Inclusion and more

It's been 30 years of Best Buddies but over 7 years of me being involved in this program so here are my favorite memories 1. Best Buddies Leadership Conference An Interesting fact about me is that I have gone to the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference since July 2011. I have participated in the Buddy Ambassador trainings every year. What is it that keeps me going back? The friendships I have formed with student leaders and Buddy Ambassadors from around the world and the relationships I have formed with staff. Every year I go to LC, I feel inspired to do more for Best Buddies at a state level.  Even when I watch the live stream, I feel inspired to get more involved.                                       THEN BBAZ at LC 2014 Staff Tim Bolen (State Director) Trevor Paxton (Program Manager) Kara Gregory (Program Manager) Ryan Dandy (Program Manager) NOW BBAZ a...

In July 2018, I attended the Best Buddies Leadership Conference and one morning I went to shower and discovered that my shampoo and conditoner were missing so I boldly ventured into the room of Maddi Thrall to ask if I could borrow her shampoo and she said yes. That started our friendship After the conference, I kept in touch with Maddi and we hung out numerous times. I learned that Maddi and I have so much in common including a passion for Best Buddies, a love for sports and life. She has even been to my apartment for dinner.  We have eaten pizza and socialized. Maddi Thrall and I A few months after, I quickly discovered that Maddi's family lives far away from her so my parents and I got to work inviting Maddi to family events. She celebrated Thanksgiving with my family at my parents now old house and we welcomed her warmly. We talked to her and ate dinner. In February, we invited Maddi to my Super Bowl birthday party and she came. We watched the big game together whic...

It's crazy to think it's been a year since I moved into my own apartment at First Place-Phoenix , that is filled with with comfortable furniture, its own appliances, a sign from my team at the AZ Schoo Boards Association that reads "We walk with Lindsey. Team ASBA" and a white board schedule of social events that often leads staff to think I am so POPULAR!  Here are some lessons I have learned since moving into First Place 1.  Best Buddies Alumni are everywhere  Of course my first musing has to do with Best Buddies. Fairly recently, I started discovering of more and more Best Buddies alumni who live or work at First Place. Marci Muhlestein, our Global Leadership Institute, came from the Best Buddies Expansion Board in Washington, after a staff member from Best Buddies International asked her if she heard for First Place, since I was posting about it. With Marci's background, she knows all about the program. Marci kicks off a long list of people who did Best Bud...

I would like to share with you some tips about how to be a good Best Buddy 1. Stay committed to your plans with your buddy When you commit to being a peer buddy through a Best Buddies school friendship program or the Citizens program, a majority of the time your buddy has a limited scope of friends to hang out with outside paid staff who work with them.  Buddies often times just want a friend to hang out with.  If you make plans with your buddy, follow through. It often times makes your buddies day.  When I was first paired up with my buddy, Elaine Helton when I was a sophomore at Chaparral High School, the level of commitment I experienced was unbelievable. We'd hang out often Elaine Helton and I 2. Have fun Best Buddies all about fun and friendship. Whether it'd be statewide events organized by Best Buddies offices or the one-on-one events with your buddy, Best Buddies encourages fun and friendship. I was recently matched one-on-one with my Citizens...