Meet Michael and Miki, two fashion-loving students at Hermitage High School in Richmond, Virginia, who became friends through their new Best Buddies chapter.

Miki started volunteering at his school’s Special Education Department during his upperclassman year. “I’ve always been passionate about Inclusion, Accessibility, and Equitability for differently abled and underserved people since I was young,” Miki shared. “Here, I’ve been able to find my passion in support work and special education.”

Miki and Michael first met when Miki was volunteering. “We grew closer through the classroom,” Miki said, “mostly talking at lunch and starting to hang out outside of school.” The friends got officially matched through Best Buddies.

Miki credits his motivation to start a Best Buddies chapter to Ms. Hodges, the teacher who first gave him the opportunity to volunteer within the Special Education Department. “I knew that with a chapter of Best Buddies, I could give the same gift of companionship that the classroom had presented to me to others,” Miki said. “Hermitage has a history of inclusion.”

Michael joined Best Buddies because he wanted to learn; he liked it and wanted to join the team. “I want to help people do the right thing.”

“Micheal is a very kind young man; his heart is always in the right place, so it’s easy to talk to him about his friends or drama at school,” Miki shared. “We both like to shop, and he’s honestly a fashion inspiration. I’ll never be able to compete with his shoe game. He’s funny and takes time to listen to me just as I do for him.”

Michael also considers Miki a good friend, saying, “He always be my friend and always help. Sometimes we hang out. We talk. He helps me make new friends. We look out for each other.”

Together, they like to wander the mall, shop for rare figurines, and talk. One of their favorite memories was going to dinner and Michael’s favorite roller-skating rink with their friend James. “I showed them my skate tricks, and we played games,” Michael shared.

Michael and Miki are committed to Best Buddies and developing their leadership skills. They drove up to Northern Virginia for Back to Best Buddies. Michael is interested in attending the Best Buddies Leadership Conference, so they used their trip as a test round to see what traveling away from home was like and learn what it takes to lead a successful chapter.

“Micheal has also been more involved in leadership and Best Buddies organization,” said Miki. “I am excited for his position as a buddy director next year within the chapter’s leadership, providing a voice for his peers and an opportunity to do lots of the good he tells me he wants to do.”

“I learned about leadership and helping out buddies,” Michael said. “I am excited to lead more next year.”

Michael reflected on the impact he’s seen Best Buddies have on Hermitage High School: “I see them helping each other. We sit down and let people talk. We hang out and talk and play games. I see the buddies help the basketball kids to play and shoot the ball.”

“Best Buddies has given students an opportunity to assist our department and receive the same gift of friendship that I’ve received with Micheal,” Miki shared. “We’ve had fun socials, made some positive matches, assisted during All-Star Basketball, and a few accessible art activities.”

They’re both looking forward to the Richmond Friendship Walk and “to make new friends.”

“Inclusion is an opportunity for everyone to thrive as their authentic self,” said Miki. “From a captioning device in a movie theatre to a chance to be in those very movies. Inclusion gives everyone a seat at the dinner table of our society, and lets some people stand anyway.”

“It’s important,” said Michael. “Inclusion means to communicate. It means everybody lets you be yourself.”

Michael and Miki are making inclusion the reality at their school and community. They both encourage others to celebrate inclusion and join Best Buddies.

“You have to join, and you have to get a nametag!” said Michael. “Joining gives you a chance to help people. Help people hang out and help people work.”

Miki echoed Michael’s sentiment: “Whether it is a chapter within your school or your greater community, joining Best Buddies is an opportunity you should not miss out upon, whether you have or have not an IDD. A friendship with someone different is an eye-opening experience and a simple half-hour phone call or afternoon lunch can combat a gut-wrenching isolation that faces so many amazing people. If looking towards starting a chapter or leadership within the area, know that you are paving the way towards a future that is inclusive to everyone.”

Are you interested in starting a chapter at your school and developing friendships like Michael and Miki’s? Reach out to Program Supervisor Veah Velasco at VeahVelasco@BestBuddies.org.