As participants in the emerging global economy, people of faith are called to envision, create, and speak out for just and compassionate ways to address complex issues involving health, toxic waste, cancer, racism, and economic oppression.  The US/Mexico border, the only place in the world where the First and the Third world meet, provides a unique environment for studying the ramifications of the global marketplace on both.   

The Border Justice Group was born after thirteen members and friends at First Pres went on an experiential travel seminar to Nogales, AZ/Nogales, Sonora in February 1996 for the purpose of deepening our awareness and knowledge of these issues.  We conversed and reflected with community leaders, activists, policymakers, maquiladora workers, families, and people of faith on both sides of the border.  We returned home with a sense that we are all inextricably connected and that understanding and strengthening these connections will facilitate the development of alternative political and economic futures for all. 

Goals and Objectives  

The goal of this program is to enhance our congregation's knowledge and awareness of border and immigration issues so that we may be guided in the development of a faith based response grounded in personal experience and theology.  We also believe that in choosing to become active co-creators of an alternative global community, we are strengthening community building skills that we can also share as members of our First Pres community of faith.

Project Description  

Our 1997 program included:  

• Co-sponsorship with the Church and Society Committee of two forums on welfare cuts, one at First Pres and one at St. Joseph ‘s Catholic Church in Mountain View; 
• Co-sponsorship with the Northern California Interfaith Coalition, Peace and Justice Committee of the Presbytery of San Jose, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Earthlight Magazine, and our own Church and Society Committee, of the Cleaning Up Our Valleys ’97 Workshop held in San Jose; 
• Establishing a partnership with St. Joseph’s the Worker Center in Mountain View, who will shortly be appointing a member of our group to serve on their Board of Directors; 
• Participation in various letter-writing and fax campaigns for justice for maquiladora workers. 
• Sponsorship of two experiential travel seminars, one to Tijuana and one to Nogales; 
• Sponsoring a delegate from our group to the annual meeting of the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras; and 
• Sponsoring one of our members to act as an observer at a critical union election for a maquiladora in Tijuana. 

We hold regular monthly meetings, during which we reflect on current events, exchange information, occasionally host a guest speaker or watch a video, and continue to work on developing and implementing our visions for an alternative future.  These meetings are always open to anyone who wishes to attend, and are publicized in the bulletin, calendar, and First Pres Press. 

Approximately 25 members and friends of First Pres participate somewhat regularly in the Border Justice Group.  Twenty-three members and friends participated in the travel seminars in Nogales and Tijuana in 1997.  Members and friends were also well represented at the Cleaning Up Our Valleys 97 workshop and both welfare forums. 

Plans for 1998 include continuing our study and reflection, and planning and co-sponsorship of events in which our church community and the greater community may also participate.  Specifically, our plans for 1998 include the following: 

• Deepening our ties with St. Joseph the Worker Center in
  Mountain View. 
• Exploring ways to work in solidarity with the people of Maclovia Rojas, a community in resistance that we visited in Tijuana. 
• Participation in the Borderlinks tenth anniversary celebration, a program of simultaneous travel seminars to locations in Mexico and Central America.  These travel seminars will culminate in a three-day conference for all participants.  The conference will provide a forum for reports from each delegation and conversations about the challenges that face communities of faith in an effort to strengthen personal and organizational relationships and lead to increased collaboration. Individuals may participate in the conference without participating in a travel seminar. 

Curriculum and Timeline  

September - December 

Host panel discussions or other learning activities. 
Plan 1998 program 

Project Leadership and Coordination  

Coordination and implementation of this project will be done by participants in the Border Justice Group.  Leadership and coordination of specific programs is usually assumed by those individuals with the most interest/enthusiasm for the particular program.  Participation is always open to all.