I spent the first two months of my life outside the United States, due to my father's temporary job assignment in Monrovia, Liberia. My interest in other cultures has continued over the years. I taught my first group of students in Seoul, Korea, where I worked at a hagwon with students aged 3 - 16. I travel almost each summer as well. A few of the highlights in my travels have been Turkey, Israel, Iceland, Thailand, and Nepal. I have been teaching English as a second language at John Bowne High School for the last six years, where I serve as an advisor to the Chinese and Korean clubs. I also have coordinated our annual "International Extravaganza," which showcases dances and songs from world cultures. When I am not acting as if I am an employee of the United Nations, I act in plays, run marathons, swing dance and ski.

Sara Yaffee worked as a guidance counselor in the New York City Public School System for five years before transitioning into an administrative role at Bard High School Early College. She completed her B.A. in psychology at Gettysburg College and then continued her graduate studies at New York University where she received a Master's in counseling psychology in 1999 and an M.S.W. in 2001. In 2002, she completed her M.S. Ed in administration/supervision from Pace University. In addition, Sara holds a counseling practice in the New York City metro area where she works with adults who have anxiety, depression, eating disorders and conflicts in their interpersonal relationships. She conducts individual, couple, family and group counseling while also taking a particular interest in multi-cultural and adolescent counseling. Sara has traveled extensively having spent time in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Greece, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Belize and all of Western Europe. She brings to Project Bridge her understanding of youth and culture.

Lecia founded Diversity Matters, an independent consulting group, in 2000 to encourage individuals and groups to value and celebrate diverse life experiences. She also serves as the director of special projects for the National Conference for Community and Justice/Los Angeles, where she enjoys working with high school students and teachers. Lecia taught 5th grade for five years prior to making diversity issues her lifework. Lecia is proud of her only child, Daniel, who serves in the US Army. She lives with her two cats, Monie and Izzy, in South Pasadena.

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Lisa is the younger of two daughters. Family and culture are two very important values in her life, and she attributes many of her achievements to strong role modeling from her relatives. Both her parents were interned in Japanese Concentration Camps during WWII, and then her father was drafted out of the camps to serve in the segregated 442nd Army combat unit. These atrocities have motivated her to work personally and professionally on projects to promote the understanding of cross-cultural differences. As an organization development consultant, Lisa has been providing training and consulting services to youth and adults in both corporate and community settings for over 10 years. She specializes in change management, with an emphasis on leadership styles, teambuilding, and workplace diversity. In addition to program development, Lisa also creates and implements customized needs assessments and program evaluations for her clients. Lisa holds a Ph.D. in organizational psychology from Alliant International University. She earned an M.A. in psychology from Pepperdine University, and a B.S. in biology from Santa Clara University. Currently, Lisa serves on the board of directors for the Asian Business Association of Los Angeles. Some of Lisa's favorite joys in life include: creative culinary experimentation, watching sunsets at the beach, training in karate, reading Harry Potter, learning about a wide variety of topics, and gathering with friends over a meal.