July 2023 Newsletter

Caroline Brachman

August 1, 2023

Graphic shows the outline of two individuals over a yellowish-orange semi-circle.

July 2023 Newsletter

Summer 2023 Program Sails Onward!!!

Our Summer 2023 Program is in full swing! Over the course of the past six weeks we have witnessed tremendous growth from this cohort. Each Friday we’ve come together as a community to participate in training and engage in peer-to-peer learning by discussing our previous week of work and developing professional skills based on perspective-taking, self-advocacy, and networking.

In addition to professional growth, our interns have also built a sense of long-lasting friendship and community. From baseball games at Nationals Park to boat rides on the Potomac, this cohort is making the most of their summer together.

We are so impressed with everyone and can’t wait to see them cross the finish line!

Thank You to All of Our

Summer 2023 Employer Partners!

We are so grateful to our amazing employer partners. We are celebrating a successful summer full of growth and learning. It would not be possible without your commitment to our mission. Thank you!

Save the Date!

Please Join us as a Sponsor for

Our 10th Year Anniversary Celebration

Click Here to Access Our Donation Page

Intern Spotlight – Sean Carmichael

We are shining the spotlight on Sean Carmichael this month!!! Sean is a recent graduate from Mercyhurst University, where he studied Music and Communications. He is originally from Montclair, NJ, and is an accomplished pianist.

This summer Sean is interning at The Willard InterContinental Hotel. He feels that being a BroadFutures participant has “[built his] confidence in the workplace” and that BroadFutures has given him “a good reminder that I’m not the only one that struggles. We are all good at different things and we all struggle with different things which [makes us] unique.” Sean is a kind and compassionate person who brightens every environment he is in. We are thrilled to have him as part of our BroadFutures community.

Employer Spotlight – ExPat

This month, our employer spotlight is ExPat. ExPat Hospitality is one of our newest employer partners. ExPat serves the D.C. metropolitan area by building community through food, camaraderie and sports appreciation!!

When asked to reflect on their partnership with BroadFutures thus far, ExPat Partner, Tim Ma, shared, “We have enjoyed partnering with BroadFutures this summer. [Our intern] Anne has been delightful and a pleasure to have on our team. She was adept to the ever changing situation that is restaurants and handled it with purpose and grace. Thank you Anne and BroadFutures!”

We look forward to a continued partnership with ExPat. Visit their website here.

BroadFutures Participant Recognized by the Fairfax City Council

We are excited to announce that earlier this month our very own BroadFutures participant, Nicholas Goodhart, was recognized at a Fairfax City Council meeting. Mayor Read officially proclaimed July as Disability Pride Month and Nicholas formally accepted this proclamation on behalf of the City of Fairfax.

Nicholas is from Sterling, Virginia. He graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science. This summer Nicholas is interning at The Arc of Northern Virginia. His exemplary work and great character made him the perfect candidate to receive such an honor.

Watch Mayor Read give her proclamation and hear Nicholas deliver his beautiful remarks here.

Winter ’23 Alumna Writes Article on her BroadFutures Experience!

This July, Winter ’23 alumna, Vanessa Bliss, wrote an amazing article published by the Organization for Autism Research. Vanessa’s article, “Autism in the Workplace: What I Learned as an Intern” reflects on the trials and triumphs of navigating the workplace as an autistic person as well as her experience with BroadFutures.

She writes, “I was incredibly discouraged by the prospect of not just finding a job, but finding a place that was supportive of me and would allow me to grow […] that all changed for me when I got into BroadFutures.”

We are amazed by you Vanessa!!! Read her full article here.

Join us for our August Info Session!