This year, Best Buddies in Kentucky proudly brought 31 attendees to the 2025 Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC) — one of our largest and most impactful delegations to date.

Our delegation represented the strength and diversity of our statewide programs and included:

• 1 participant on the Ambassador Track
• 1 participant on the Parent Track
• 6 dedicated Advisors
• 23 student leaders representing both the College and High School Tracks

For more than 30 years, the Best Buddies Leadership Conference has united leaders, volunteers, advocates, and supporters from around the globe to spark bold ideas, strengthen advocacy efforts, and accelerate the inclusion movement for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The annual conference serves as a powerful gathering space where changemakers are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration needed to lead in their schools, workplaces, and communities.

Learning That Drives Impact

Throughout the conference, attendees participated in dynamic sessions led by Best Buddies staff, Global Ambassadors, and experienced field experts. These interactive workshops and presentations provided practical strategies and real-world insights that attendees can immediately apply in their local chapters.

Participants strengthened skills in:

• Event planning and fundraising execution
• Advocacy and awareness-building strategies
• Chapter growth, recruitment, and sustainability
• Leadership development and public speaking

Educational tracks were thoughtfully tailored to each role, ensuring meaningful and role-specific learning opportunities for ambassadors, advisors, parents, and student leaders alike. Whether attending breakout sessions, engaging in roundtable discussions, or collaborating in small groups, our Kentucky delegation actively contributed to conversations shaping the future of inclusion.

Growing as Leaders

Beyond skill-building, BBLC fosters personal confidence, connection, and leadership growth. Attendees built friendships with peers from across the country and gained new perspectives on advancing inclusion in creative and sustainable ways.

Our 31 Kentucky leaders returned home energized and empowered — ready to think globally, act locally, and strengthen the impact of Best Buddies programs throughout the Commonwealth.

BBLC 2025 was more than a conference — it was a transformational experience that will influence our chapters and communities for years to come.