BORDERS AND MIGRATION
IN TIMES OF CHANGE, PERIL,
AND OPPORTUNITY.
The Borders & Migration Studies Association invites you to join us for our inaugural Borders & Migration Conference as we explore the dynamics between borders and migration, particularly in these times of change, peril, and opportunity. We will hear from scholars, faith leaders, non-profit leaders, and advocates. We believe this interdisciplinary approach will enhance the conversation and challenge each of us to better respond to the needs of migrants and refugees.
LOCATION:
SCHEDULE
| 10:00 AM-1:00 PM | PRE-CONFERENCE IMMERSION TRIP – REYNOSA, MX (OPTIONAL)
|
| 3:00-5:00 PM | CHECK-IN |
| 5:00 PM | DINNER |
| 7:00 – 9:00 PM | MIXER |
| 6:00-8:30 AM | BREAKFAST |
| 8:45-10:15 AM | SESSION 1 – HOW DID WE GET HERE? |
| 10:30 AM-12:00 PM | SESSION 2 -WHAT DRIVES A RESPONSE? |
| 12:00-1:15 PM | LUNCH |
| 1:30-3:00 PM | SESSION 3 – WHAT IS BEING DONE? |
| 3:15-4:45 PM | SESSION 4 – WHAT MIGRANTS HAVE TO TEACH US? |
| 5:00 PM | DINNER |
| 7:00-9:00 PM | MIXER |
| 6:00-8:30 AM | BREAKFAST |
| 8:45-10:15 AM | SESSION 5 – WHAT ARE WE MISSING? |
| 10:45AM – 4:00 PM | BORDER IMMERSION TRIP – MATAMOROS,MX (OPTIONAL)
|
TWO ITEMS TO NOTE:
1) Lunch and dinner are not provided; you are on your own for them.
2) Joining the immersion trips will cost more due to the transportation.
PRESENTERS
Alma Ruth
Founder and Director of Practice Mercy Foundation
Alma founded Practice Mercy in 2019 as an initiative to serve women and their children caught in the crossfire of the complex immigration system. She has focused on serving this extremely vulnerable population along The Rio Grande Valley.
Will McCorkle
Profesor of Education, College of Charleston
Dr. McCorkle is an assistant profesor of education at the College of Charlesson. His research interests center on rigths for immigrant students and immigration pedagogy particularly related to the American Southeast.
Stephanie Madison
Co-founder of Education Ilimitada
Dr. Madison was an educational researcher at Clemson University, and she is the co-founder of Education Ilimitada, a coalition of educators committed to providing educational resources and humanitarian assistance to those seeking asylum and refuge.
Mikel W. Cole
Associate Professor of Bilingual and ESL Education
Dr. Cole is Associate Professor of Bilingual/ESL Education at the University of Houston. His primary research centers culturally sustaining and translanguaging pedagogies in teacher education for multilingual learners. He is Co-Founder of Education Ilimitada and is engaged in issues at the intersection of immigration and education.
Jon Koch
President, Koch McIntyre Construction
Jon is the co-founder of Koch McIntyre Construction, a company that employs and compensates immigrants fairly and with dignity. He is also on the board of many non-profits in the Austin area, one of which focuses on providing care and support to asylum seekers.
Rick Waldrop
Professor, Executive Director of The Shalom Project
Dr. Waldrop has served of forty years in Central American countries, teaching and ministering in vulnerable contexts. Presently, he is the Executive Director of The Shalom Project, whereby he continues in his work of teaching and educating.
Celeste Gonzalez-Moreno
Professor of Old Testament, Stark College & Seminary
Dr. Gonzalez-Moreno is a native of south Texas. Her research interests pertain to Old Testament studies, particularly Wisdom Literature and the Prophets. Recently, she explores the rich tapestry of (im)migration throughout the Bible, most notably as it relates to personal faith and praxis.
Dennis Tucker
Professor of Christian Scriptures, George W. Truett Theological Seminary
Dr. Tucker serves at Professor of Christian Scriptures at Baylor University's Truett Seminary. His main area of research is the Book of Psalms. Additionally, he works at the Naomi House, a temporary place of refuge for families as they prepare for the next steps in their asylum-seeking journey.
Abraham Barberi
Director, One Mission Ministries
Pastor Abraham, a resident of Brownsville, Texas, serves as Director of One Mission Ministries, an organization that empowers churches in Mexico, Central and South America to better serve their local contexts holistically. Additionally, he pastors a church in Matamoros, Mexico, while ministering to families and individuals waiting in encampments.
Alliance Samuragwa
Founder & Director, More Than Welcome
Alliance is the founder and director of More Than Welcome, a non-profit in Austin, TX that helps refugees and asylum seekers successfully transition into the community and makes them feel more than welcome in the process. As a former asylum seeker who left his home of Burundi in 2014, his story documents the challenges and limitations that people have when resettling or seeking asylum.
Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III
Assistant Professor of the New Testament, Vanguard University
Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III is the Assistant Professor of the New Testament at Vanguard University. His research and publications focus on the cultural world of the Bible with a specific attention to race and immigration in the Greek and Roman period.
Karina E. Chapa
Executive Director, Texas Association for Bilingual Education
Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Karina serves as Executive Director for the Texas Association for Bilingual Education. With experience in international relations, she now advocates for over one million bilingual students and their communities across Texas. She is also an adjunct instructor at Texas A&M University in Kingsville. She has a Masters in Bilingual Education and School Principalship (UTPA). Previously, she has held various leadership roles as Bilingual/ESL Strategist, Bilingual/ESL Director, and board member to several non-profits in the Rio Grande Valley.
Plus more presenters...
ABOUT US
The Borders & Migration Studies Association is made up of the members of Education Ilimitada, Practice Mercy, and scholars form the College of Charleston, University of Houston, Clemson University, and Stark College and Seminary.
ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL
ACCOMMODATION:
Our host hotel, Cambria, is offering a discounted rate that includes breakfast. You can make a reservation by clicking on the hotel name above. Otherwise, you can make a reservation by phone. Just be sure to mention Practice Mercy as the Group Name to receive the special rate.
If you prefer a different accommodation, there are ample hotels around the Convention Center, along with short-term rental options (e.g., Airbnb).
TRAVEL:
McAllen International Airport (MFE) is just three miles away from the conference location. Several major airlines fly into MFE. The hotel offers free shuttle service from McAllen International Airport.
Valley International Airport (HRL) is located in Harlingen, which is about 40 miles away from the conference center. Airlines such as Southwest Airlines fly into HRL. Please note that there is no shuttle to the hotel from this airport.
REGISTRATION
Take advantage of the 25% discounted conference rate. But don't wait, prices will go up on September 19th. Simply type "TwentyFive" for the promo to receive the discount.
Scholarships are available for anyone needing assistance to cover the price of admission. Simply fill out the request form on the button below and we will reach out to you.
© Borders & Migration