Touched, honoured and surprised. Those are just a few of the words to describe how Humber Polytechnic and University of Guelph-Humber (UofGH) alumnae Jessica Rotolo and Lauren Abela felt after they learned they had been given the inaugural Ambassador of Change Award by Best Buddies Canada.
Best Buddies is an organization that offers school programs to create friendships between people with and without an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD).
Rotolo graduated from the Community Integration Through Co-operative Education program in 2021 and is a tireless advocate for those with Down syndrome, while Abela is a graduate of the Psychology program at UofGH, who works at Humber as a student success advisor for Academic Upgrading.
Rotolo is co-president of the Best Buddies Toronto Metropolitan University chapter and, during her time at Humber, she was also one of the founders and co-president of the Best Buddies chapter serving Humber and UofGH students with Abela.
The two learned of the honour during the Reach for the Stars event held at the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation at North Campus that they helped organize. About 100 people attended the one-day student retreat that brought together the Best Buddies GTA community. It was an opportunity for like-minded students, teachers and their supporters to connect, learn and have fun.
There were skills-building workshops, an AI-powered photobooth, a deejay, dancing, guest speakers, a pizza lunch and more.
Rotolo, who lives with Down syndrome, told the audience she had been bullied in elementary school and didn't have many friends. However, that all changed when she joined Best Buddies in high school.
"Best Buddies changed my life," said Rotolo, who serves as a Best Buddies ambassador. "The support and opportunities I received helped me gain confidence to pursue my passions and build a future I'm proud of. They helped me become the person I am today."
Rotolo added she's made lifelong friends through Best Buddies and looks forward to the day they will dance at each other's weddings.
Deanna Alakoozai, program manager with Best Buddies Canada, said the story of Rotolo and Abela's friendship was an inspiration to her.
"They've been such a wonderful example of what we want a Best Buddies friendship to be," said Alakoozai. "Events like this inspire inclusion and friendship and let the students see that they too can reach for the stars."
The event was supported by Humber Polytechnic Community Impact Fund. It can provide up to $10,000 for sponsorship or to support projects for local children, youth, Indigenous Peoples, newcomers and other equity-seeking groups in the community.
Reach for the Stars helped increase exposure and access to the various pathways into education, training and employment for the IDD community, including the CICE program and Michael's "Makers Like Me" inclusive hiring initiative.
"We want people to believe that they can do anything, they have a community and to know that we have their backs," said Abela. "The buddies you make in school are friends for life. Just look at me and Jessica."
Jennifer Appleby, executive director of Best Buddies Canada, told the crowd that their energy and spirit in the room was palpable and that she hoped they all felt welcomed and included at their respective Best Buddies chapters.
Find more information on the Best Buddies Canada website.
