We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mackenzie Norton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mackenzie , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The most meaningful project I have ever been a part of is the creation of my cheerleading clinics for people of all abilities. I have been a cheerleader throughout high school — and will cheer for the University of Miami — and was the president of my high school’s Best Buddies (BB) chapter. Best Buddies is an international nonprofit focusing on the inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). I was cheering at a football game once and one of my buddies from BB came up to me and asked to hold my poms, wishing she could be a cheerleader. It broke my heart that she felt she couldn’t, so I went to my stepmom and we came up with the idea to create an inclusive cheerleading nonprofit organization. Cheer INClusive hosts cheerleading clinics where people of all abilities can work together to learn new skills, meet new friends, and break the barriers for people with IDDs. Watching the clinic participants light up and grow into leaders and cheerleaders fills me with such happiness and satisfaction. I am so grateful to give back to a demographic that needs more representation.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have been a gymnast since I was a small child, a cheerleader since freshman year of high school, and involved in Best Buddies for six years. I first learned about Best Buddies through my stepmom, who has been involved for over a decade, and was inspired to dedicate myself to the mission of inclusion among those with disabilities. She and I built Cheer INClusive together and host several clinics a year for people of all abilities, along with our partner, Jena Sims of Pageant of Hope. These camps break the societal barriers set for people with IDDs, giving them the opportunity to be a part of a sport that has changed my life and confidence. I am most proud of watching the confidence and comfort grow in the cheerleaders over each clinic. Watching them break out of their shells and fully take on the cheerleading persona is so amazing to watch and be a part of.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
As a student who has been involved in inclusion work for people with IDDs, I see both the support and the disrespect for those with varying abilities. My ongoing goal is not only to bring awareness to my peers about the struggles that people with IDDs go through — finding a job, independent living, connecting with others, being treated with respect — but also help them WANT to be an advocate for inclusion.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being a part of inclusion advocacy and hosting our Cheer INClusive clinics is not only watching people with IDDs become more comfortable in their skin and their activities, but watching their parents just melt when they witness their children blossoming into confident, happy people — and cheerleaders. I knew my clinic was a success when I turned away from the happy cheerleaders and saw parents tearing up and crying at the sight of their children being included and being CONFIDENT in their abilities.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cheerinclusive, @kenzienortonn
- Other: email: cheerincluivefl@gmail.com
Image Credits
meraki creative group