Border Stories
I had the privilege to again work with the Grotto Network and travel to the Arizona - Mexico border for a week to tell the stories of three groups making a difference in small ways. It was an exciting adventure that was both challenging and eye-opening for me.
The first story is about Humane Borders, a humanitarian group that distributes water and aid along migrant paths in the deserts of Arizona. Their work helps save countless lives, though they receive backlash and hostility from those who think they are aiding criminals.
From the Grotto Network:
Every year, hundreds of migrants die in the desert from dehydration. Humane Borders is dedicated to saving their lives by providing water along the way of their grueling and dangerous journey.
“It’s not for me to judge whether they are breaking the law; I just want to help human beings in need.”
The second story is about the Migrant Carpentry Workshop, part of the DouglaPrieta Works philanthropic partnership between Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Mexico. They train migrants in carpentry and other trades, so that they can have a marketable skill to make a living without needing to cross the border.
It was inspiring to see a new perspective on the immigration crisis and a grassroots effort to make a positive impact in the lives of migrants.
From the Grotto Network:
“What can we do so that they can have a successful life?” This is the question Rich Wekerle and Tom Fleming were asking themselves about migrants when they decided to found the Migrant Carpentry Workshop with Sr. Judy Bourg, SSND.
The goal of the workshop is very simple: teach somebody a skill that they will be able to use under any circumstances for the rest of their lives.
The final story is about a group that plants crosses to honor the lives of migrants who have died in the desert. Many of these migrants die unidentified, but they believe all lives are worth remembering.
From the Grotto Network:
Sister Lucy and Deacon Gabriel plant crosses in the Arizona desert where the remains of migrants who died on their journey have been found.
“It’s a very Christian thing and human thing to remember people - not a political thing,” Sister Lucy shares.
This trip was an incredible experience that will stick with me for a long time. I hope to have been able to shed some light on the many different ways we can recognized the innate humanity that often gets ignored in the political debate regarding immigration.