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This four-day program will take place in El Paso (Texas) and focus on immigration, border policy, and other divisive issues.
This is a great opportunity for Seeds to understand more of our world and to practice PS level dialogue. The program will be held in March and Seeds of Peace will organize all travel.
Where
The program will be in locations across El Paso (Texas). We will not be crossing the border into Mexico.
Who
American Seeds from the 2023 and 2024 Seeds of Peace Camp.
What
Facing La Frontera is an in-person experience of our southern border during which we will learn from local experts about the realities of immigration and the communities impacted by federal and state policies.
This learning will be paired with PS level dialogue that debriefs content that we have encountered and offers support and understanding of these experiences.
Like many post-Camp Seeds of Peace programs, Facing La Frontera will combine experiential education, including site visits and hearing from local experts, alongside dialogue. Program days will be structured around meetings organized through our local partner, Abara, with dialogue/debrief sessions in the afternoon or evening.
Abara is an El Paso nonprofit that “hosts educational border trips and offers holistic support alongside displaced communities, fostering connection and understanding in a polarized world.” They organize dozens of visits to El Paso every year by schools, universities (including the University of Arizona, George Mason, and the University of New Mexico), and religious groups that expose participants to a variety of perspectives and experiences.
Examples of sessions include a context setter on global migrations and Central American realities; meeting with representatives from the US Border Patrol; hearing from subject area experts on forced migration, US immigration policy, and human rights law; learning about the impacts of xenophobic rhetoric on a binational community.
Security & Safety
El Paso is often ranked among the safest large cities in the United States, well ahead of New York, Los Angeles, or Boston. Staff will accompany participants at all times. We will be closely monitoring updates from the border leading up to our visit and are working with a local organization that has 15 years of experience running this type of program
Travel
We will book flights to El Paso (ELP) and Seeds of Peace staff will meet participants inside the airport. There are direct flights to ELP from Dallas, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Diego, Long Beach, Orlando, Chicago, and Seattle.
If participants are flying from New York City or Boston, then Seeds of Peace will offer a chance for participants to fly with staff.
In El Paso, we will travel in vans driven by staff, just like at the Seeds of Peace Camp.
Staff
The program will be highly staffed, with a 2:1 participant to staff ratio. The program will be led by US/UK Programs Manger Devany Pitsas, along with others including Seeds of Peace United States Director of Dialogue & Training K Jaiman, 2023 & 2024 Seeds of Peace Camp Community Care Specialist Dr. Shayna Perry, 2022-24 Seeds of Peace Camp Counselor Joshua Garcia, and Seeds of Peace Director of Communications (and El Paso resident) Eric Kapenga.
Clothing
Participants should dress for cool spring weather with highs in the 60s and chilly evenings with lows in the 40s. Unlike the Seeds of Peace Camp, we will be in professional settings and therefore we highly encourage participants to dress appropriately: no shorts, tank tops, or sandals. El Paso is a high desert environment with little cloud cover, so bring a hat along with a fleece or sweatshirt for the evenings. There will be no swimming during this program and therefore no need to bring a swimsuit.