BBWI Hosts New Leadership Academy Program
On February 9, 2019, Best Buddies in Wisconsin partnered with Associated Bank to host its inaugural Leadership Academy Training. BBWI was selected to be one of the first states to launch this new leadership development program.
Leadership Academy allows Best Buddies participants with and without IDD to further enhance their advocacy and leadership skills through a series of interactive sessions. Over 20 people from local high schools, colleges and businesses attended the event. We were also honored to welcome Holly Goshin, Director, Leadership Academy from Best Buddies International.
The morning began with a session dedicated to finding personal leadership styles. Participants took the “True Colors” assessment and discovered which “color” they most aligned with. Then participants broke into groups according to their “color” and were given the task of planning a trip. This activity helped participants understand that as leaders, it is important to value the uniqueness within us all and realize that people have different ways of learning but that we can work together for the same goal.
Sam Bear, a member of the Best Buddies Wisconsin Young Professionals Council, helped lead our next session which focused on understanding the different programs Best Buddies in Wisconsin offers. Attendees were given scenarios and asked how they would respond and talk about Best Buddies.
We then held a “working” lunch as we invited Courtney Rogaczewski, Senior Director of the Best Buddies Jobs Program, to come and talk about our Jobs program.
After lunch, Lauren Peter, another member from our Young Professionals Council, lead our Networking and Social Media session. Attendees learned about how to give a good first impression when meeting someone new, as well as best practices for using social media.
The day finished with a session on diversity and inclusion. Participants discussed what inclusion looks like in our communities, how to use people first language, and reviewed the history of the disability movement and how we can continue to make a difference today.
We had an amazing time working with everyone and are excited to bring this new leadership development program to Wisconsin! Special thanks to our event sponsors: Associated Bank, Einstein Bagels, Starbucks Coffee and Jersey Mikes Subs.
