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U.S./Mexico Border Awareness Experience

St. Anthony, NM & El Paso, TX 

January 6th-13th, 2013

"The U.S./Mexico Border is a wound where the Third World grates against the First and bleeds... The lifeblood of two worlds merging to form a third country--A Border Culture."
-Gloria Anzaldua

U.S./Mexico Border

Border Awareness

Our home base is the Women's Intercultural Center in St. Anthony, New Mexico.  Participants will do a 3 night home stay with families in the St. Anthony area.  Participants will have the opportunity to spend time with organizations that deal with immigration issues, attend speakers, and get to know the people in these communities.  A tour with the United States Border Patrol is a highlight of this trip.

The Women's Intercultural Center

Since its inception, the Women's Intercultural Center has been a catalyst for change in the lives of women, a focus the Center continues to achieve through its day to day operations and programs. The Center's three-pronged approach to service intertwines learning opportunities, economic development options, and relationship building with the larger community for purposes of mutual consciousness-raising. Leadership and Spiritual development is also incorporated into all of the organization's programs.

What to Expect:  

• Travel: All ABE trips cost $325.  The US/Mexico Border trip has the added cost of flights. In the past flights to the US/Mexico Border have cost $437 (2012).
• Lodging: Throughout the week, the group will be switching between housing at the Women's Intercultural Center and host families in the St. Anthony area.
• Food: Except for one or two possible meals, all food will be covered by the Women's Intercultural Center or your host families. You will be eating traditional food from that area.
• Work: Rather than direct service work, the focus of this trip is to gain an education on issues surrounding the border.  You will be visiting different organizations and hearing presentations from the people that work and live by the Border. 
• Extra Fun!: Participants are able to enjoy and help prepare authentic Mexican meals and are also given some time off in the evenings or during the day to do as they please.
• Focus: Learning, solidarity, immigration issues, cross-cultural awareness

Interested in applying to co-lead or be a participant on the Border Trip?  Apply here to co-lead or here to participate!

Please note: $100 due with acceptance of a position!

Any questions about this trip can be directed to Alternative Break Experiences at abe@csbsju.edu