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

Tennessee Chapter Listing

Promoters chapters

Ambassadors program

To join a chapter, click a school name below

Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 336 Ernest Rice Ln, Franklin, TN, 37069-6507, US, null, null, null, null, null]
CC Williamson County Homeschool High School (Fairview, TN)
API address [ 7251 Anderson Rd, Fairview, TN, 37062, US, null, null, 36.0000439, -87.1614749, null]
Columbia Academy (Columbia, TN)
API address [ 1101 W 7th St, Columbia, TN, 38401-6440, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Crosstown High School- Crosstown Connections (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 1365 Tower Ave, Memphis, TN, 38104-7021, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Evangelical Christian School (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 7600 Macon Rd, Memphis, TN, 38018-4900, US, null, null, 35.152247, -89.80890079999999, null]
Harpeth Hall School (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 3801 Hobbs Rd, Nashville, TN, 37215-2216, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Hume-Fogg High (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 700 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, US, null, null, 36.1595518, -86.7817738, null]
Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 3901 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN, 37204, US, null, null, 36.1066693, -86.79558999999999, null]
Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, TN)
API address [ 4001 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN, 37205-1956, US, null, null, null, null, null]
South Greene High School (Greeneville, TN)
API address [ 7469 Asheville Hwy, Greeneville, TN, 37743, US, null, null, 36.0528074, -82.8555962, null]
St. Cecilia Academy (White Bluff, TN)
API address [ 4210 TN-1, White Bluff, TN, 37187, US, null, null, 36.1049656, -87.1881494, null]
The Webb School (Bell Buckle, TN)
API address [ 319 Webb Rd E, Bell Buckle, TN, 37020, US, null, null, 35.5892346, -86.34714919999999, null]
Trinity Christian Academy (Jackson, TN)
API address [ 10 Windy City Rd, Jackson, TN, 38305, US, null, null, 35.6865305, -88.908068, null]

CC Williamson County Homeschool Middle School (Fairview, TN)
API address [ 7251 Anderson Rd, Fairview, TN, 37062, US, null, null, 36.0000439, -87.1614749, null]
Evangelical Christian School Middle (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 7600 Macon Rd, Memphis, TN, 38018-4900, US, null, null, 35.152247, -89.80890079999999, null]

Arlington Elementary (Arlington, TN)
API address [ 11825 Douglass St, Arlington, TN, 38002, US, null, null, 35.28568998690959, -89.66767199787668, null]
Baker Elementary School (Columbia, TN)
API address [ 1301 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN, 38401-4658, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Dogwood Elementary (Germantown, TN)
API address [ 8945 Dogwood Rd, Germantown, TN, 38139-5405, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Forest Hill Elementary School (Germantown, TN)
API address [ 3366 Forest Hill Irene Rd, Germantown, TN, 38138-8615, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Jack Anderson Elementary (Hendersonville, TN)
API address [ 250 Shute Ln, Hendersonville, TN, 37075-5829, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Keystone Elementary (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 4301 Old Allen Rd, Memphis, TN, 38128, US, null, null, 35.2431139, -89.9533094, null]
Lakeland Elementary (Lakeland, TN)
API address [ 10050 Oakseed Ln, Lakeland, TN, 38002-8268, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Paris Elementary School (Paris, TN)
API address [ 650 Volunteer Dr, Paris, TN, 38242, US, null, null, 36.2923657, -88.304111, null]
Poplar Grove Elementary (Franklin, TN)
API address [ 2959 Del Rio Pike, Franklin, TN, 37069-8701, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Richland Elementary (Memphis, TN)
API address [ 5440 Rich Rd, Memphis, TN, 38120-1941, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Tara Oaks Elementary (Collierville, TN)
API address [ 600 E Harpers Ferry Rd, Collierville, TN, 38017, US, null, null, 35.068499, -89.6481838, null]
VB Academy- Homeschool Chapter (Tracy City, TN)
API address [ null, Tracy City, TN, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
W G Rhea Elementary School (Paris, TN)
API address [ 115 S Wilson St, Paris, TN, 38242-5029, 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.

Leadership Development (Tennessee)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best Buddies International

Leadership Development (Tennessee)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best Buddies International

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters