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

Massachusetts & Rhode Island Chapter Listings

To join a chapter in Massachusetts, click the school name below

Advanced Math & Science Academy (Marlborough, MA)
API address [ 201 Forest St, Marlborough, MA, 01752-3012, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Arlington Catholic High School (Arlington, MA)
API address [ 16 Medford St, Arlington, MA, 02474, US, null, null, 42.4155003, -71.1507002, null]
Austin Preparatory School (Reading, MA)
API address [ 101 Willow St, Reading, MA, 01867-1551, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Bishop Fenwick High School (Peabody, MA)
API address [ 99 Margin St, Peabody, MA, 01960-1846, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Buckingham, Browne and Nichols School (Cambridge, MA)
API address [ 80 Gerrys Landing Rd, Cambridge, MA, 02138-5504, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Cohasset Middle/High School (Cohasset, MA)
API address [ 143 Pond St, Cohasset, MA, 02025-1919, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Dexter Southfield School (Brookline, MA)
API address [ 20 Newton St, Brookline, MA, 02445, US, null, null, 42.3084253, -71.1384459, null]
Newton South High School (Newton Centre, MA)
API address [ 140 Brandeis Rd, Newton Centre, MA, 02459-2745, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Saint Johns Preparatory School (Danvers, MA)
API address [ 72 Spring St, Danvers, MA, 01923-1545, US, null, null, null, null, null]
The Academy at Penguin Hall (Wenham, MA)
API address [ 36 Essex St, Wenham, MA, 01984-1710, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Westford Academy (Westford, MA)
API address [ 30 Patten Rd, Westford, MA, 01886-2911, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Worcester Academy (Worcester, MA)
API address [ 81 Providence St, Worcester, MA, 01604-4203, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Amherst Middle School (Amherst, MA)
API address [ 170 Chestnut St, Amherst, MA, 01002-1825, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Dr Arthur F Sullivan Middle School (Worcester, MA)
API address [ 140 Apricot St, Worcester, MA, 01603-1225, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Gates Middle School (Scituate, MA)
API address [ 327 First Parish Rd, Scituate, MA, 02066-3860, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Gibbons Middle School (Westborough, MA)
API address [ 20 Fisher St, Westborough, MA, 01581-1833, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Hopkinton Middle School (Hopkinton, MA)
API address [ 88 Hayden Rowe St, Hopkinton, MA, 01748-2508, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Saint Columbkille (Brighton, MA)
API address [ 25 Arlington St, Brighton, MA, 02135-2124, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Silver Lake Regional Middle School (Kingston, MA)
API address [ 256 Pembroke St, Kingston, MA, 02364-1066, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Walsh Middle School (Framingham, MA)
API address [ 301 Brook St, Framingham, MA, 01701-4371, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Bournedale Elementary (Bourne, MA)
API address [ 41 Ernest Valeri Rd, Bourne, MA, 02532-5682, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Erin's Chapter at Millbury Street Elementary School (Grafton, MA)
API address [ 105 Millbury St, Grafton, MA, 01519-1097, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Forestdale School (Forestdale, MA)
API address [ 151 Route 130, Forestdale, MA, 02644-1130, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Gerald M. Parmenter Elementary School (Franklin, MA)
API address [ 235 Wachusett St, Franklin, MA, 02038-2416, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Helen Keller Elementary School (Franklin, MA)
API address [ 500 Lincoln St, Franklin, MA, 02038-1530, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Jenkins (Older) Elementary (Scituate, MA)
API address [ 266 Tilden Rd, Scituate, MA, 02066-2714, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Jenkins Early Elementary School (Scituate, MA)
API address [ 54 Vinal Ave, Scituate, MA, 02066-4226, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Oak Ridge School (East Sandwich, MA)
API address [ 260 Quaker Meeting House Rd, East Sandwich, MA, 02537-1372, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Parthum Elementary School (Lawrence, MA)
API address [ 255 E Haverhill St, Lawrence, MA, 01841-1487, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Riverside Elementary School (Danvers, MA)
API address [ 95 Liberty St, Danvers, MA, 01923-3306, US, null, null, null, null, null]

To join a chapter in Rhode Island, click the school name below

Times Squared Academy (Providence, RI)
API address [ 50 Fillmore St, Providence, RI, 02908-3105, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Wheeler School (Providence, RI)
API address [ 216 Hope St, Providence, RI, 02906-2214, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Anthony Carnevale Elementary School (Providence, RI)
API address [ 50 Springfield St, Providence, RI, 02909-5831, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Elizabeth Baldwin Elementary School (Pawtucket, RI)
API address [ 50 Whitman St, Pawtucket, RI, 02860-4948, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Emma G. Whiteknact Elementary School (East Providence, RI)
API address [ 261 Grosvenor Ave, East Providence, RI, 02914-3617, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Glen Hills Elementary School (Cranston, RI)
API address [ 50 Glen Hills Dr, Cranston, RI, 02920-4527, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Hampden Meadows Elementary School (Barrington, RI)
API address [ 297 New Meadow Rd, Barrington, RI, 02806, US, null, null, 41.7541444, -71.3023616, null]
Henry J. Winters Elementary School (Pawtucket, RI)
API address [ 481 Broadway, Pawtucket, RI, 02860-1343, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Kent Heights Elementary School (East Providence, RI)
API address [ 2680 Pawtucket Ave, East Providence, RI, 02914-3349, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Saylesville Elementary School (Lincoln, RI)
API address [ 50 Woodland St, Lincoln, RI, 02865-2800, 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.

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.

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Massachusetts & Rhode Island Chapter Listings

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 MA & RI

Best Buddies International

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Massachusetts & Rhode Island Chapter Listings

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 MA & RI

Best Buddies International

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters