Project Bridging Cultures in Harrisburg

This summer has been flying by. Here's an update on what we've been up to:

Amanda and I just came back from a conference on ESL in our state capital of Harrisburg, PA. Teachers, administrators, and others traveled from all over the commonwealth to learn about and discuss transitions for English language learners.

Not only was it important for us to learn about what was happening in the field, but it was also enjoyable to be able to talk about our own work at Project Bridging Cultures. Amanda and I presented a workshop about helping immigrant high school students enter the world of college and work. We were pleased to have over a dozen very engaged participants share their own experiences from working with foreign-born youth.

Amanda was also invited to participate in the conference's research symposium. Seated with academics, government officials, and workforce development leaders, she spoke as a representative of the state's community-based organizations. While many of the presenters on the panel talked about various studies and broader trends affecting English language learners, Amanda grounded the discussion by talking specifically about how a program like Project Bridging Cultures operates in response to research.

The time we spent in Harrisburg provided us with some good connections and food for thought. As we approach the end of August, we will be shifting gears in preparation for the beginning of the school year. We have our new mentor team--Steve, Oumar, and Mary will be returning, while we also have a couple of new mentors on board. Training is next week.