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Friendship (Minnesota)

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One-to-One Friendship Programs

Best Buddies Friendship programs represent one of our organization’s four key mission pillars.  These programs build one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social interactions while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Through their participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals enjoy.

Join a Chapter
Two participants walking down street together

BESTBUDDIES® Elementary Schools

Builds connections and community between young students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through inclusive activities and social-emotional learning tools that promote one-to-one friendship, acceptance, and interaction at an early age.

Join a chapter
two young best buddies participants with their arms over each others shoulders

BESTBUDDIES® Middle Schools

Fosters one-to-one friendships between middle school students with and without IDD, in which they share interests, experiences, and activities. Students with IDD are often isolated and left out of social activities. Best Buddies Middle Schools helps to create an inclusive middle school culture for all students early on in their educational development.

Join a chapter
two middle school participants smiling

BESTBUDDIES® High Schools

Fosters one-to-one friendships between high school students with and without IDD. In this time of heightened social and emotional development that can be difficult even for teenagers without IDD, the Best Buddies High Schools program helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life.

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Two female High school students standing back to back and smiling

BESTBUDDIES® Colleges

Fosters one-to-one friendships between college students without IDD and their peers on campus or in the community with IDD. Young adults with IDD historically have been isolated at home or in work environments. The Best Buddies Colleges program is changing this by providing the opportunity for people with IDD to be involved in their local campus and community life.

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two college program participants hugging

BESTBUDDIES® Citizens

Supports the development of friendships between adults with and without IDD in corporate and civic communities. Many people with IDD have limited opportunities for social interactions after they leave the school environment. This program helps people with IDD become part of mainstream society and creates an inclusive and diverse community for all.

Join a program
Two male citizen program members flexing their muscles

e-Buddies ®

e-Buddies provides opportunities for volunteers with and without IDD to develop friendships online and create connections using the power of technology. The program provides the opportunity for members to connect through the e-Buddies social platform, which is designed to expand friendships and create shared experiences through virtual social events. Anyone age 13 and older can participate in e-Buddies. Our program is available throughout the United States and internationally for English-speaking people.

More Info
two ebuddies participants at a computer

How our Friendship programs Work

Matching

A participant with IDD is paired with a person without IDD based on location and shared interest for at least one year of friendship. For school programs, matches typically start at the beginning of the school year.

Meet-ups

Participating in activities and spending quality in-person time together at least twice a month is suggested for buddy pairs of all ages.

Events

Best Buddies Offices and Chapters plan events, host group activities, support friendship matches and are available for onsite support.

Communication

Buddy pairs connect at least once a week by email, phone call, texting, social media or written correspondence.

Email

For e-Buddies, participants communicate via email at least once a week for a year.

Monitoring

Best Buddies staff members maintain regular contact with Friendship program participants to ensure the quality of matched pairs.

Minnesota Chapter Listing

Filter by
radius-pinElementary Schools middle-schools-pinMiddle Schoolshigh-schools-pinHigh Schools colleges-pinColleges radius-pin  Citizens program
To join a chapter, click a school name below
Elementary Schools
  • Chanhassen Elementary (Chanhassen, MN)

    API address [ 7600 Laredo Dr, Chanhassen, MN, 55317, US, null, null, 44.8647253, -93.53715580000001, null]

  • Clear Springs Elementary School (Minnetonka, MN)

    API address [ 5701 County Rd 101, Minnetonka, MN, 55345, US, null, null, 44.9004905, -93.5105327, null]

  • Excelsior Elementary School (Excelsior, MN)

    API address [ 441 Oak St, Excelsior, MN, 55331, US, null, null, 44.89944070000001, -93.56806279999999, null]

  • Fieldstone Elementary (Saint Michael, MN)

    API address [ 5255 Jansen Avenue Northeast, Saint Michael, MN, 55376, US, null, null, 45.2304551, -93.68842330000001, null]

  • Heart of the Lakes Elementary (Perham, MN)

    API address [ 810 2nd Ave SW, Perham, MN, 56573, US, null, null, 46.5876986, -95.5811307, null]

  • Highland Elementary School (Apple Valley, MN)

    API address [ 14001 Pilot Knob Rd, Apple Valley, MN, 55124, US, null, null, 44.7445618, -93.1787504, null]

  • Lincoln Elementary (Owatonna, MN)

    API address [ 747 Havana Road, Owatonna, MN, 55060, US, null, null, 44.0724938, -93.20952319999999, null]

  • McAuliffe Elementary (Hastings, MN)

    API address [ 1601 12th Street West, Hastings, MN, 55033, US, null, null, 44.7356351, -92.8856162, null]

  • McKinley Elementary (Owatonna, MN)

    API address [ 1050 22nd Street Northeast, Owatonna, MN, 55060, US, null, null, 44.1078495, -93.2039868, null]

  • Palmer Lake Elementary (Brooklyn Park, MN)

    API address [ 7300 Palmer Lake Drive West, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55429, US, null, null, 45.0884981, -93.3245885, null]

  • Spero Academy (Minneapolis, MN)

    API address [ 2701 California St NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55418, US, null, null, 45.0174346, -93.2685702, null]

  • Washington Elementary School (Owatonna, MN)

    API address [ 423 14th St NE, Owatonna, MN, 55060, US, null, null, 44.0984365, -93.21775509999999, null]

Middle Schools
  • Black Hawk Middle School (Eagan, MN)

    API address [ 1540 Deerwood Dr, Eagan, MN, 55122, US, null, null, 44.8093205, -93.17498499999999, null]

  • Central Middle School (Eden Prairie, MN)

    API address [ 8025 School Road, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344, US, null, null, 44.8571308, -93.4763996, null]

  • Forest Lake Area Middle School (Forest Lake, MN)

