June 2020 Newsletter

Our Summer Strengths Virtual Program is in Full Swing!


We have officially SEIZED the day, pivoted and moved boldly into the broad new horizon of virtual learning and growing!!! In early June we kicked off our first-ever virtual training program with participants from all over the country. Each day is filled with interactive workshops, thoughtful discussions, and curriculum reinforcing games. From practicing writing professional emails to participating in mock interviews to gaining critical communication skills, each activity is intentionally aimed at preparing our participants for college and careers!! We have also heard from many guest speakers, including a panel from the  National Center for Learning Disabilities  Young Adult Leadership Council, Derek Shields talking about the importance of networking, Leah Byrne from  Chevy Chase Trust  with financial literacy tips and tricks, and  Getting Hired . We have also continued to stay true to our mission and integrated the arts, as well as mindfulness and yoga, into the entirety of our program.

Our participants are also learning the increasingly important skill of how to successfully navigate and thrive in the virtual space.  We are looking forward to continuing to learn and grow in this virtual space together!
Announcing our Fall 2020 Strengths Program!

Our Summer Strengths Program has been so successful…. we are holding a Virtual Fall Program as well!!! 

5 week Intensive Strengths Program
September 29th – October 30th
  • Develop professional communication and self-advocacy skills.
  • Master effective strategies for managing your time and building your executive functioning skills.
  • Understand your learning style, strengths, and areas of support; learn how to ask for accommodations at school and the workplace.
  • Build and refine your resume; enhance and elevate your LinkedIn profile.
  • Learn the art of writing a strong cover letter.
  • Understand and practice how to ace the interview.
  • Learn financial literacy tips and tricks.
Optional additional 4 week Independent Applied Project  or Portfolio: 
October 30th – November 27th
  • Work on an independent project or portfolio with the support of our BroadFutures team.
An innovative delivery of virtual curriculum for alternative learners:
  • Integration of the arts/drama
  • Use of virtual breakout rooms
  • Incorporation of mindfulness/yoga
  • Direct instruction limited to 10-15 minute periods
  • Collaborative projects and presentations
For more information, download the Fall 2020 Strengths Program Flyer here.

If interested, sign up for the program here.

Information Sessions

Want to learn more about our Fall Program? Join us for an information session via Zoom. We are holding two different sessions:
  • July 21st at 10:00am EST
  • August 18th at 10:00am EST
Please RSVP to ctrevey@broadfutures-website.azurewebsites.net to receive the Zoom link for these meetings. Hope to see you there!
Employer Spotlight – Peace Corps

The Peace Corps is a service organization for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad by working side-by-side with local leaders to take on the most pressing challenges of our current generation. For over five decades, the Peace Corps’ mission has been to promote world peace and friendship. Additionally, they promote equality of all and their volunteers leave a legacy in the lives of the community members they reach, educate, and ultimately inspire. 

BroadFutures partnered initially with Peace Corps during in 2017 Program,  and rekindled our partnership during our Winter 2020 Program.  We are honored to work with such a large mission-driven service organization dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion of all peoples. 

Tommy Zoppa, Program Support Assistant (OPATS), who supervised one of our BroadFutures interns this winter had wonderful things to say about our intern and his partnership with BroadFutures:

Sarah was a fantastic help to the Office of Overseas Programming and Training Support (OPATS). She was well prepared to advocate for herself and work with the office .”  

“It’s great to see an organization like BroadFutures working towards a mission that aligns with the values and mission of the Peace Corps in promoting world peace and friendship. By committing to these young professionals they help create access for the participants as well as for organizations who strive to create inclusive environments. Sometimes the mission can feel overwhelming and one may not know where to start – BroadFutures finds a way to take some of the stress out of recruitment and retention of great interns. Having a group of professionals supporting interns in their personal and professional growth was such a help. The team at BroadFutures is a valuable resource and we look forward to partnering with them again.”

Thanks, Tommy for this incredible statement of support!! We are very grateful and look forward to our ongoing partnership with the Peace Corps again. Learn more about the Peace Corps  here.
Intern Spotlight – Arielle Guedalia

This month we are excited to feature an alumni intern from our Winter 2020 Program, Arielle Guedalia from Alexandria, VA!  Arielle’s genuine positivity, enthusiasm, and inclusive nature added a breath of fresh air to the winter cohort. Arielle interned at Atlas Corps, where she played a significant role in vetting and interviewing candidates for their international fellowship program. Arielle’s strong communication skills made her an asset both at her internship and within our training program. Her favorite part of the BroadFutures program was meeting so many new people,  including other BroadFutures interns as well as her colleagues at Atlas Corps. 

Since graduating from the BroadFutures Program, Arielle has been focused on going back to her academics, enrolling in online classes at Northern Virginia Community College, taking English and Psychology classes, which according to Arielle are going very, very well!!

Arielle, we are so happy to hear that you are going back to school. We wish you the best of luck finishing your classes, and we cannot wait to hear about even more of your successes in the future!
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202-521-4312 | info@broadfutures-website.azurewebsites.net  | www.broadfutures.org

BroadFutures Statement on Standing Together Against Racial Injustice

To our Supporters and Friends,

As people across our city, nation, and world, march and protest, raising their voices against racial injustice, we affirm your words, your grief, your pain, and your courageous, resilient pursuit of change.  As an organization whose mission is founded on inclusion and eradicating prejudice, we cannot sit in silence in light of the recent events in our America. We are sickened by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the taking of so many other innocent lives. These acts of horrific violence thoroughly defy our sense of humanity. Their families’ grief weighs heavily on our hearts. These are exceptionally challenging times as we face the abhorrent and systemic racial inequities that permeate our society, the severity of which is magnified and exacerbated by the present global pandemic. We are poignantly aware of the myriad of complexities and sensitivities of the diverse communities we love, serve, partner with, and employ. We stand in solidarity with all who are raising their voices to be heard, and most importantly the outrage of Black people, who are a vital part of our nation and our own beloved BroadFutures community.

We know the barriers faced by disabled people are significantly more profound for all our communities of color, especially those who are part of the criminal justice system. We are committed to work to eradicate these barriers and to ensure the limitless potential of those that we serve. We continue to ensure that the employers we partner with and the young people we serve reflect the diversity of our country. We are dedicated to intentionally work against racism, in furtherance of the beauty of diversity, where Black lives are cherished and nurtured.

We must have the freedom to speak up and speak out and we must listen –  listen to the voices of the outraged and the voices of those who have not been adequately heard for a very long time. We need to create spaces for open conversations – conversations that include young people of color. Finally, we commit to work towards a future that includes everyone and ensures that justice, opportunity, protection, and support are equal for Black people. We hope that this message finds all of you safe and healthy. We look forward to moving together as a community, voices raised in fierce condemnation of racial inequities, and hearts laser focused on creating meaningful change.

Onward in outrage, solidarity, and hope,

Co-Founder/CEO/President