K-12
K-12 Education
Bridging Cultures Group Inc. also specializes in personnel training in effective integration and education of English Language Learners and Special Needs students in a K – 12 school setting.
Bridging Cultures Group Inc. specializes in academically and culturally supporting Arab, Muslim and South Asian refugee children, through academic support and cultural competency training in schools.
Academic Support
Bridging Cultures Group Inc. offers professional development for general education and special education teachers working with special needs and ELL students in the following areas:
- English language acquisition and development, curricula, and academic achievement in lesson planning and IEP instruction;
- Understanding the relationship between language acquisition and literacy development;
- Integrating proficiency standards with teaching methods and assessments;
- Implementing strategies that ensure instruction in English is meaningful, relevant and comprehensible;
- Providing a “strategies toolkit” for teachers to enhance and improve instruction for struggling students, based on assessment results; and
- Professional coaching.
Curriculum Design
Bridging Cultures Group Inc. develops curriculum and professional development sessions for school teachers, administrators, and organizations to incorporate culturally responsive materials into their curriculum.
- Upstander Training from a culturally sensitive perspective and allyship for Muslims under attack. 2017 Center for Anti-Violence Education
- I Am Your Protector Toolkit Curriculum. 2017 I Am Your Protector
- Arab Peoples: Past and Present. 2004 Educators for Social Responsibility
- Re-Embracing Diversity in NYC Public Schools: Educational Outreach for Muslim Sensitivity (Co-authored) High School, 2002. Columbia University Muslim Communities Project
- EDA 710 Curriculum Design and Development for teachers and administrators 2018 CUNY, College of Staten Island
- Mosaic Youth Curriculum Project, CAMBA
Workshops and Training
- Muslim Mental Health Conference, 2018
- Education Revolution Conference: Conducted the “Working with non-native English-speaking students and their families” session.
- Columbia University: Reimagining Education Summer Institute: Providing workshops that helped the attendees become socially aware/competent.
- Westchester and Lower Hudson Council for Social Studies (WLHCSS): Provided professional development workshops for social studies teachers regarding the topics of Islam and Muslims.
- Change Impact
Higher Education Services
Bridging Cultures Group (BCG) partners with colleges and universities to foster fairness, accountability, inclusion, and respect (FAIR) through strategic initiatives that build inclusive campus environments for students, faculty, and staff.
Campus Climate Assessment & Cultural Enhancement
Comprehensive Climate Assessments:
- Conduct a survey assessment of the campus climate and facilitate focus groups to gain deeper insights to provide a holistic understanding of campus experiences and challenges
- In-depth analysis of survey and focus group data
- Identifies strengths and areas for improvement in inclusivity and culture
Actionable Recommendations:
- Practical steps to enhance campus climate
- Supports development of inclusive campus strategies
Deliverables:
- Detailed report on survey findings
- Summary of focus group insights
- Strategic inclusivity action plan
College Student Recruitment
BCG assists institutions of higher education in strengthening its outreach and recruitment efforts within Arab, Muslim and South Asian communities. Our strategic engagement plan focuses on fostering connections with key religious, educational, and community organizations to increase enrollment and representation of Arab, Muslim and South Asian students at institutions.
Mapping and outreach to key stakeholders
- Facilitate meetings between institutional leaders and community stakeholders
- Network and alumni engagement and coordination to expand outreach
Admissions Bilingual Outreach Services
Translation Support:
- Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, and French support for six financial aid/recruitment events
- Enhances access and engagement with diverse students and families
Community Building Training
- Cultural Competency Training for faculty, staff, and student leaders
- Facilitate Interfaith & Cross-Cultural DialoguesStudent & Family Workshops to Build Institutional Trust
- Coordinate Mentorship & Internship Partnerships for students
Through these initiatives, BCG helps institutions not only attract diverse students but also build inclusive, equitable campus environments.
Courageous Conversations
BCG’s Courageous Conversations Training program equips educators with tools to facilitate meaningful dialogue on race, culture, and global issues, framed through Restorative Practices lens.
Training Overview
- Engages educators in the Courageous Conversations framework
- Applies Restorative Practices approach to foster safe, respectful dialogue
- Includes a student-facing curriculum guide with 8 structured lessons
- Designed as a train-the-trainer model in partnership with NYC Department of Education
Training Components
Whole Faculty Introduction Session:
- Builds foundational skills for facilitating complex discussions on race, culture, and global issues
- Supports development of inclusive campus strategies
Two Train-the-Trainer Sessions:
- Deepens facilitation skills
- Prepares educators to lead and sustain critical conversations within their schools
Administrative Coaching Sessions:
- Customized support for administrators and staff
- Strategic planning and implementation guidance for campus-wide impact
Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education Support
Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education Train the Trainer Workshops on Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) and Wit & Wisdom Curriculum Programs
In partnership with schools, BCG supports Social Studies and ELA teams in embedding Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education into the HMH and Wit & Wisdom curriculum programs.
Phase I Needs Assessment
- Conducted with all faculty to understand school culture, needs, and goals
- Serves as the foundation for customizing all professional development workshops
- Ensures alignment with school-specific challenges and priorities
Phase II Professional Development Plan
- Deep dive into the new HMH Social Studies curriculum through the lens of the CRSE Framework
- Application of the four pillars of CRSE to build inclusive, culturally competent classrooms
- Support tailored for both instructional teams and school administrators
Training Structure
Two Full Staff Sessions:
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Session 1 (Launch):
- Review needs assessment data
- Reflect on implications for staff and school
- Introduce foundational principles of the CR-S framework
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Session 2 (Closing):
- End-of-year presentation on curriculum work and CRSE integration
CRSE Team Meetings (8+ Sessions):
- Support with curriculum review and resource integration
- Guidance on incorporating CRSE pillars into lesson planning
- Coaching for team implementation and curriculum alignment
- One completed unit to be presented to staff, showcasing methodology and infused resources
Administrative Coaching
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Four 1-hour sessions:
- Customized planning support for administrators and teachers
- Strategic guidance on implementation of CRSE across school roles
The Consultants Behind Our Success
Dr. Debbie Almontaser
Salma G. Waly
Simran Jeet Singh
Zipporiah Mills
Hana Mangat
Past Clients