    API address [ 21395 Goodview Avenue North, Forest Lake, MN, 55025, US, null, null, 45.2596773, -92.9735252, null]

  • Kellogg Middle School (Rochester, MN)

    API address [ 503 17th Street Northeast, Rochester, MN, 55906, US, null, null, 44.041401, -92.45511289999999, null]

  • Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka, MN)

    API address [ 17000 Lake Street Extension, Minnetonka, MN, 55345, US, null, null, 44.9288256, -93.4955147, null]

  • Minnetonka Middle School West (Excelsior, MN)

    API address [ 6421 Hazeltine Blvd, Excelsior, MN, 55331, US, null, null, 44.8861332, -93.5807947, null]

  • Owatonna Middle School (Owatonna, MN)

    API address [ 500 15th St NE, Owatonna, MN, 55060, US, null, null, 44.1003818, -93.21453629999999, null]

  • Prairie Wind Middle School (Perham, MN)

    API address [ 480 Coney St W, Perham, MN, 56573, US, null, null, 46.5871871, -95.5827887, null]

  • Rosemount Middle School (Rosemount, MN)

    API address [ 3135 143rd St W, Rosemount, MN, 55068, US, null, null, 44.7425559, -93.1293527, null]

  • St. Anthony Middle School (Minneapolis, MN)

    API address [ 3303 33rd Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55418, US, null, null, 45.029121, -93.21468259999999, null]

High Schools
  • Cooper High School (New Hope, MN)

    API address [ 8230 47th Ave N, New Hope, MN, 55428, US, null, null, 45.0412927, -93.3845948, null]

  • Delano High School (Delano, MN)

    API address [ 700 Elm Ave E, Delano, MN, 55328-8236, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Eastview High School (Apple Valley, MN)

    API address [ 6200 140th St W, Apple Valley, MN, 55124-3328, US, null, null, 44.7443634, -93.1914864, null]

  • Hastings High School (Hastings, MN)

    API address [ 200 General Sieben Dr, Hastings, MN, 55033, US, null, null, 44.7443073, -92.8906241, null]

  • Highland Park Senior High School (Saint Paul, MN)

    API address [ 1015 Snelling Avenue South, Saint Paul, MN, 55116, US, null, null, 44.909962, -93.16839619999999, null]

  • Hopkins High School (Hopkins, MN)

    API address [ 2400 Royals Drive, Hopkins, MN, 55305, US, null, null, 44.95778929999999, -93.41259, null]

  • Lakeville North High School (Lakeville, MN)

    API address [ 19600 Ipava Ave, Lakeville, MN, 55044-7241, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Maple Grove Senior High (Maple Grove, MN)

    API address [ 9800 Fernbrook Lane North, Maple Grove, MN, 55369, US, null, null, 45.1326842, -93.45965149999999, null]

  • Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka, MN)

    API address [ 18301 MN-7, Minnetonka, MN, 55345-4114, US, null, null, 44.9091608, -93.51076959999999, null]

  • Mounds View Senior High (Arden Hills, MN)

    API address [ 1900 Lake Valentine Rd, Arden Hills, MN, 55112-2841, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Northfield High School (Northfield, MN)

    API address [ 1400 Division St S, Northfield, MN, 55057, US, null, null, 44.4448094, -93.1640042, null]

  • Owatonna High School (Owatonna, MN)

    API address [ 1455 SE 18th St, Owatonna, MN, 55060, US, null, null, 44.0660433, -93.2007444, null]

  • Park High School (Cottage Grove, MN)

    API address [ 8040 80th Street South, Cottage Grove, MN, 55016, US, null, null, 44.8347962, -92.9419909, null]

  • Perham High School (Perham, MN)

    API address [ 800 Coney St W, Perham, MN, 56573, US, null, null, 46.5888318, -95.59072979999999, null]

  • Robbinsdale Armstrong High School (Minneapolis, MN)

    API address [ 10635 36th Ave N, Minneapolis, MN, 55441-2410, US, null, null, 45.0197176, -93.4180284, null]

  • Rosemount High School (Rosemount, MN)

    API address [ 3335 142nd St W, Rosemount, MN, 55068, US, null, null, 44.74500399999999, -93.1335065, null]

  • Zimmerman High School (Zimmerman, MN)

    API address [ 25900 4th St W, Zimmerman, MN, 55398, US, null, null, 45.44174940000001, -93.59371410000001, null]

Colleges
  • Hamline University (Saint Paul, MN)

    API address [ 1536 Hewitt Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55104, US, null, null, 44.9657315, -93.1653529, null]

  • University of Minnesota - Rochester (Rochester, MN)

    API address [ 111 Broadway Ave S, Rochester, MN, 55904, US, null, null, 44.02234989999999, -92.4634719, null]

  • University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN)

    API address [ Morrill Hall, Minneapolis, MN, 55455-0149, US, null, null, 44.9758602, -93.23451089999999, null]

Citizens
  • Mower County Citizens (Austin, MN)

    API address [ 401 2nd Ave NE, Austin, MN, 55912, US, null, null, 43.6687828, -92.9700052, null]

  • Owatonna Citizens (Owatonna, MN)

    API address [ null, Owatonna, MN, null, US, null, null, 44.0879297, -93.2260184, null]

  • Rochester Citizens (Rochester, MN)

    API address [ null, Rochester, MN, null, USA, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Sherburne County Citizens (Elk River, MN)

    API address [ 13880 Business Ctr Dr NW, Elk River, MN, 55330, US, null, null, 45.3297219, -93.681162, null]

  • Twin Cities Citizens (Minneapolis, MN)

    API address [ null, Minneapolis, MN, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Wayzata Community Church Citizens (Wayzata, MN)

    API address [ null, Wayzata, MN, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]

Is your school not listed? Click here for info on how to start a chapter.

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