]

Belvidere Central Middle School (Belvidere, IL)
API address [ 8787 Beloit Rd, Belvidere, IL, 61008, US, null, null, 42.281893, -88.8594504, null]
Beverly Manor School (Washington, IL)
API address [ 1014 School St, Washington, IL, 61571, US, null, null, 40.6923251, -89.4749561, null]
Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center (Bourbonnais, IL)
API address [ 200 W John Casey Rd, Bourbonnais, IL, 60914, US, null, null, 41.166711, -87.8778358, null]
Lake Zurich Middle School South (Lake Zurich, IL)
API address [ 435 W Cuba Rd, Lake Zurich, IL, 60047, US, null, null, 42.1743742, -88.08549620000001, null]
Leman Middle School (West Chicago, IL)
API address [ 238 E Hazel St, West Chicago, IL, 60185, US, null, null, 41.8728907, -88.20152619999999, null]
Mannheim Middle School (Melrose Park, IL)
API address [ 2600 Hyde Park Ave, Melrose Park, IL, 60164-1536, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Manteno Middle School (Manteno, IL)
API address [ 250 N Poplar St, Manteno, IL, 60950-1098, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Massac Junior High School (Metropolis, IL)
API address [ 3028 Old Marion Rd, Metropolis, IL, 62960, US, null, null, 37.1847025, -88.72227439999999, null]
Morton Junior High School (Morton, IL)
API address [ 225 E Jackson St, Morton, IL, 61550, US, null, null, 40.6132544, -89.45545659999999, null]
Roosevelt Middle School (River Forest, IL)
API address [ 7560 Oak Ave, River Forest, IL, 60305-1842, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Urbana Middle School (Urbana, IL)
API address [ 1201 S Vine St, Urbana, IL, 61801, US, null, null, 40.102963992442454, -88.2058529966538, null]

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School (Oak Park, IL)
API address [ 1111 S Grove Ave, Oak Park, IL, 60304, US, null, null, 41.8673306, -87.7949167, null]
Armstrong Elementary (East Peoria, IL)
API address [ 1848 Highview Rd, East Peoria, IL, 61611-1419, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Aviston Elementary (Aviston, IL)
API address [ 350 S Hull St, Aviston, IL, 62216, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Avoca West Elementary School (Glenview, IL)
API address [ 235 Beech Dr, Glenview, IL, 60025-3274, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Bradley West Elementary School (Bradley, IL)
API address [ 200 State St, Bradley, IL, 60915-2681, US, null, null, 41.1429312, -87.8801311, null]
Centennial Elementary School (El Paso, IL)
API address [ 135 W 5th St, El Paso, IL, 61738, US, null, null, 40.7435907, -89.01858690000002, null]
Central Elementary School (Riverside, IL)
API address [ 61 Woodside Rd, Riverside, IL, 60546-1974, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Central Grade School (Effingham, IL)
API address [ 3901 S Banker St, Effingham, IL, 62401, US, null, null, 39.0873313, -88.54816869999999, null]
Clara Peterson Elementary (Paxton, IL)
API address [ 580 E Franklin St, Paxton, IL, 60957, US, null, null, 40.4544023, -88.08873799999999, null]
Don D Shute Elementary School (East Peoria, IL)
API address [ 300 Briarbrook Dr, East Peoria, IL, 61611-4435, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Garfield Elementary School (Maywood, IL)
API address [ 1514 S 9th Ave, Maywood, IL, 60153, US, null, null, 41.8739716, -87.8440543, null]
Glendale School (East Peoria, IL)
API address [ 1000 Bloomington Rd, East Peoria, IL, 61611-2831, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Helen Keller Elementary School (Tinley Park, IL)
API address [ 7846 163rd St, Tinley Park, IL, 60477, US, null, null, 41.5961275, -87.8090663, null]
Jefferson Park Elementary School (El Paso, IL)
API address [ 250 W 3rd St, El Paso, IL, 61738, US, null, null, 40.7413447, -89.0202259, null]
Lasalle Elementary School (Creve Coeur, IL)
API address [ 300 N Highland St, Creve Coeur, IL, 61610-3135, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Lincoln Elementary (East Peoria, IL)
API address [ 801 Springfield Rd, East Peoria, IL, 61611-3366, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Maple Grade School (Hoopeston, IL)
API address [ 500 S 4th St, Hoopeston, IL, 60942, US, null, null, 40.470075000000065, -87.66461499999997, null]
North Boone Upper Elementary School (Poplar Grove, IL)
API address [ 6200 N Boone School Rd, Poplar Grove, IL, 61065-8548, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Oscar DePriest Elementary School (Chicago, IL)
API address [ 139 S Parkside Ave, Chicago, IL, 60644-3944, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Paul L. Bolin Elementary School (East Peoria, IL)
API address [ 428 Arnold Rd, East Peoria, IL, 61611-2272, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Skinner West Elementary School (Chicago, IL)
API address [ 1260 W Adams St, Chicago, IL, 60607, US, null, null, 41.8793561, -87.6591146, null]
Stratton Elementary School (Champaign, IL)
API address [ 902 N Randolph St, Champaign, IL, 61820, US, null, null, 40.1247574, -88.2445249, null]
Wayne Elementary School (Wayne, IL)
API address [ 5N443 School St, Wayne, IL, 60184, US, null, null, 41.9517608, -88.2445211, null]
Willard Elementary School (River Forest, IL)
API address [ 1250 Ashland Ave, River Forest, IL, 60305-1028, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Wilson School (East Peoria, IL)
API address [ 300 Avenue D, East Peoria, IL, 61611-1385, US, null, null, 40.746354616744235, -89.5239319451572, 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 (Illinois)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Illinois 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 Illinois

Best Buddies International

Leadership Development (Illinois)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Illinois 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 Illinois

Best Buddies International

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters