A Message from our CEO, Carolyn Jeppsen

I wanted to let our BroadFutures community know that I will be on sabbatical from July 6 through Labor Day. During this time, I will step away from my day-to-day responsibilities to rest, recharge, and return with renewed energy, perspective, and focus.

This sabbatical reflects BroadFutures' commitment to sustainable leadership, organizational well-being, and long-term impact. I am grateful for the opportunity to take this time and look forward to returning with fresh ideas and an even deeper commitment to our mission.

I will have very limited access to email during my sabbatical and generally will not be responding to emails. If your matter is time-sensitive, please reach out to the appropriate BroadFutures team member below:

• Programs & Admissions: Caitlin Garman – cgarman@broadfutures.org

• Operations & Billing: Bryan Rotach – brotach@broadfutures.org

• Employer Partnerships: Laurie Thomas – lthomas@broadfutures.org

• Advancement & Marketing: Darrell Begemann – dbegemann@broadfutures.org

  
  

I do have a few planned exceptions to my sabbatical, including my attendance at the Disability:IN Conference, presenting at the Northeast Regional Neurodiversity Conference, and BroadFutures’ Summer Program Final Celebration. Outside of these previously scheduled commitments, I will not be available until after Labor Day.

I am deeply grateful for our exceptional team, who will continue advancing BroadFutures’ mission. I am also excited that BroadFutures is modeling the importance of investing in healthy, sustainable leadership—an investment that ultimately strengthens our organization and the communities we serve.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of BroadFutures as we take this important step. I look forward to reconnecting after Labor Day.

Warmly,

Carolyn Jeppsen

CEO/President/Co-Founder

An Exciting Start to our Summer Programs

This summer BroadFutures is proud to support 39 outstanding interns; 29 in our DC program and 10 in our National program. Already, our interns are making meaningful contributions at their internship sites, expanding team capacity, bringing fresh perspectives, and strengthening workplace culture.

Following an energizing Training Week focused on professional communication, self-advocacy, financial literacy, and other essential career skills, DC interns began their internships with employers. Now in their third week, they are building new skills, gaining hands-on experience, and becoming valued members of their teams. Each Friday, they return to BroadFutures for continued professional training, reflection, and connection with their cohort.

We also welcomed 10 interns to our National Programs this summer, who are interning at Merck and the World Bank Group. Most have already started their internships and are off to an excellent start, applying their skills and making a difference at their organizations.

We are inspired by the impact our interns and employer partners are creating together. Every employer that chooses to embrace neurodivergent talent helps build a more inclusive workplace, creating ripples of opportunity and lasting change throughout their organizations and communities.

Welcoming A New Team Member

BroadFutures is excited to welcome Darrell Begemann onto our team. Darrell serves as our Advancement Manager, leading fundraising and development initiatives that support BroadFutures’ mission. Before joining BroadFutures he raised money for several DC-based mission driven organizations. He is passionate about building sustainable relationships with funders and connecting them to causes that create lasting community impact.

Darrell received his Bachelors of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Political Science from The George Washington University. He currently lives in North East DC.

Why BroadFutures? “I believe given the resources and opportunities everyone can thrive, BroadFutures is using their resources to set neurodivergent folks up for success with amazing job readiness training and real world internship experience.”

Fall Gala: Ripples to Waves

Save the date for an unforgettable evening! On October 17, BroadFutures will host our 2026 Fall Gala, Ripples to Waves: Celebrating Our Impact, at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.

Join our vibrant community for cocktails, light fare, celebration, and an inspiring program honoring the young people, employers, families, and supporters who are helping turn ripples of opportunity into waves of lasting impact. We cannot wait to celebrate with you!

Join us as a sponsor now and be part of the wave. If you become a sponsor before September 11, your name will be included on our invitations.

BroadFutures Monthly Info Session

Curious about BroadFutures’ offerings? Looking ahead to our Winter 2027 Programs? Join us on Wednesday, July 23rd at 12:00PM ET for an information session!

Intern / Alum Spotlight

Meet Calvin McConnell, a BroadFutures alum and current Summer 2026 intern!

After completing a BroadFutures internship with Merck last summer, Calvin has returned to Merck’s West Point manufacturing site for a second summer. His story is a special one: he is both an alum and an active intern, continuing to build on the growth, confidence, and connections he began developing last year.

Reflecting on his growth, Calvin shared that practicing self-expression in small, manageable ways helped him build confidence, explore his passions, and make connections. His advice for current interns? Take the opportunities that come their way, talk to coworkers, and find passion in their work.

Calvin’s return to BroadFutures and Merck is a powerful reminder that growth continues over time and that one opportunity can create ripples that lead to even more.

Employer Spotlight

We are excited to spotlight returning employer partner, The Potomac School! The Potomac School is a K-12 independent school in McLean, Virginia whose mission is to “prepare students for lives of purpose, achievement, and generosity of spirit.”

The Potomac School is entering its third year of partnership with BroadFutures and is thrilled with the experience.  Reflecting on the partnership, Director of Human Resources Danyel O’Farrell shared,

“The Potomac School has been proud to host interns from BroadFutures over the past two summers, and each experience has enriched our community in meaningful ways. We have been consistently impressed by the interns’ professionalism, initiative, and growth during their time with us. We look forward to continuing the relationship in the years ahead.”

Thank you, Danyel and The Potomac School, for championing and educating young people!

Grant Award from TD Bank!

We are thrilled to share that BroadFutures has received a $10,000 grant from TD Charitable Foundation! This generous support will help fund the Financial Literacy curriculum we provide during Training Week and workshops, which introduces participants to the knowledge and tools they need to build their financial foundation and advance their economic independence.

Looking Ahead: Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month, and we are excited to celebrate the disability community all month long. Stay tuned as we share stories, voices, and moments of pride from across the BroadFutures community, and see below for upcoming events and celebrations in our Community Corner!

Community Corner

Young neurodivergent people have limitless potential.

Let's unlock it.