Debbie Almontaser
Bridging Cultures Group
Brooklyn, New York
In a time of deep polarization and persistent inequity, Dr. Debbie Almontaser builds bridges where others see barriers. Through education, restorative practice, and cross-cultural engagement, she equips communities to move beyond stereotypes and toward shared understanding. As an internationally recognized educator and Founder & CEO of Bridging Cultures Group (BCG), Dr. Almontaser transforms institutions—schools, workplaces, and civic organizations—into spaces where equity and inclusion are not aspirational values, but lived realities.
About Debbie Almontaser:
Dr. Debbie Almontaser is an internationally recognized, award-winning educator, speaker, and authority on cross-cultural understanding. A 25-year veteran of New York City’s public schools, she was the founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn and is the Founder and CEO of Bridging Cultures Group, Inc. She is widely sought after for her expertise in cultural diversity, conflict resolution, Arab culture, Islam, and interfaith coalition building, and is the author of Leading While Muslim, amplifying the stories of American Muslim leaders. Her leadership has been featured by major national media outlets including The New York Times, Time, and Newsweek.
Bridging Cultures Group (BCG)
Through Bridging Cultures Group, Dr. Almontaser advances equity and inclusion by designing training programs and initiatives that build understanding across communities and workplaces. BCG operates at the intersection of restorative practice, cultural competency, and applied learning—helping participants see themselves as part of a diverse, interdependent world across racial, ethnic, and religious lines.
BCG’s core offerings include:
Customized Train-the-Trainer Programs that equip leaders and educators to implement sustainable equity frameworks within their own institutions.
The Courageous Conversations Series, a restorative-practice model that guides educators and students in meaningful dialogue about race, culture, and global issues.
Culturally Responsive Food Access Initiatives, including pioneering halal and kosher meal consultations and partnerships with food providers across New York City to ensure religious and cultural inclusion in public systems.
Dr. Almontaser’s work directly confronts systemic Islamophobia, racism, and gender inequity. Through education, she dismantles narratives that marginalize Muslim and immigrant communities; through leadership development, she creates pathways for women and young people of color to step into public leadership. Her programs move beyond individual awareness and engage institutions—from schools to civic organizations—to embed equity, representation, and cultural fluency into their structures and policies.
Through disciplined strategy and courageous dialogue, Dr. Debbie Almontaser is reshaping how communities understand one another—building not only bridges, but durable pathways toward justice and shared belonging.
