Month: April 2023

March 2023 Newsletter

2 more weeks of our Winter 2023 Program!

Our interns are heading into their final weeks of their internships. They have been involved in a variety of work experiences and accomplished so much already.  We have continued meeting on Fridays to reinforce our training curriculum and to reflect back on the previous work week, sharing accomplishments and discussing how we can improve going forward. We have continued to integrate applied theater and stress reduction into our curriculum. We have additionally been partnering with Game Genius, a local non-profit focused on leveraging the process of playing and making games for social good. Game Genius has created games to reinforce our curriculum as well as encourage teamwork and collaboration. The partnership has been highly successful to date and we look forward to working more with Game Genius in the future!

Interns, we cannot wait to watch you finish out your internships on a high note next month!

Please welcome our newest Board Members!

Christine Fruehwirth

Christine is a professional career and life coaching consultant with almost 20 years of experience through her own business, FlexCareers Consulting. Christine has also worked as a career consultant and instructor of a Career Management Strategy course at George Washington University, and most recently at Georgetown University. As a professional career consultant focused on helping young adults start their careers and a parent of children who are neurodivergent, Christine is passionate about BroadFutures’ mission from both a personal and professional perspective. 

Christine has developed an expertise in helping young people obtain internships and full time positions in the financial services industry. Early in her career, Christine spent a decade focused on consumer and investment banking, working for major financial institutions including Bank of America, Capital One and Wells Fargo. Her last few years in the industry were spent at Lending Tree on the senior leadership team.

Christine earned her Bachelor of Science in Business from Villanova University and an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. She also serves as a board member of Cornerstone Montgomery.  Christine lives in Potomac, MD and is the mother of three adult children.

Mignon Smith

Mignon Smith has a breadth of experience as an entrepreneur and educator,  both contributing to her passion for BroadFutures’ mission and values. She has supported systems of curriculum, instruction and assessment, improvement and content development in both secondary public and private schools across the country. Mignon was a founding math teacher at Texas Kipp Charter school, as well as a department chair, curriculum specialist and assistant principal.  She is also an advocate of school choice in underrepresented and underserved communities. In 2019, Mignon and her husband opened a restaurant in her hometown in Georgia to inspire social change one meal at a time. She oversees the growth strategy, product development, and operations.  She also manages the branding and marketing strategy to transform the historic restaurant, which denied African Americans entry for more than 40 years, into a modern gathering hub for all to enjoy. Prior to her career in education, Mignon worked as an analyst and industrial engineer at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, during which time she volunteered at the local elementary school, where she developed a passion for educating young people in STEM.

Mignon is an active member in several professional and philanthropic organizations. She was a member of the founding cohort of the Young Patron Board at Arena Stage, a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) and National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM).

Mignon received B.A. in Mathematics from Tuskegee University, her M.Ed. from USC Rossier School of Education and her MPM from the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. Mignon was born and raised in Georgia and lives in the District of Columbia with her husband.

 Thank you to the Truist Foundation!

We are thrilled to announce that BroadFutures has received a $20,000 grant from the Truist Foundation to broaden our reach to provide support to help more neurodivergent young people reach their full potential and achieve successful career paths, especially those from low- and moderate-income households. BroadFutures is dedicated to reducing employment barriers and increasing economic mobility by providing access and support for our participants, while also supporting employers in creating diverse and accessible workplaces. With this grant, we hope to expand our program in the number of participants and employer partners, as well as our economic diversity, impacting a greater number of lives.

“We are so grateful to the Truist Foundation for their recognition and support of our model,” said Carolyn Jeppsen, CEO/President & Co-Founder of BroadFutures. “The need for our innovative approach is great and this timely support will help to ensure we are able to meet the ever-growing needs of our community and positively impact more neurodivergent young people.”

“At Truist, our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities,” said Evelyn Lee, Truist Regional President for Greater Washington. “We are honored to support BroadFutures as they help to create career pathways for young people, expanding their opportunities for meaningful employment and economic mobility.”

 Employer Spotlight – Atlas Performing Arts Center

This month, our employer spotlight is Atlas Performing Arts Center, a non-profit performing arts venue in a historic theater. The Atlas fosters and presents stellar art in film, dance, music, theater, vocal and choral work, spoken word, and beyond. They provide shared space in a creative environment that inspires exceptional performances, events, and initiatives that enlighten, entertain, and reflect the best of the arts and our humanity.

When asked about their partnership with BroadFutures, Director of Operations Jarrod Bennett said that “working with BroadFutures has been an amazing experience. Seeing the growth in Calvin over the last few weeks has been nothing less than exciting. Watching him develop his voice and skills is inspiring. He has truly become a reliable member of the Atlas team.”

We look forward to a continued partnership with Atlas Performing Arts Center. Please learn more about their work and visit their website here.

Intern Spotlight – Calvin Barbanell

We are shining the spotlight on Calvin Barbanell, one our our amazing interns, who is joining us from Salt Lake City, Utah. Calvin is currently interning at Atlas Performing Arts Center, where he is performing a variety of tasks and engaging with guests. 

When asked what he likes best about BroadFutures, Calvin said “I really like the space that BroadFutures creates. It gives me an opportunity to practice my social skills… with significantly less embarrassment.”