by bestbuddiesnm on December 10, 2009
Earlier this year, Abe and George attended the Buddies United In Leadership Developement training (or BUILD) in Indiana.
Buddies United in Leadership Development (BUILD) is an event by Best Buddies International to prepare buddy ambassadors to become community leaders through public speaking. The training on December 12th is New Mexico’s first and is planned to be an annual event.
Ten buddies representing Albuquerque area high schools and the University of New Mexico chapter will receive a day-long training learning to write and present a speech. They will give their speeches at a reception later that evening. Buddies, their Best Buddy Friend (Peer Buddy), parents, and guests will be in attendance. The training is being taught by Kali Wasenko, Best Buddies International Headquarters, Miami. Chapters include Eldorado High, Rio Rancho High, Sandia High, and UNM.
by bestbuddiesnm on September 1, 2009
BBNM has its first two Buddy Ambassadors! Abe and George attend Leadership Conference: Buddies United in Leadership Development Training
The training helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities develop skills to speak to an audience, recognize their hidden talents and see themselves as leaders in our community. Abe and George, both from Eldorado High School completed the workshops with 23 other Buddies from around the world.
Best Buddies also broke new ground, with an alumnus teaching the public speaking and speech writing classes to the buddies for the first time. Rachel said it was her life’s dream to be able to teach and share her talents so others can learn. She is looking forward to one day being able to spreading the mission around the world and how Best Buddies changed her life.
NM’s own Buddy, Abe inspired the 1000+ attendees at Best Buddies 20th anniversary dance telling them how he wanted Best Buddies in NM, his top ten reasons for Best Buddies and how he is helping to spread the mission. He was interrupted several times with cheers of ABE, ABE, ABE and “We Are Best Buddies”
George inspired the NM delegation of Chapter Presidents with his speech highlighting how important his friendship is to him. He made many new friends from all over the world. It was inspiring seeing other students without disabilities asking him to have lunch with him.
But more profound than the speeches was the process. Every buddy grew personally as they discussed how life was without Best Buddies and the impact it has had on their lives. We saw their self-esteem grow as they walked through each step, then completed something they never thought would be possible- giving a speech. Although each person’s journey is different, the theme was a quickly apparent. Each person wants to be seen as an individual with abilities and feelings. Each person wants to be accepted and share their friendships with someone else. And each friendship is invaluable.
And through Best Buddies it is happening in 22 states and 44 countries. Now it is beginning to happen in New Mexico. Throughout this conference, we were given a special gift of seeing how the world could be, a place where individuals with disabilities get asked to go out to dinner on a regular basis, where they are asked by strangers to dance at a community dance, where their ideas are not only valued, but cheered, where they can take the microphone at karaoke night and everyone sings and dances with them.
For one weekend, this was the perfect world. If we can do it one weekend, why not 2? Why not 52? If we can do it 52 weekends, why not 365 days, why not every day? When that happens, we have achieved our mission.
Thank you George and Abe on giving us some very special gifts- the gift of your feelings, your trust, your honesty and most importantly your friendship. The weekend was so amazing; we are planning on bringing the BUILD Training to New Mexico.
