American Experience Foundation

Each week of the Career Ready Internship, our students tackled a new topic—then brought their insights to life through a presentation. Every Friday, they took the stage to share their work with our volunteer judges, who offered expert feedback on public speaking, presentation design, and even those tricky punctuation details. 💡 Their thoughtful guidance not only sharpened our interns’ skills but boosted their confidence for the future. A huge thank you to our volunteer judges—your time, expertise, and encouragement made all the difference! Alexandra Haley, Archer Hotel Alice Lee, EOS Hospitality Andrew Roby, Andrew Roby Events Angela Kramer, Friends of Peirce Mill AnnaGrace Hale, Destination DC Ariana Hines, Destination DC Bianca DeStout, Visit Cincy Brittany Edlow, Destination DC Calvin Ruffin, DC Public Schools- Ballou High School and Anacostia Senior High School Carlie Smith, Destination DC Charlie Ross, Destination DC Carole Lambert, LINK Strategic Partners Casey Browne, Destination DC Claire Carlin, Destination DC Danielle Davis, Destination DC Elvina Suryani Sawito, Destination DC Georgia Lucas, Destination DC Grace Kelleher, Destination DC Jose Dominguez, American Experience Foundation Kenlaun Mitchell, Destination DC Laura Calhoun, Destination DC Lauren Kieltyka, Destination DC Lee Callicutt, CSTP, Visit Montgomery, MD Linda Koontz, CMP, Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Convention Center Macharia Davis Davis, US Department of Homeland Security Matteo Coletta, Destination DC Mercedes Lardizabal Colina, TCMA for the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Michael Akin, LINK Strategic Partners Mila Nikolaeva, DMCP, Hosts DC Olivier Lau, The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. Patricia Najar, CICE, Destination DC Rauf Shakir, USA Guided Tours Skye Carter, Skye Marinda Tarot Skye C., LOSPC Hospitality Stephanie Adams , Destination DC Susan OKeefe, Destination DC Taylor Hartley, Capital Turnaround Zoe Roberts, Destination DC

👀👀👀 We spot some familiar faces! Congratulations to AEF intern alumnae Melany Mendez Casas and Mattison McDonald for completing this incredible summer internship!

Thank YOU, Diamond, for always sharing your time, talents, and expertise with Academy scholars! It means so much!

Thank you so much to our great friend and long time partner, Genevieve Lundstrom Ladino and the entire team at Fogo de Chão! What a very special (and delicious!) way to wrap up Career Ready Internships!

🎓 Career Ready Internship Summer 2025 Recap. Congratulations to our amazing interns who completed the six-week journey with Destination DC. Fifteen students showed up every day, four days a week, ready to explore Washington, DC and learn about the hospitality & tourism industry. The interns toured hotels, restaurants and museums; they visited national monuments and public parks and spoke with industry professionals. They attended professional development programs, completed daily writing exercises, and gave weekly presentations about the places they had seen and the skills they had learned. Thank you to all the sponsors who hosted our interns and gave feedback on the weekly presentations. Your support is invaluable. ❤️ In their final presentation, the interns planned a school trip for eighth graders to Washington, DC. They worked out the budget for travel, lodging, food, and fun activities. Each group knocked it out of the park. 🌟 Good luck to our future leaders. The future is bright! 🌟 #americanexperiencefoundation #carerrreadyinterns #CRI #DestinationDC #SummerInterns #workbasedlearning #only1dc 

🚀 Career Ready Internships – Week 5 Recap Week 5 was all about inspiration, insight, and impact. Our interns continued to explore career paths and future possibilities through a series of enriching experiences and conversations with leaders across various industries. Here’s a look at what made Week 5 unforgettable: Professional Development & Workshops • Skills workshop & weekly writing prompt • Dr. Zakiya Edens, Career and Technical Education Director, Calvin Coolidge High School, offered valuable advice on planning for senior year • Dr. Calvin Ruffin, NAF Academy Director, Ballou Senior High School, led an impactful talk on preparing for life “Beyond High School” Immersive Site Visits • Behind-the-scenes tour of Ben's Chili Bowl, where Virginia & Nizam Ali shared the restaurant’s legacy and community impact • Visit to NPR with investigative reporter Cheryl W. Thompson, who gave a firsthand look at storytelling through journalism • Interns also joined Destination DC’s summer outing with City Cruises, exploring DC from the water. They enjoyed delicious food and a hype dancefloor! Intern Presentations To cap off the week, interns delivered thoughtful presentations on “Creating Inspirational Spaces for Youth”, applying the lessons and inspiration they gathered throughout the week. #CareerReady #InternshipExperience #YouthLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #Only1DC #WorkforceDevelopment #DCYouth #BenChiliBowl #NPR #DestinationDC #NPR

