| Morning |
Breakfast at the casa particular with your Cuban hosts |
| Afternoon |
Lunch at a local paladar restaurant |
| Late Afternoon |
Walking tour of Old Havana, including a visit to a Primary School and meeting with the principal |
| Evening |
Dinner at a local paladar restaurant |
Travel Programs
Building Bridges to Cuba
Located just 90 miles from the United States, the Caribbean island of Cuba has been difficult to travel to from the U.S. for 60 years. This is an extraordinary opportunity to take part in a week long experience in Cuba with Bank Street College. Participants will explore the history and culture of Cuba, with a focus on the systems of universal education and healthcare, as well as community-building designed to promote social justice and equity. Based in the cities of Havana and Trinidad, the program includes visits to community projects, museums, and historic sites and opportunities to speak with educators, health care professionals, artists, musicians, and everyday citizens to build bridges of understanding. Throughout the experience, inquiry and reflection will be utilized to examine the interwoven strands of indigenous, European, and African heritage that have given rise to a distinctive culture with a strong global presence.
Legal travel to Cuba is possible for Americans. We are working closely with our travel partners to design a trip that allows us to travel under the Support for the Cuban people visa category.
Update: December 2021
As of this writing, the political climate and health requirements on travel make it difficult for Americans to travel legally to Cuba. We are in touch with our partners in Cuba and hope to offer a program in 2023. Travel to other countries is more feasible and CPS at Bank Street is offering two travel programs this summer to Morocco and Costa Rica. We encourage your participation.
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Sample Day
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2020 Program Fees
$3,995 per person
- Includes airfare (round-trip from New York City to Havana),
- Casas particulares in Havana and Trinidad (bed and breakfasts, single occupancy, may have shared bathrooms),
- Meals,
- Local transportation,
- Bank Street faculty program leader,
- Guest speakers,
- Museum entrance fees,
- Orientation and Reunion programs.
- Earn profession development hours, 60 CTLE hours or 6 CEUs
This program is open to all educators. Bank Street affiliation is not required.
Additional costs could include:
- Drinks outside of meals or on the bus,
- Souvenirs,
- Optional evening activities, and
- One meal at the restaurant of your choice.
- Double occupancy accommodations available for reduction of $70. (All accommodations may have shared bathrooms.)
- 1 or 2 graduate credits can be earned for an additional fee. Coursework will be due in November of 2020.
Bank Street Cooperating Teacher Vouchers and Bank Street Staff Waivers reduced the cost of this program to $2,995.
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Instructor: Julie Broderick
Julie Broderick, MSEd, MS, teaches 5th grade at the School at Columbia. She is a lead teacher of mathematics, literacy, and social studies. She is also an instructor at Bank Street, teaching math methods classes for Continuing Professional Studies. In addition, she has spent seven years as a lecturing professor of undergraduate elementary methods courses at Barnard College. Prior to teaching at The School, Julie taught for thirteen years in the New York City public schools, teaching 1st– 5th grades in Washington Heights and on the Upper West Side. Julie began her career as a bilingual teacher, working in both transitional and dual language Spanish bilingual programs. She has traveled to Cuba five times, presenting at conferences and traveling the country with teachers. Julie holds advanced degrees from both Bank Street and Georgetown University and earned her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where she majored in government with a concentration in Latin American politics.
View Highlights from Previous Trips
Visits to el Niño y la Niña community project, historic sites, dance performances, art venues and meeting with Cubans-
Group at the Plaza de la Revolución -
Visiting the rehearsal of Conjunto Folklórico Nacional dance company -
Learning about el Niño y la Niña community project -
Flag at the Literacy Museum: Cuba is free from illiteracy -
At an Artist's Studio, Trinidad de Cuba -
Meeting with teachers in Havana -
posing for photos after a performance of La Colmenita children's theater program -
Art installation at Fábrica de Artes -
Trinidad de Cuba -
Enjoying a performance by Abracadabra (Proyecto Fiesta Popular) in Cienfuegos -
Meeting at the Cuba Libro English Language Bookstore -
View across the mouth of the Almendares River, Havana
This trip impacted me in an expected way. I learned a lot about the culture of Cuba… However, this trip really brought me back to the basics of teaching: enabling children to flourish. It was so refreshing to be with educators and seeing Cuban kids play and create was such a perspective shift for me. This trip really reminded me of why I joined the profession in the first place – to help children grow.