Best Buddies WI Celebrates Friendships!
Spread the Word to End the Word is a national campaign to end the use of the R-word. The campaign was started to create more accepting attitudes and communities for all people by asking people to pledge to end the use of the derogatory word. This year, Spread the Word to End the Word was celebrated on March 7th and all 50 Best Buddies chapters participated in the campaign within their schools and communities. Our school chapters raised awareness and asked people to pledge through school assemblies, banner signings, movie showings and other creative activities.
Our Delong Middle School chapter in Eau Claire put together this awesome video to celebrate the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign:
This March also marks the 29th anniversary of #BestBuddiesMonth which is a time for Best Buddies participants to reflect on the importance of friendship, jobs, and the development of future leaders. Most importantly, it is a time to show the world the significance of these essentials in every individual’s life.
To celebrate Best Buddies Month, we hosted our annual All Chapter Dance for our school program participants and adults from our Citizens program. Close to 300 participants came together for an inclusive night of red carpet close-ups, killer dance moves, a green screen photo booth and an awesome Western theme. This event was a great outing for our chapters and a perfect way to start a friendship-filled Best Buddies Month!
In addition to all of the fun activities our chapters have planned, there are other ways you can celebrate Best Buddies Month!
1) Join a Best Buddies Friendship Walk Team
Over the years, our walks have made a profound impact in the community, especially for individuals with IDD. The Best Buddies Friendship Walk promotes an atmosphere for new friendships, promises opportunities, and most of all, inclusion for all people.
Sign up for a Best Buddies Friendship Walk Team here: www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/milwaukee
2) Rock your Best Buddies Gear
It’s a conversation starter, and one of our biggest creators of awareness, besides you!
3) Spread the Word to End the Word
March 7th was Spread the Word to End the Word Day, but the campaign doesn’t start and end there. Help end the derogatory use of the word retard(ed) by taking the pledge and encourage your friends and family to join our campaign to promote respectful language.
To take the pledge, visit www.r-word.org.
