Our society is deeply divided.
Cultivate bridge-building skills and be part of the solution.

The Bridging the Gap Fellowship (BtG) equips students with bridge-building skills to engage in meaningful conversations across the deep divides of our polarized society. Based on a curriculum from Interfaith America, BtG helps students learn to listen, hear, seek common ground, and work with others. Through this process, they also discover more about themselves and narrate their own stories.

Over eight sessions, split evenly across the fall and spring semesters, the fellowship will include an introductory meeting, five workshops, and an opportunity to plan an event for Ramapo students highlighting the benefits of thoughtful bridge-building. Meals will be provided at our meeting and we’ll conclude with a special dinner.

We are looking for sixteen Ramapo students, excluding seniors, to participate in the 2025-2026 BtG fellowship. Upon completion, students will receive a stipend of $250. (Up to two students will have the opportunity to return as “BtG Ambassadors” in 2026-2027.)

Members of the 2024-2025 BtG cohort posing with our interfaith panelists, Imam Gazment Aga, Dr. Raghavan Krishnan, and Rabbi Marc Katz.

Fall Dates

Tuesday, October 14 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in LC-215

Tuesday, October 28 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in LC-215

Tuesday, November 18 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in LC-215

Tuesday December 2 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in LC-215

Spring dates will be determined in conversation with fellowship participants.

Applications and Nominations

The application and nomination period will run from Monday, September 8 through Friday, September 26.

Do not apply if you cannot attend the meetings as listed above.

Student should complete this application form, which requires them to upload a resume and personal statement. Limit resumes to two pages. The personal statement should not exceed 500 words.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate students (click the link).

Organizers

Co-sponsored and co-organized by the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, the Civic and Community Engagement Center, and the Office of Equity Diversity Inclusion and Compliance at Ramapo College.

The Russell Berrie Foundation and Interfaith America provided seed funding for our first cohort. We invite new sponsors for the coming years.

Please direct all inquiries to to ccec@ramapo.edu or holgen@ramapo.edu.

Past BtG Cohorts

Cohort 2024-2025

Catherine Bardzell, Bibhu Bhatta, John Brighouse, Tru Cawley, Lerina Davis, Christopher Flug, Breanna Gordon, Pranish Khanal, Grace Martinez, Liz Mendicino, Brandon Prichard, Emally Quezada, Amanda Shortt, Ava Smajlaj, Keva Torres

Our First Panel Discussion