Dispatch from the Border
Greetings from El Paso, Texas! Since Sunday I have been on an in-depth border studies program with twelve CA students, English teacher/10th grade dean Emily Perez, and Susan Lambert of World Leadership School, the group that is helping us facilitate this trip. It is hard to encapsulate all the important aspects of an experiential trip like this, but I will try to sum up as many of the key take-aways as I can.
1. This has been an amazing learning experience for our students, who have been exposed to situations and people they would never come across otherwise.
2. Our group of 12 freshmen have handled whatever has come their way with open minds and respectful attitudes. Despite the very busy schedule we kept, they maintained their positive spirit. They were particularly wonderful with the children in an after-school program held at the church where we stayed.
3. The immigration debate should rightly be seen as a many-sided issue, rather than broken down to any sort of us vs. them situation, regardless of one’s politics. I knew a lot about the topic already, and have come away with an even deeper perspective on the incredibly complex web that has been created in this country.
4. Based on our visit to a Federal courthouse and an interaction with an immigration lawyer this week, I am both amazed at the sheer volume of the cases related to immigration, as well as the compassionate and fair way the cases are handled. There are many committed professionals dedicated to helping this process work as efficiently as it can while safeguarding people’s rights. It’s not perfect by any means—no human system ever is—but our legal system is still one of the country’s strengths.
5. El Paso has long existed as a border city that shares much in common with its companion city over the border, Juarez. Before the 1990s and the surge of Central American immigrants (understandably fleeing desperate situations in their home countries), there was a high degree of fluidity and flexibility in the area. Many people crossed back and forth and maintained familial or business ties on both sides of the border. The people we talked to in El Paso noted the tightening of the border and most lamented the fact that there was less latitude to negotiate a border community in the way that honored people’s needs and rights.
6. We heard many different individual stories all week. One should never underestimate the power of one person’s story. We should also avoid making generalizations based on any one story. The power of a story is in its uniqueness AND the way it contributes to the tapestry of the world we know.
7. El Paso prides itself on being one of the top five safest cities in the country. There is a wonderful small city feel here and the natural beauty is something I did not anticipate.
8. The bulk of the work being done to support undocumented workers, refugees and other people living in poverty is being done not by the government but by small non-profits and religiously-based organizations. The commitment and selflessness exhibited by people in these groups is truly remarkable.
9. Food always brings people together.
10. Storytelling is a close second.
2. Our group of 12 freshmen have handled whatever has come their way with open minds and respectful attitudes. Despite the very busy schedule we kept, they maintained their positive spirit. They were particularly wonderful with the children in an after-school program held at the church where we stayed.
3. The immigration debate should rightly be seen as a many-sided issue, rather than broken down to any sort of us vs. them situation, regardless of one’s politics. I knew a lot about the topic already, and have come away with an even deeper perspective on the incredibly complex web that has been created in this country.
4. Based on our visit to a Federal courthouse and an interaction with an immigration lawyer this week, I am both amazed at the sheer volume of the cases related to immigration, as well as the compassionate and fair way the cases are handled. There are many committed professionals dedicated to helping this process work as efficiently as it can while safeguarding people’s rights. It’s not perfect by any means—no human system ever is—but our legal system is still one of the country’s strengths.
5. El Paso has long existed as a border city that shares much in common with its companion city over the border, Juarez. Before the 1990s and the surge of Central American immigrants (understandably fleeing desperate situations in their home countries), there was a high degree of fluidity and flexibility in the area. Many people crossed back and forth and maintained familial or business ties on both sides of the border. The people we talked to in El Paso noted the tightening of the border and most lamented the fact that there was less latitude to negotiate a border community in the way that honored people’s needs and rights.
6. We heard many different individual stories all week. One should never underestimate the power of one person’s story. We should also avoid making generalizations based on any one story. The power of a story is in its uniqueness AND the way it contributes to the tapestry of the world we know.
7. El Paso prides itself on being one of the top five safest cities in the country. There is a wonderful small city feel here and the natural beauty is something I did not anticipate.
8. The bulk of the work being done to support undocumented workers, refugees and other people living in poverty is being done not by the government but by small non-profits and religiously-based organizations. The commitment and selflessness exhibited by people in these groups is truly remarkable.
9. Food always brings people together.
10. Storytelling is a close second.
We are headed home on Saturday, much better informed about this border area and with plenty to think about. As one of our point persons here in El Paso told us, “What we hope is that you hear many different perspectives on immigration and life on the border. What you do with that information is up to you.” The students on the trip will be presenting their experiences in a collective group presentation to the rest of the 9th grade on Monday, February 5.
© 2023 Colorado Academy
