NMU’s associate chapter of Best Buddies International, a nonprofit group aiming to end the stigma surrounding the Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) community while building friendships and social skills, will be recognized as an official chapter this August with the beginning of the new academic year.

The chapter is currently in the process of transitioning and is looking forward to seeing the opportunities that will come with their new recognition, said Secretary of NMU’s Best Buddies Chapter and junior graphic design major Emma Goebel.

“We’re going to have a lot more support and more resources to make the group run smoother, and we’ll be officially with them (the international organization),” Goebel said.

Goebel contributes the recognition to the groups most recent efforts. Over the last year Best Buddies has been working on better marketing strategies, regular meetings and getting more community members and students involved in their activities.

“It’s going to open the door to a lot of opportunities for our group and hopefully provide more sponsors for us in the future,” Goebel said.

The transition will also grant NMU’s chapter support from the Best Buddies Michigan office, which is projected to be established by 2020 in Ann Arbor.

“It’s been a really awesome experience for me. I have not been exposed to a lot of IDD individuals before and so that’s been really awesome to be able to experience and be with people,” Goebel said. “It’s been a different experience for me and taken me out of my comfort zone a bit, but its great.”

For more information regarding NMU’s chapter of Best Buddies visit their Facebook page, NMU Best Buddies. Visit NMU Best Buddies on gofundme.com to donate.