“What began as theoretical discussions in coffee shops with my partners Diana Eisenstat and Brad Holmes has now turned into a mission-driven reality, fueled by the time, energy and imagination of so many of our partners and supporters. We are passionate about delivering an innovative program that provides opportunity and critical support for young people with learning disabilities, while also inspiring a more diverse and inclusive workplace.” – Carolyn Jeppsen, CEO
Paid employment is one of the best predictors of a positive future.

BroadFutures was founded by Carolyn Jeppsen, Diana Eisenstat and Brad Holmes, who first came together as Board members of The Kingsbury Center, a 75-year-old educational institution serving students with learning disabilities and their families. They are passionately committed to broadening options and ensuring pathways for success for this promising group of young people. All of the founders are also proud parents of children with learning and other disabilities.
Our Mission is to celebrate neurodiversity by creating access, cultivating skills and revolutionizing the workplace for all.
Our Vision is an inclusive workplace where all people have an equal opportunity to thrive.
Neurodivergent people make up 20% of the population yet often face significant challenges in securing stable, fulfilling employment and completing their education. BroadFutures is dedicated to changing that by removing employment barriers and providing comprehensive support to both neurodivergent young people and employers. We empower our participants to thrive while also guiding employers in creating accessible and inclusive workplaces.
Early paid work experiences are the single greatest predictor of future success for young people with disabilities. Our unique program prepares young people for these experiences.
Accessible Approach for Diverse Learners
Accessible Approach for Diverse Learners
Our programs build workplace readiness skills in unique ways. We foster peer-to-peer learning to ensure our interns benefit from each other’s experiences. In our DC Internship Program, we integrate the arts through role play, improvisation, and games, allowing our interns to fully engage with the curriculum. This approach provides a risk-free environment to make mistakes, practice work situations, receive feedback, and enter the workplace with greater comfort and confidence.
Diversity of Internships to Match Diversity of Interests
Diversity of Internships to Match Diversity of Interests
We are committed to offering a wide range of internships that align with the interests, skills, and passions of our interns. Our partnerships with employers span various fields, including Policy & Politics, Marketing and Communications, STEM, and Hospitality.
Unlocking Potential
Unlocking Potential
Our curriculum and support services are focused on helping each individual intern achieve their full potential. We tailor our programming and support to meet the unique talents, skills, motivations, and passions of each intern. Our goal is not merely to fulfill the requirement of completing an internship; we aim to create a transformative experience that changes the lives of our participants and sets them up for future success. By helping interns reach their potential, we are also supporting employers in creating inclusive and accessible workplaces.

Carolyn is passionate about creating innovative solutions to empower young people with disabilities to succeed in education and the workforce. Carolyn co-founded BroadFutures in 2013 and has served as its CEO and President since that time. She oversees the creation, planning and implementation of BroadFutures’ strategic direction, as well as the overall administration, program development and fiscal health. She has grown the organization from serving 5 people in 2014 and partnering with 3 employers to serving close to 300 people directly, hundreds more through outreach efforts and partnering with over 60 employers.
Carolyn speaks nationally on the benefits of a diverse workforce that is inclusive of disability, as well as the value proposition of internships and work based learning for neurodivergent talent. Carolyn has devoted over 20 years serving on Nonprofit Boards and Advisory Boards that are committed to enriching the lives of disabled people, including: Lesley University, The Arc of D.C., Disability:In (DC chapter) Camp Launcher, The River School, The Massachusetts General Hospital Aspire Program, and The Kingsbury Center. Carolyn is also an experienced litigator with a career focused in the areas of insurance defense, medical malpractice, professional liability and financial institutions. She has authored several articles and publications within diversified areas of expertise including legal, workforce equity and neurodiversity.
Carolyn received her B.A. with honors from Colby College, in Philosophy and French, her J.D. from George Washington University National Law Center, and her Certificate of Non-Profit Executive Management from Georgetown University.
Carolyn resides in the District of Columbia with her husband and is the proud parent of three young adult daughters, two of whom identify as having disabilities.