🎉Happy National Interns Day! 🎉 We're celebrating our incredible Career Ready Interns by spotlighting their Week 4 journey — a week dedicated to career shadowing and professional exploration. Through immersive site visits, hands-on activities, and meaningful conversations with local leaders, our interns had the chance to step into the shoes of industry professionals and envision their own future paths. 💼 Here’s a glimpse into their inspiring Week 4 experiences: 🔹 Sycamore & Oak – A firsthand look at how this innovative community hub is shaping the future of retail and entrepreneurship in Southeast DC. 🔹 CareFirst Arena Tour with Events DC – Behind-the-scenes insight into venue operations and event production at one of the city’s busiest entertainment spaces. 🔹 City Cruises with D'Mani Harrison-Porter – A unique floating conversation about hospitality, tourism, and career-building on the water. 🔹 Canopy by Hilton Washington DC The Wharf with Concord Hospitality Enterprises – A guided hotel tour and career talk highlighting roles in hospitality management and guest services. 🔹 The Donohoe Companies, Inc. – A high-energy activity day focused on real estate, construction, and development, showcasing the power of teamwork and planning. 🔹 Weekly Presentations – Interns reflected on their experiences and shared takeaways in presentations focused on Professional Careers. 👏 We’re so proud of the growth, curiosity, and professionalism our interns are showing each week. Their drive is exactly what #NationalInternDay is all about. #CareerReady #InternshipExperience #FutureLeaders #WorkforceDevelopment #Only1DC #NationalInternDay #AEFInterns #ProfessionalDevelopment

Thank you to everyone who made our July 4th VIP Celebration unforgettable! With your generous support, the American Experience Foundation raised over $60,000 to help inspire, train, and educate DC students through life-changing opportunities in hospitality and tourism. 👏 Special thanks to our incredible partners for making this celebration such a resounding success. • American Pharmacists Association  • Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) • Hargrove  • American Society of Association Executives • NFP  • LINK Strategic Partners   • Destination DC  • @Ridgewells Catering  • Revolution Events • Encore  • Uncorked DC  • District Winery • The Headliner Group   • Derek Lamar Studios • Bialek's Music • HERE'S THE SCOOP HOMEMADE ICE CREAM • SMILEY JUMP  • A Mother's Prayer Placement • DESIGNS R US  • AlphaGraphics  • PMI Parking

🌟 Career Ready Internship — Week 3 Recap 🌟 Our interns were in full stride, diving into new environments and expanding their horizons through the Only1DC experience. Week 3 was all about exploration, sustainability, and adventure. Here’s a snapshot of their incredible week 3: 🛠️ Skills Workshops - Professional development with Nadiya Richardson, Partnerships & Alliances Assistant - Sustainability insights from Shelby Luzzi, MTA, SEA, Senior Manager - Calendar management tips with Jennifer Rodrigues, Director of Membership 🌿 Immersive DC Experiences - Visited the Folk Life Festival, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, on the National Mall — this year’s theme: Youth Culture - Site visit to the Downtown BID and learned about the Franklin Park renovation - Explored the National Arboretum with the DC Bird Alliance - Tour of the National Bonsai And Penjing Museum - Site visit to The Point DC with Greg Casten - Environmental walking tour with Anacostia Riverkeeper - Rolled through the week with a skating session at the Anacostia Park Roller Pavilion 📽️ Week 3 Presentations: ADVENTURE Our interns wrapped up the week by sharing personal reflections and creative presentations inspired by their experiences. Big things are ahead—stay tuned as the journey continues! #CareerReadyInternship #Only1DC #DestinationDC #WorkforceDevelopment #DCInternships

Thank you so much, Leticia Proctor and the entire Donohoe Hospitality Services team! It's always such an inspiration to hear your story and how you support so many hospitality professionals across our city!