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

Maryland Chapter Listing

To join a chapter, click a school name below

Notre Dame of Maryland University (Baltimore, MD)
API address [ Meletia Hall, Baltimore, MD, 21210-2404, US, null, null, 39.3519363, -76.6218536, null]

Connelly School of the Holy Child (Potomac, MD)
API address [ 9029 Bradley Blvd, Potomac, MD, 20854-4604, US, null, null, null, null, null]
DeMatha Catholic High School (Hyattsville, MD)
API address [ 4313 Madison Street, Hyattsville, MD, 20781, US, null, null, 38.95793902173543, -76.94249986528536, null]
Gilman School (Baltimore, MD)
API address [ 5407 Roland Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21210-1930, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Loyola Blakefield High School (Towson, MD)
API address [ 500 Chestnut Ave, Towson, MD, 21204-3704, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School (Olney, MD)
API address [ 17301 Old Vic Blvd, Olney, MD, 20832-1603, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Brunswick Middle School (Brunswick, MD)
API address [ 301 Cummings Dr, Brunswick, MD, 21716, US, null, null, 39.3140607, -77.6080774, null]
Northeast Middle School (Pasadena, MD)
API address [ 7922 Outing Ave, Pasadena, MD, 21122, US, null, null, 39.1319027, -76.5485522, null]
Northern Middle School (Owings, MD)
API address [ 2954 Chaneyville Rd, Owings, MD, 20736, US, null, null, 38.6849336, -76.65355110000002, null]
Smithsburg Middle School (Smithsburg, MD)
API address [ 68 N Main St, Smithsburg, MD, 21783, US, null, null, 39.6620255, -77.57430029999999, null]

Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School (Leonardtown, MD)
API address [ 23595 Hayden Farm Ln, Leonardtown, MD, 20650, US, null, null, 38.3141772, -76.6371035, null]
Catherine T. Reed Elementary School (Lanham, MD)
API address [ 9501 Greenbelt Rd, Lanham, MD, 20706-3303, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Eva Turner Elementary School (Waldorf, MD)
API address [ 1000 Bannister Cir, Waldorf, MD, 20602-1643, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Greenview Knolls Elementary School (Great Mills, MD)
API address [ 45711 Military Ln, Great Mills, MD, 20634, US, null, null, 38.2800503, -76.4932682, null]
Holy Redeemer Catholic School (Kensington, MD)
API address [ 9715 Summit Ave, Kensington, MD, 20895-3649, US, null, null, null, null, null]
J. P. Ryon Elementary School (Waldorf, MD)
API address [ 12140 Vivian Adams Dr, Waldorf, MD, 20601-3603, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Malcolm Elementary School (Waldorf, MD)
API address [ 14760 Poplar Hill Rd, Waldorf, MD, 20601-2034, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Panorama Elementary School (Hillcrest Heights, MD)
API address [ 2002 Callaway St, Hillcrest Heights, MD, 20748-4353, US, null, null, 38.8356401, -76.96980099999999, null]
William A Diggs Elementary School (Waldorf, MD)
API address [ 2615 Davis Rd, Waldorf, MD, 20603-3823, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Winfield Elementary School (Westminster, MD)
API address [ 4401 Salem Bottom Rd, Westminster, MD, 21157-7937, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Woodfield Elementary School (Gaithersburg, MD)
API address [ 24200 Woodfield Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20882-3936, 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 (Maryland)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Maryland 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 Maryland

Best Buddies International

Leadership Development (Maryland)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Maryland 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 Maryland

Best Buddies International

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters