Like most people in the United States, I was heartbroken when I learned about the slaying of nine members of the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina. I was overwhelmed by this event, especially due to it's significance within a history of violence against Black churches and Black people.Living on the border, I have begun to fully realize, for the first time, the ways in which our society consistently marginalizes and abuses people of color.On the border, this racism is embodied in unjust immigration policies, racial profiling, and the death, detainment, and deportation of mainly Latino migrants. On the border and in our nation, this racism is embodied in the death and incarceration of countless young Black men, hate crimes, and unequal access to education, job opportunities, and healthcare for people of color. Recently, these injustices have felt almost unbearable for me. As a privileged White woman, I am not as aware of these inequities because I do not have to face them everyday. I merely wake up to these injustices, ever time there is a large national events.
God's children at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, SC
As an educated college student, I naively thought I was knowledgable about these issues as I had learned about institutionalized racism, slavery, and various forms of oppression in classes. But it is very different when you are surrounded and immersed by issues of race. These issues affect you differently when your friend tells to you about leaving a job because they were racist towards her. These issues cut more deeply when you tell someone your roommate doesn't like hiking and they assume it's because she's Black. You start to see patterns when your friend is denied a driver's license and a college education because of his immigration status. It startles you when you realize you haven't had to learn about or protest this because you are White. Our society usually caters to you with you having to do anything. PHRASING
Amidst these daunting, depressing thoughts and realizations, I have found strength in my YAV community, my church, and the Tucson activist circles. The Sunday after the Charleston shooting, my pastor, Rev.Bart Smith of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, compared the gigantic monster of racism toGoliath from the story of David and Goliath.We areDavid and we must be brave, patient, and purposeful as we throw little stones at the beast's head. As Bart held up a small river rock, he reminded us that the monster of racism is not only external, it also resides in the deep, dark cavities of our heart. We must work to cleanse ourselves of our own prejudices as well as working in community.
Recently, I listened to President Obama's eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney, one of the pastors of Emanuel A.M.E. Church. It gave me much hope, clarity, and peace. I strongly recommend listening to his wise words. I'd like to reflect of some of things he said.
"Clem was often asked why he chose to be a pastor and a public servant. But the person who asked probably didn’t know the history of AME Church. As our brothers and sisters in the AME Church, we don’t make those distinctions. “Our calling,” Clem once said, “is not just within the walls of the congregation but the life and community in which our congregation resides.”
I deeply respect the AME Church for the longstanding commitment to fight for justice for all people. During my YAV year, I have had the opportunity to worship in churches like Southside Presbyterian Church and St. Mark's Presbyterian Church who try to live out the gospel every day of the week, not just on Sunday morning. They live out their faith by providing sanctuary for migrants, putting water out in the desert, visiting migrants in detention, and advocating for humane policies.
"We do not know whether the killer of Reverend Pinckney and eight others knew all of this history, but he surely sensed the meaning of his violent act. It was an act that drew on a long history of bombs and arson and shots fired at churches, not random but as a means of control, a way to terrorize and oppress, an act that he imagined would incite fear and recrimination, violence and suspicion, an act that he presumed would deepen divisions that trace back to our nation’s original sin.
Oh, but God works in mysterious ways. God has different ideas. He didn’t know he was being used by God. Blinded by hatred, the alleged killer would not see the grace surrounding Reverend Pinckney and that Bible study group, the light of love that shown as they opened the church doors and invited a stranger to join in their prayer circle. The alleged killer could have never anticipated the way the families of the fallen would respond when they saw him in court in the midst of unspeakable grief, with words of forgiveness. [Video below] He couldn’t imagine that."
When I learned about the shooting, the first thing I thought was, "Why? Why would God let this happen this to His people?" Although I do not believe that Dylan Roof's actions were part of a divine plan or necessary for people to come together, I do believe God works in mysterious ways. I was blown away when I heard the victim's families forgiving Roof, just days after he had murdered their loved ones. God's grace and love are boundless and impossible to predict or define.
According to the Christian tradition, grace is not earned. Grace is not merited. It’s not something we deserve. Rather, grace is the free and benevolent favor of God.... By taking down that flag, we express God’s grace.
This has helped me understand my name, Grace, as an action. We can embody God's grace through racial reconciliation, by loving our neighbors, advocating for our neighbors and fighting for a Kingdom-like world alongside our neighbors. Below are some questions I am still pondering. If you have any ideas or answers please let me know.
Why would God create a world where such horrible things happen?
How can we forgive people while still holding them accountable for their hurtful actions?
How can I, as an ally, express God's grace?
Yesterday, I participated in a Father's Day march for family unity at Southside Presbyterian Church to demand an end to the separation of migrant families
due to detention, deportation, and death in the desert.Before I came to Tucson, I did not understand the complex web of immigration policies that tear families apart. After living here for a year, I have heard countless testimonies of people who have been disconnected from their spouses, parents, and children. Many undocumented parents go to work every morning with the fear they may not return in the evening to see their children.
Due to laws like S.B. 1070, police are allowed ask the immigration status of anyone they pull over, arrest, or suspect to be here without papers. If someone cannot prove they are in the U.S. legally, the police call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Border Patrol to process the individual and take them to detention, prison for migrants. In detention, migrants are often abused as they wait behind bars for months, hoping for a court date or bond hearing. If they are lucky and get a bond, they must raise thousands of dollars, which most working class migrants, do not have. For more information, please read this Center for Immigrations Studies report on detention centers. Most detained migrants do not get access to a lawyer, do not receive a bond, and are deported back to their home countries. There, they must decide whether to create a new life in a country that may be unfamiliar, dangerous, or without jobs, or to take the perilous journey across the desert to reunite with their family in the United States. Many parents hike through the Sonoran desert, risking their lives to be with their children again. In the last 15 years, at least 2,000 migrants have died attempting to crossing the Arizona border alone. For more information on migrants deaths in the desert visit Colibri.
A mother embraces her son through the US-Mexico border wall. Source Some families who cannot be in the same country, gather at the dividing line. About a month ago, I saw a family having a picnic through the wall.
Why do we separate families? Every person who has died crossing the desert was someone's child. Every person who has been racially profiled is someone's friend. Every person who has been sent to detention is someone's mom, dad or supporter. Every person who has been deported is someone's partner, lover, daddy, papi, mama, mommy, tio, tia, cousin, or sibling.
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Praying at the shrine
During the march, we gathered at a shrine for migrants who have passed away in the desert and read this beautiful prayer:
Father's Day Prayer God our creator, daily we call upon you and remember you as our father who art in heaven. You have known the joy of watching your child grow, of witnessing Mary, Joseph, and Jesus develop as a family or prophets who endured and challenged the oppression of their government. You Father, journeyed with them through the darkness and the light, and in the darkest of moments when your own Son was apprehended, detained, and eventually murdered, you were there in the mercy and compassion of those who worked and continue to work tirelessly to keep alive his memory and message. As we remember fathers and all those who have embodied such responsibility, we particularly pray for migrant fathers who journeyed thousands of miles with the dream of providing for their children, but who never reached their dream. Many of them remain in our deserts simply as bones clamoring to you and us all for justice. We remember these deceased migrants fathers, we pray for the livelihood of their children and family, and we ask that you continue to make of us instruments of life and not death. We especially pray for all those crossing the desert as we speak, those dying of thirst, those who have lost their way in the wilderness, those who are enduring brutalities, those who are locked up and treated as though they were not human. We pray for these your people, your holy ones whom you continue to send and whom we continue to reject at the border. Bless them with perseverance, light their path, direct their way, shelter them from the burning heat, and comfort them in their despair. On this father's day, may we remember that we are all brothers and sisters to each other, that I am in fact my brother and my sister's keeper, that you are Father to us all, and that ultimately, we are all migrant families journeying home. May the courage of migrant fathers be also our courage in the struggle for justice and peace. Amen.
....
Alison Harrington, the pastor of Southside Church, ended the march with a great rallying cry to help us recommit ourselves to welcoming our neighbors and fighting with our migrant brothers and sisters for justice. I am thankful for the active community members of Tucson who come together, time and time again, to advocate for the just treatment of God's people.
My YAV family says, "Keep migrant families together!"
This weekend many of my friends from Davidson College will graduate. Seeing their excitement and apprehension has reminded me of my graduation and encouraged me to reflect on my first year of life as a college graduate. Congrats Wildcats!
10 Things I’ve Learned as a Freshman in Real Life
Work doesn’t change every 16 weeks: Unlike school, in the real world your work does not change every semester. In college everything was always changing: new seminars, new research papers, new dorms rooms, new internships. Post-grad life involves lots of change, but not in the same way. The pace of a 9 to 5 is sustainable (unlike all-nighters and finals studying), and more consistent.
There is no homework on the weekends: Thank God! There is nothing like leaving work on a Friday knowing you will not have to enter a library, crack open a textbook, or pour over Excel for an entire weekend. You can set aside your worries about upcoming tests, mounting reading assignments, and research proposals and just enjoy yourself. You have time to develop your own interests outside of school. (Remember what reading for pleasure feels like?)
You can determine your own goals, schedules, and activities: After leaving a competitive academic environment like Davidson College it was a such a relief to be able to do what I wanted without worrying about how I'd compare with my classmates or how it'd effect my GPA. I no longer feel that I am on a structured timeline. We are all on our own paths, exploring our own interests, where we want to live, and who we want to live with at our own pace. There are no syllabuses or final exams. It's up to us to figure out what we want and how we'll do it. It's liberating, empowering, and terrifying.
Your employment or lack there of does not define you: Sometimes the in between times are the most important. The summer after graduation, I did not have a job. This extra flexibility allowed me to spend time with my family and care for my grandmother before she passed away. It was a beautiful, life-changing experience that I would not have had if I had gotten a job immediately.
There are no frat parties: There is no student union, sorority or fraternity organizing your social schedule. It’s up to you to figure out what you want to do with your free time. Most parties will not include Value Village-sponsored themes, red solo cups, and wine in a bag. It's time to explore craft breweries, go on MeetUps, and get creative.
Do not watch Tiny Furniture:Stay positive about your post-grad life. Do not watch too much Lena Dunham. If you want, listen to Dr. Meg Jay's TED Talk, but don't get too stress about it.
Office work can get dull: "Office brain. Office Brain. That's what they call it when you go insane." It’s important to spice up your work life by taking breaks, joking with your co-workers, and changing projects. I enjoy my work days much more when I use my standing desk, go for a short mid-day walking break, and eat lunch away from my desk. You'll spend a lot of time with your co-workers so get to know them over lunch or during happy hour. Studies show, that you are more efficient if you have friends at work. Since things do not change as much as they did in college, it’s up to you to take on new skills and challenge yourself. If you are bored, ask your supervisor for another project. They will probably be more than willing to help.
I’d move to be with people I love: During my senior year, I noticed that people determined where they wanted to live based off their jobs and significant others. Friends, partners, and family members are extremely important and should be a part of your future plans. Although, our society emphasizes career climbing and resume building, you will not be happy unless you have a community of loving friends. In your early 20s, your career path can change every few months. Here is the secret: Your friends are often more steady, supportive, and life-giving than your new job.
The definition of vocation: I have learned to focus not only on a career, but a vocation. Your vocation is your purpose for your life, not just your paid job. It can encompass what you do for pay, what you do for joy, and what you feel called to do.
Good friends will be there for you along the way: In the last year, I have lived in three different states. Although, I live thousands of miles away from most of my best friends, I feel their support everyday. It's true. Snapchat, emojis, and voice recordings do make it much easier to stay in contact with your senior apartment mates and thesis buddies, but that's not what really keeps you close. What keeps you close are the long nights you spent together in the library, the time you held their hand while walking to the health center, and the bliss you felt while dancing to your favorite song together. Your college friends will stick with you because you helped each other become adults and loved each other through it.
"It's not quite love and it's not quite community; it's just this feeling that there are people, an abundance of people, who are in this together. Who are on your team. When the check is paid and you stay at the table. When it's four a.m. and no one goes to bed... We don't have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I could say that's what I want in life." -Marina Keegan
Now that I have led several delegations, I'd like to explain what I actually do at BorderLinks. As many of you know, I lead college, graduate school, and church groups on immersive trips to the border to learn about immigration issues, history, and policy. I have worked with diverse groups from Wisconsin, California, Washington and Colorado. Each group has provided their own challenges and joys. I am grateful to all my delegation participants as each of them has help me grow this year.
BorderLinks envisions a world in which people, within and across social borders, respect and care for each other, value and celebrate differences, and build healthy and just communities where everyone has equal opportunity for a full and dignified life.
At BorderLinks, we try to do so amplify the voices of individually who are directly affected by immigration. We meet with undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, day laborers, church leaders, community organizers, and many more to hear their stories, perspectives and learn what is happening in the borderlands.
The easiest way is to explain what I do is with photos so here goes!
On BorderLinks delegations...
We walk migrant trails in the desert in order to get a small sense of what undocumented migrants feel when crossing the border. We learn about the enforcement strategies that have funneled peoples into these harsh terrains and their deadly consequences.
Source: Paul Hedges
We go to Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson to learn about the Sanctuary movement and attend vigils to show our support for Rosa (middle in black jacket) who is currently in sanctuary there.
Source: Paul Hedges
We talk to Border Patrol or Immigration Customs Control about their work and policies surrounding migration, smuggling, and border security.
BorderLinks staff with Josue, (far left) a member of Scholarships AZ. Source: Kathryn Schmidt
We go to border towns like Nogales or Agua Prieta, Mexico where we meet with different organizations who work with migrants in food kitchens, shelters, and churches. We also meet with groups like the cooperative coffee company Cafe Justo or the community organization HEPAC who are trying to improve their communities in order to decrease out-migration.
Sunset in Nogales.
Source: Paul Hedges
We discuss internal migration and urbanization in Mexico due to an increase in maquilas (factories), free trade policies like NAFTA, and organized crime. Below is a neighborhood of people who moved to Nogales to work at the factories. Much of this land was first occupied by squatters who lived without utilities or much infrastructure.
Source: Paul Hedges
We share meals and conversation with local families in Nogales, Mexico.
Members of Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ with Blanca and her son in Nogales, Mexico.
Source: Paul Hedges
I lead workshops and reflections to help my delegation participants process what they are seeing and learning. We also discuss how to integrate their experiences on the border with their life at home and devise plans for getting more involved.
We take selfies.
Students of University of Portland
This is just the tip of the iceberg, but I hope it helps explain what I have been focussing on this year. Delegations can be emotionally, intellectually, and physically exhausting but also extremely rewarding. I enjoy learning and teaching through experiences and hands-on workshops. It has been an honor to facilitate discussions and reflections where my participants open up about their backgrounds and assumptions. The act of being present with people as they reflect on their religion, government, and privilege has been truly eye opening gift.
Here is a newsletter that the Tucson Borderlands YAVs recently wrote to update and thank our supporters. Thank you so much for reading, donating, and encouraging me this year!
Hello
Hola
안녕하세요
Greetings from the 2014/2015 Tucson Borderlands
Young Adult Volunteers
We are now halfway through our year of service and want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support.
“In the last few months, the border has come a part of me. It is present in my thoughts, my tears, my worries, and my prayers.”
Grace works for Borderlinks, an educational non-profit that teaches people about the current state of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands and immigrant communities in the United States. She has led several immersion trips along the border with colleges and churches. Grace is enjoying facilitating discussions, leading workshops, and supporting participants as they come to terms with harsh realities and organize to improve their communities.
Last fall, Grace led a trip with 30 fourteen-year-olds.Here, they are observing the wall on the Nogales, Arizona/ Nogales, Sonora, Mexico border.
“As challenging as this work may be at times, even just acknowledging that a lack of a bridge exists and figuring how to begin building bridges between cultures, ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, upbringings, socioeconomic statuses, etc. is a start!”
Emily works as a Volunteer Coordinator for Iskashitaa Refugee Network, a grassroots organization that strives to reduce food waste while simultaneously empowering refugees through harvesting produce and leading food workshops. She is enjoying the opportunity to work with refugees from Somalia, Burundi, Eritrea, Iraq, and Sudan.
Emily picks pumpkin leaves with a friend from Bhutan at a harvest she helped coordinate.The leaves were later used for a food workshop.
“While staying in USA, I have realized that it is not important to speak the same language. The most important thing is an eye contact, smile and salute by nodding.”
Hanbyeol is hard at work with Community Home Repair Projects of Arizona, a non-profit that does emergency house repairs, addressing health and safety concerns in low-income communities. During the last seven months, Hanbyeol has not only learned many colloquial English words, but has also mastered technical terms like “weirsbo,” “sawzaw,” and “shut-off valve.” Also, she is interested in American and Mexican history, often practicing her Spanish words during our trips to Mexico.
Hanbyeol and her favorite client, Leo, spend time together fixing his roof, eating lunch, and wearing hats.
“Every morning on my bike ride to work, I get to see the sun rise over one of the mountain ranges and it is a reminder of the possibilities that each day holds.”
Allie, like Hanbyeol, works for Community Home Repair Projects of Arizona. She is starting to work part-time in the office and part-time in the field. Allie finds this work satisfying because she gets to speak with clients over the phone during the initial intake and then meet them in person when making repairs. Also, it has been interesting for her to see how a non-profit runs from inside out.
Community Home Repair staff and volunteers cut open and examine the inside of a water heater and then make a CHRPA mascot during a training in early October.
“…in my time being on the border I have found that our media and politicians are ignoring the most important things that are on the Arizona/Mexico border: strong sense of community, friendly people and a place of cultural and language exchange between two countries.”
James works with Frontera De Cristo, a bi-national mission in Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Mexico. He works with children along the border, teaching English classes. James also works at the Migrant Resource Center, connecting immigrants to shelters, food, and other resources. He is an active community member, making these border towns a place where Americans and Mexicans can meet and learn from each other. James has enjoyed utilizing his passions for education, cultivating relationships and living out God’s call for love.
James with volunteers at the Migrant Resource Center in Agua Prieta, Mexico.
House Life
The four Tucson YAVs (Grace, Emily, Hanbyeol, Allie) live together with April, a volunteer through the Methodist Church (check out her blog) and Gabrielle, a student at the University of North Texas, who is doing an internship at a non-profit. We enjoy hiking, biking, watching Friends, hosting dinner parties, and attending events downtown together. We have learned a lot from living together and are excited to see what is next for our community.
Family photo (minus Gabrielle) taken during our first month living together.
Gabrielle taught us how to be MMA fans.We are now all die-hard Rhonda Rousey supporters.
We love getting to see James every month when he visits us in Tucson or we go to Mexico. Here we are about to embark on our Lenten Sojourn Retreat in Cascabel, Arizona.
On May 25th, we will be saying goodbye to our fearless leader, friend, and mentor, Brandon. We are so excited for his family as they move to Singapore and embark on a new adventure. Thank you, Brandon, for dedicating so much time to this program and supporting us!
Thank you all, again, for your prayers, emails, phone calls, care packages, and for following us on this journey. If you’d like to continue to support this program and YAV placements, check out the Tucson Borderlands YAV website.