Caitlin Garman serves as our Director of Admissions and Outreach, working to lead outreach efforts to recruit prospective interns and manage the admissions process for our programs. Before coming to BroadFutures, Caitlin served as a clinical manager in a school based mental health program. She has extensive experience in schools as a teacher, social worker, and transition coordinator, and in particular with KIPP Charter Schools. Caitlin is committed to supporting young neurodivergent people to attain choice filled lives. Caitlin received her B.A. in Communications and Psychology from the George Washington University and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. She is originally from Baltimore and currently resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and two children.

Shannon Bockmiller serves as our Program Manager and Employer Specialist, working to ensure successful outcomes for interns during the program. She also supports our existing employer partners and helps to develop new employer partnerships to expand internship placements. Before coming to BroadFutures, Shannon served as a school leader implementing a full day experiential learning model at a Washington, DC Public Charter School. Shannon also has extensive experience as an educator in the public and charter schools systems in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis, Missouri. She is committed to disrupting traditional learning systems to increase equity and inclusivity and intends to continue this work in BroadFutures. Shannon received her B.A. in Public Health from the University of South Carolina and her M.Ed from the University of Missouri- St. Louis. Shannon is originally from Baltimore, MD and currently resides in Washington, DC with her dog Piper.

Shaynie serves as the Senior Program Coordinator at BroadFutures and comes to us as a Teach for America Alumni corps, having served as a teacher at Link Community Charter School in Newark NJ., where she was committed to closing the achievement gap amongst students in low income areas who battle educational inequity. Shaynie is incredibly passionate about the uplift of people from diverse backgrounds and works as a changemaker to make spaces more inclusive and equitable. Shaynie's background has equipped her with the ability to build agency within the populations she has worked with and is translating that experience to our mission here at BroadFutures. Shaynie received her B.A. from Muhlenberg College in Sociology and her Masters of Arts in Education from Relay Graduate School of Education. Shaynie is originally from East Orange, New Jersey and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Raymond delivers the applied theater portion of our curriculum, using role-play, improvisation, and other drama techniques and games to reinforce our curriculum and create community. In addition to his work with BroadFutures, Raymond is the Artistic Director of Theater Alliance. Raymond has toured nationally and internationally and worked with playwrights and artists from around the world including Ntozake Shange, Edward Albee, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Sally Oswald. Raymond received the Allen Lee Hughes Fellowship in Community Engagement in 2009 and the following season joined the Arena Stage staff where he worked for 6 years as both an administrator and artist. As an artist/director/divisor he has developed work with various schools & organizations throughout the US and internationally. He has traveled to India several times to create devised theater with diverse groups in Kolkata, Patna, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad. He has also developed work in Ukraine, Greece, Germany, and the UK. Raymond holds an MFA in acting with a focus in community outreach and developing new work from The Ohio State University and a BFA in acting from the University of Florida.


Ron Sokolov serves as the Head of Partnerships and Strategy for our National Program, spearheading the growth of partnerships with Fortune 1000 companies nationwide. He also serves as the founder and President of Falcon Strategies LLC, a firm that blends an understanding of mission complexity with the rigor of commercial analysis to help nonprofits amplify mission success. He challenges nonprofit leaders who are eager to step outside of a "status quo" mindset and grow their organizations revenue and mission impact. Prior to that this he spent the better part of two decades in the commercial arena in leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies including Amazon Web Services, Booz Allen, Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner). He was also a founding employee at the Transportation Security Administration following 9/11 where he worked in policy, customer service, and front office roles. Ron is driven by a personal passion for mission inspired both by his upbringing and his middle child who has intellectual disabilities and an unbreakable passion for fun and adventure. Ron holds a Masters in Public Policy from Columbia University and a BA in Political Economy from UC Berkeley.