Katie Hut and Natalie Green are best friends from Special Olympics Utah and have had some amazing experiences this past year. First, they participated in the Youth Leadership Experience at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle and also served as social media correspondents for Special Olympics North America at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi.
You can follow their incredible journey here.
Through experiences like the Youth Leadership Experience and World Games, Katie and Natalie have developed their storytelling skills and have developed their own voices as leaders of the Unified Generation. They were even interviewed by Humans of New York and Natalie got to share how Special Olympics and “living unified” has changed her life. Katie and Natalie are proof that Inclusive Youth Leadership opportunities lead to long-lasting friendships.
.@KatieMHut and I spoke with @TimShriver about how #Inclusion is like having a seat at the table - & then spoke about the UAE nationwide launch of #UnifiedSchools & their role as host of the first world games in the Middle East - #BeUnified @WorldGamesAD @SONorthAmerica #KatnNat pic.twitter.com/B65BLyTiO9
— Natalie Green (@Natsqueaks) March 18, 2019
It was an absolutely incredible experience. Thanks so much @StephMcMahon! We love @WWE! https://t.co/px4zOJ88mJ
— Katie Hut (@katiemhut) March 14, 2019
Over 100 youth leaders from over 35 nations share their big idea projects for inclusion today at The a Global Youth Leadership Summit! #ChooseToInclude #UnifiedGeneration #BeUnified #InnovateForInclusion @SONorthAmerica pic.twitter.com/hRoa6FFeu8
— Katie Hut (@katiemhut) March 17, 2019
Three million young people participate in 6,500 Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® across the US with support from the US Office of Special Education Programs at the US Department of Education. These young people make up the Unified Generation. They are taking personal ownership within their schools and communities to ensure that everyone has the right to play, learn and live together through shared leadership opportunities of students with and without intellectual disabilities . To learn more about the Unified Generation, visit: https://www.generationunified.org/