Category: Press

In this article from Prism, Carolyn Jeppsen, CEO of BroadFutures, talks about the challenges of working from home for people with learning and attention disabilities.

The February 2020 edition of The Southwester features an article mentioning BroadFutures’ partnership with The Wharf. Find the article on page 3.

Our CEO speaks on BroadFutures, the choice to disclose a disability or not, and our partnership with Beacon College. Read the full article here.

This video highlights one of our interns, Christian. Christian participated in the BroadFutures Winter 2019 and Summer 2019 programs. During the winter, he interned with APSE, and this past summer he started interning with AIR, where he got an extension to work through the end of the year! Keep up the good work, Christian!

WASHINGTON, October 30, 2014 – According to a report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one in seven Americans, or 15 percent of the U.S. population, has a learning disability. A 2012 report from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that 41 percent of individuals ages 21 to 64 with a disability were employed in 2010, down from nearly 46 percent in 2005. Furthermore, while 69 percent of high school graduates with learning disabilities have goals of competitive employment, only 46 percent are able to obtain regular paid employment within two years of graduating, according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD).

BroadFutures, an emerging Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization, is committed to serving this growing, underrepresented group of young adults with learning disabilities by using an innovative program designed to help combat these pressing issues. BroadFutures’ program employs a unique combination of holistic, individualized training and mentorship, coupled with paid internship opportunities.

Pilot program interns meet with employer partners for evaluation.

“BroadFutures offers an innovative approach to youth transitions with learning disabilities,” says Mark Perriello, president, CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities. “This specialized program puts in place the tools and resources, coupled with personalized and creative influences, needed to make it in the workforce. Simply put, BroadFutures is unique and welcome in our space.”

Founded in August 2013 by Carolyn Jeppsen, Diana Eisenstat and Bradley Holmes, BroadFutures successfully completed its first of three pilot programs in August 2014. To promote openness and establish a strong presence, the pilot stage consists of three phases – the second phase occurring in January 2015, and the third in summer 2015.

“Very few of the successful existing workforce programs effectively address the transitional needs of young adults who have adequate cognitive skills and capabilities for the workplace but lack the organizational, attentive and social abilities to independently navigate employment,” says Carolyn Jeppsen, CEO, president, co-founder, BroadFutures. “That’s what BroadFutures is working to address.”

Diana Eisenstat, co-founder, program director, presents pilot program interns with certificates of achievement.

BroadFutures secures internship positions for a period of eight to 14 weeks, and focuses on social emotional skills and workplace preparedness. As a part of the program, BroadFutures also regularly incorporates stress reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation and cognitive exercise, in addition to implementing group sessions and drama as a medium for delivering workforce curriculum. The creative blend of influences fosters independence, self-advocacy and successful future employment for young adults.

“It’s important when working with students with disabilities to have that holistic type of approach,” says Raymond Hutchison, program manager, office of specialized instruction, District of Columbia Public Schools. “BroadFutures is doing a great job of incorporating both external and professional elements to promote independent self-advocacy.”

Five interns participated in BroadFutures’ inaugural pilot program, with three employer partners – AES Corporation, Arlington, Virginia, a global power company that owns and operates a diverse portfolio of electricity generation and distribution businesses, Griffin & Company, Inc., Washington, D.C., a public relations and marketing communications agency, and Inergix, McLean, Virginia, a diversified energy development and integration company.

At the conclusion of the summer pilot program, all participants, including interns, parents, employers, service providers and mentors, stated they would recommend the BroadFutures program. Employer partners felt interns were well-prepared and all interns successfully completed their internships and were given letters of recommendation.

For more information on how BroadFutures is creating an inclusive workforce for all individuals to have an equal opportunity to succeed, visit www.broadfutures.org.

Media contact:
Robert Byrd
Griffin & Company, Inc.
(888) 420-0256, ext. 121

Read Carolyn’s guest-authored post on Omnicor’s blog here.

This summer, we were thrilled to expand the BroadFutures program and its available internship opportunities by partnering with seven new employers on the District Wharf, the new development project in Southwest D.C. With this new partnership, a group of BroadFutures interns worked on the Wharf in a variety of customer service and community programming positions. In their seven-week internships, the growth of these young people was inspiring as they were able to expand upon their skills and gain new experiences in their journey towards professional development and to reach their potential. We are thankful to have a shared mission with the District Wharf of empowering young people who are diverse learners and expanding the workforce.

Thank you to our employer partners, InterContinental Washington D.C. – The Wharf, Concord, Colonial Parking, Entertainment Cruises, The Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID), CBRE, and Wharf Marina, for such a successful partnership. We look forward to our continued and inspired collaboration!

Read the full press release here.

BroadFutures was featured prominently in the DC Metro Business Leadership Network’s June Newsletter.

Read the full article here.

Our CEO speaks on inclusion of individuals w/LD in the workforce & value of internships. Read the full article here.