Best Buddies hosts annual Spread the Word to End the Word assembly

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The annual Best Buddies Spread the Word to End the Word assembly took place in the black box theater March 11. Best Buddies is an international organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). Freshmen were invited to attend an assembly hosted by the school’s chapter of Best Buddies aimed to raise awareness for the cause and to help stop the use of the “r-word” in casual conversation. 

As President and Vice President, respectively, senior Alex Neuman and sophomore Irene John began the ceremony with an opening statement explaining the mission and importance of Best Buddies. (Photo/Benjamin Huberman)
Broward County Best Buddies program manager Tara Moras was the first speaker. She discussed ways for students to get involved with Best Buddies and invited them to join the Friendship Walk, held annually in April, to support inclusion for people with IDDs. (Photo/Alexandra Stahlschmidt)
Regional Special Olympics director Mark Thompson spoke about the importance of activism in athletics. Best Buddies works directly with the Special Olympics to offer people with IDDs a chance to live out their Olympic dreams. Athletes can compete amongst each other on a local level at the regional games held annually in March. (Photo/Alexandra Stahlschmidt)
Best Buddies ambassador Melanie Young spoke about her experience with the organization and all that it has done for her. She discussed how after facing years of discrimination and bullying from family, friends and peers because of her disability, Best Buddies helped her realize how valued and appreciated she was. Now, she travels around the region as an ambassador to ensure that no child experiences what she did. (Photo/Zoe Horowitz)
Towards the end of the assembly, there was a Q&A session where speakers took questions directly from the audience. (Photo/Zoe Horowitz)
After the assembly, the speakers posed with club officers for a picture. Overall, the assembly was a success and left speakers, members and the audience with a lasting impression. (Photo/Tara Moras)

Irene, now a senior at American Heritage, returns to staff as the Online-Editor-in-Chief for her third and final year with the Patriot Post. She loves all things literature and spends most of her time with her nose in a book. Her passion for writing started early, and she is currently the co-president of the Quill and Scroll Society. When she is not studying or writing articles for the wonderful iPatriotPost, she enjoys volunteering and helping lead a multitude of clubs at Heritage. Since 2014, she has worked alongside Best Buddies, an organization that advocates for inclusivity for those with intellectual and physical disabilities. As a co-founder and current board member of the South Florida Best Buddies Student Advisory Board, she plans fundraisers and service projects, including the annual Friendship Walk, which raised almost $300,000. She looks forward to making this year special and as amazing as possible.