Best Buddies expands reach in SLO community

Best Buddies, a global nonprofit focused on creating friendships between individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, has an active and growing chapter at Cal Poly.

Sienna Seefeldt, a public health sophomore and the club’s event coordinator, said the Cal Poly chapter partners with Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center to bring students and community members together through meaningful experiences.

“It’s all about inclusivity and making sure that everyone feels like they have a safe space and feel comfortable to fully be themselves,” Seefeldt said.

At its core, Best Buddies focuses on creating genuine friendships between students, with and without disabilities. According to Seefeldt, the club’s events are anything but ordinary, ranging from group outings to downtown dances and laid-back social meetups. 

“We had this teen dance downtown with decorations, a DJ, photo booths—everyone was just sweating from dancing so much,” Seefeldt said. “It was just really fun.” 

For club president and psychology senior Grace Montgomery, the purpose goes beyond hosting events. She said it’s about forming lasting relationships and forging meaningful connections.

“The goals of the Cal Poly club are to connect students who have a passion for working with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and also connect them to organizations in the community that we can support through volunteering or raising awareness,” Montgomery said.

The chapter currently has around 80 members, including Cal Poly students and community participants, and it continues to grow.

“I just think Best Buddies is a great way to fulfill that in people, of wanting to make sure everyone’s okay,” Seefeldt said.

Whether through dance, conversation or a simple show of support, Best Buddies at Cal Poly aims to prove that connection makes all the difference.