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Designing Your Life with Ed Hajim: A Masterclass in Resilience and Reinvention
This week on the Cultural Curriculum Chat™ Podcast, I had the honor of interviewing Ed Hajim, a man whose life story embodies resilience, courage, and purpose-driven leadership. His journey — from childhood trauma to becoming a philanthropic leader — is a powerful reminder that we each have the capacity to design a meaningful life, no matter where we begin. Ed’s
Healing the Inner Child & Rewriting Trauma with Heather Ann Ferri
On this week’s episode of The Cultural Curriculum Chat™ Podcast, I sat down with trauma expert, author, healer, and former tap-performance artist Heather Ann Ferri — and wow, what a conversation. Heather’s story takes us from Pittsburgh to New York City stages, from working with dance legend Jimmy Slyde to losing her ability to walk, and ultimately to writing her
“Work That Matters — How Care, Courage, and History Shape the Future of Leadership”
What does it mean to lead with care in a world that celebrates constant hustle? This week on The Cultural Curriculum Chat, I sat down with Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves, a historian, author, and leadership coach whose journey bridges history, mentorship, and social-justice advocacy. From her working-class Chicago roots to her academic journey through feminist and anti-racist frameworks, Jodi’s story is
Empowering Language Development in Children with Janine Tang
When we think about communication, we often picture words — but it’s really about connection. In this week’s episode of The Cultural Curriculum Chat, I sit down with Jeaneen Tang, a speech-language pathologist, author, and mother whose story reminds us of the power of hope and the human spirit. When her son Che was just 13 months old, he suffered
Privilege as a Catalyst: How Michael Bach Turned Passion into Global Impact
“When people thrive, organizations thrive. That’s the real business case for IDEA.” – Michael Bach
Racial & Cultural Responsiveness in Education: Insights from My Conversation on The Inclusive Education Project Podcast
I had the privilege of joining The Inclusive Education Project Podcast for an episode titled “Racial and Cultural Responsiveness and Accountability in Education.” We dug deep into what it means to build truly inclusive, equitable educational environments—not just in policies or statements, but in everyday classroom practice, leadership decisions, and systems-wide accountability. Key Takeaways from the Conversation What Responsiveness Really
Fostering Empathy: Virtual Reality in Cultural Competence Training
Virtual Reality can make abstract ideas felt: pace of conversation, personal space, sounds of a community. But VR only works when it’s ethical, accessible, and facilitated. Here’s a practical guide for classrooms and teams—with or without headsets. Why VR for Cultural Competence? Encourages perspective-taking and noticing norms without exoticizing. Provides a rehearsal space for inclusive responses. Sparks reflective dialogue when
Inclusive Leadership: Traits of Culturally Proficient Managers
Belonging isn’t a slogan. It’s the outcome of systems and daily behaviors leaders model. Here are the 10 traits of culturally proficient managers—and exactly how to practice them. 1) Self-Awareness + Humility Model growth. Share what you’re learning and how you’ll get feedback. 2) Curiosity Over Certainty Swap assumptions for open prompts: “Tell me more about how this impacts you.”
The Global Citizen: Preparing Students for a Multicultural World
Global citizenship isn’t just passports and maps. It begins with identity, dignity, and the words we choose every day. What Is a Global Citizen (for real)? A global citizen is a learner who can: connect local and global issues, respect multiple perspectives, communicate across cultures, and take informed, empathetic action. Think in four pillars: Identity, Perspective-Taking, Communication, Action. Teacher prompts:
