Laughter fills the room when Washington University students link up with Pathways participants. This ongoing partnership with WashU Best Buddies bridges campus life with Pathways’ Young Adults group and adult participants, creating a vibrant space where real friendships take root.
These gatherings center around casual, hands-on events hosted by Pathways. Events feature kickball games, board game nights, tie dye workshops, and shared potluck dinners. Beyond group activities, members also form one-on-one buddy pairs that create deep individual relationships.
“The community that exists between members of Pathways already is so strong,” shared Josie, a sophomore leader with WashU Best Buddies. “So whenever WashU Best Buddies members are coming to Pathways, it really does feel like they’re all there to welcome us and include us. It really does make the experience that much better, just that they’re all so comfortable with each other and they all know each other so well. It just makes it a lot of fun.”
The collaboration offers benefits on both sides of the partnership. For university students, stepping outside the campus bubble provides hands-on experience in disability advocacy and meaningful community involvement. For Pathways participants, it offers meaningful opportunities to connect with the wider community and form close friendships with college peers they might never have crossed paths with otherwise.
“It teaches me a lot about interacting and connecting with people who are different than I am,” Josie reflected. “Maybe we don’t have anything in common, but there’s still ways to connect and form friendships. My favorite part is just seeing those friendships blossom.”
Josie highlighted the personal impact of her very first event at Pathways: “As a freshman last year, one of the first Best Buddies events I went to was a potluck dinner at Pathways. I really didn’t know anyone on the WashU end or on the Pathways end. But just being able to come together and share a meal, hang out, and do activities and games together, it really made me feel like I was finding a community.”
Partner With Pathways
The success of the WashU Best Buddies collaboration shows how local partnerships create lasting impact. Pathways actively seeks to build similar relationships with businesses, educational institutions, community groups, and civic organizations.
When asked why other organizations should consider building similar partnerships, Josie noted, “It really is just a great opportunity to connect with a group of people who are passionate about inclusion and passionate about building friendships.”
Local teams can plan interactive group events, host skill-building workshops, or establish unique volunteer opportunities. Partnering with Pathways gives your team a hands-on way to make a difference in the St. Louis area.
Is your business, school, or organization interested in hosting a volunteer event or establishing a partnership? Click below to fill out the Volunteer Contact form today and learn how we can collaborate!