In the fall of 2025, Best Buddies International rolled out their brand-new Ambassador Academy, a program to elevate the experience of our Leadership Pillar. The Academy is a nine-month leadership program for people 14 and older, with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It equips participants to become confident self-advocates and skilled public speakers who represent Best Buddies at events, in the media, and in their communities. The program, designed for both new leaders and experiences advocates, operates on a similar timeline as a schoolyear, with monthly one-hour sessions from September through May.

With topics including navigating social versus professional environments, representing Best Buddies, and promoting your personal brand, Ambassador graduates will be aptly prepared to step into any setting and model Best Buddies well. The Leadership pillar will still include speech writing trainings held twice yearly, allowing participants both in and outside of the Academy to refine their public speaking skills when it comes to telling their story of inclusion.

So far in the Academy’s first “school year,” New Hampshire has recruited 35 members in our cohort, making us one of the biggest groups of any office in the country! Our little state is so powerful when it comes to inclusion – we are constantly advocating for people with IDD to be included, celebrated, and feel like they belong.

After our final session wraps up on May 19th, New Hampshire will officially have 35 new Ambassadors! The Ambassador Academy is now considered the official pathway to being called an Ambassador, because it teaches comprehensive skills in professionalism, advocacy, and representing the Best Buddies brand. The skills are also transferable outside of Best Buddies – students are learning about utilizing the media, navigating conflict, identifying their own personal brand, and other skills that will help them when applying for jobs or higher education, or just simply growing as an individual.

We are so excited for our first class to graduate in just a few months! They will move on to give speeches at businesses to spread the Best Buddies mission, apply for competitive jobs, lead inclusive movements at their schools, and most importantly, be pivotal members of creating a world where everyone belongs.

For more information on Best Buddies New Hampshire Leadership programs, email SaraAnselmo@bestbuddies.org.