Best Buddies

 

Four years ago, I became involved with Best Buddies when I volunteered at the Best Buddies/Dreaming Big Without Limits fashion show. Best Buddies builds friendships for people with IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities). My partner was a young woman with Down Syndrome named Elizabeth, and we hit it off right away. A friendship was born, and Elizabeth and I were officially matched as "Buddies" through the Citizens Friendship Program. For the past four years, we have done many fun activities, such as coffee dates, trips to the zoo, craft projects, mini-golfing, and much more. We talk or text every day, and I can't imagine life without my "best buddy."

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PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center

 

During my 8th grade year, I experienced severe bullying. After I got the lead role in the school play, a group of girls created a petition to have me replaced as Mary Poppins. The following year, I was called horrible names not fit for print and had numerous fake social media accounts made about me. I decided that no one should be made to feel the way I did, so I reached out to PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, located in my hometown of Minneapolis, MN. They invited me to join their national Youth Advisory Board, which I served on from 2019 to 2024, attending monthly meetings with fellow board members nationwide. We had monthly meetings and brainstorming sessions to plan things like the Unity Awards, the Run/Walk/Roll Against Bullying event, Unity Day, and much more. I assisted in creating educational materials and content, was an official voting member for the annual Unity Awards, and even helped design the 2023 official Unity Day t-shirt. It was an honor to have been asked to present online videos and social media content for PACER's NBPC, and I am excited about the progress we are making in combating the bullying epidemic.

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I wanted to expand my efforts, so I created Ava's Army Buddy Bandana program in 2021, where I gave anti-bullying presentations to local elementary schools. I created and distributed over 1,000 specially designed "buddy bandanas" for children to tie onto their backpacks as a visual reminder to always be kind.​

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Choose To Include

 

Through my work with Best Buddies and PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, I learned that people with IDD (intellectual or developmental disabilities) are THREE TIMES more likely to be bullied. This motivated me to create my "Choose to Include" program, which is a movement focused bullying prevention for those with IDD, fostering kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

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I've shared my story—and combined that message with the national impact of PACER & Best Buddies—to reach students all across my state and beyond. I especially focus on the effects of bullying on those who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. I also use the power of social media for good, promoting anti-bullying initiatives and utilizing PACER's resources to further my reach. I believe everyone has the right to grow up in a world free from bullying.