Action Items

• Watch three District high school students share how internships have trained them for the future.
  
  
• Join AEF in welcoming Brittany Anderson, program manager, to the team.
  
  
• Donate a prize to the Destination DC Member Holiday Party. Raffle proceeds benefit AEF programs.

“The internship [at Founding Farmers] showed me that there are people in your corner, both where you’re working and behind the scenes, eager to help you. They’ll make sure you feel like you belong.” – Dianna Mozee, Roosevelt High School

What does it mean to be a part of a student’s journey?

Hear directly from DC hospitality and tourism high school students about their internships: John Thompson, Hyatt House Washington, DC Wharf; Deanna Mozee, Founding Farmers; and Mattison McDonald, Destination DC  

Internship programs allow students to receive hands on training in the hospitality industry, build relevant skills and grow their professional networks.

In 2023, AEF proudly hosted 16 interns and connected host employers to students throughout the District.

You and your business can invest in the next generation.

Brittany Anderson joins AEF as the new program manager. A long-time school partner, Brittany worked as the college and career coordinator at Ballou High School, bringing with her years of industry and education experience.

She will oversee AEF’s work with students and educators and will work to build programs to help young people enter college and careers with confidence.

Last month, AEF hosted a planning session for educators and administrators of DC’s high school Academies of Hospitality and Tourism, Culinary Arts and Mass Media. The session planned an extensive calendar of work-based learning opportunities for the year, including executive speaking engagements, out of classroom experiences for young chefs, event planning for hospitality students, volunteering for resume reviews and more.

Thank you to our hosts at the Generator Hotel Washington DC.

Interested in giving students a behind-the-scenes look at your business this school year? Contact info@americanexperiencefoundation.org to learn more.

The holiday season is right around the corner. AEF is looking for individual prizes or packages that celebrate your company and the season for the annual AEF Holiday Raffle.

Consider a gift card to your restaurant or attraction, a hotel stay or tickets to an upcoming holiday show. Participation is considered a tax-deductible donation for 2023 and your company will be featured as a partner in raffle promotions, at the Member Holiday Party and in the 2024 AEF Annual Review.

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