Mission Statement
To raise awareness of border issues and promote cross-cultural dialogue.
The Border Awareness Experience (BAE) program is an educational immersion experience, NOT a tourist trip or service trip. The program provides an opportunity to come and explore the seamless boundary between three states (New Mexico, Texas, & Chihuahua) & two nations (U.S. & Mexico). Everything that happens here requires unique solutions & partnerships due to the inter-connectivity & interrelation of issues that impact us as a region in the areas of economics, human rights, environmental, migration, labor, the militarization of the border, health & much more...
The Women's Intercultural Center invites you to experience this unique place & learn from it. Come see how your life intersects & is impacted by border life.
The Border Patrol Line Tour
The Border Patrol Line Tour will provide you an intimate look & interactive experience of the border. You will see first-hand the terrain, people, obstacles & challenges faced by both Border Patrol Agents & migrants. Regardless of your political views or opinion on current border issues, you’ll enjoy exploring the terrain, seeing the sights, learning about Border Patrol operations & directives including a site visit to their command center. The Border Patrol agents serving as your guides will fascinate you with their stories & give you the opportunity for one on one conversations answering any questions you may have of their job & the border.
The Community
Interaction opportunities with the people residing in the border communities of NM & TX. Open a cross-cultural dialogue with the participants of the Women’s Intercultural Center & the many nonprofits you will visit during your stay. Participate in community activities hosted by the Center or our community partners. The exchange of dialogue between you, your peers & the community is an insight into the complexity of living a border life. In the end, you will put a face to the many issues you never understood from afar.
Explore the Border Region
Let's Explore! Part of the Educational Immersion is taking the opportunity to explore our beautiful borderland and make some new friends.
Learn how in 1853, the Gadsden Purchase changed the southern boundary of the U.S. making Anthony, NM one of the few towns that found its address & even its country changed.
Take a tour of the Segundo Barrio, the Ellis Island of Mexico, as a majority of Mexican Americans can trace their roots to this historic neighborhood located in the heart of downtown El Paso, TX. Visit Old Mesilla, one of the most historical locations in NM, to see what an 1800’s border town looked like.
Hike our dormant volcanos or national parks. There are many opportunities to explore the diverse culture & history of our Border Region & the complexities & partnerships that exist because of it.
The question is, are you up for the experience?
Comments From Past Participants
“The Women's Intercultural Center opened my eyes to the issues on the U.S./Mexico Border. From touring with Border Patrol, visiting nonprofit organizations, staying with host families, the Women's Intercultural Center provided us with the knowledge that we needed to be informed persons in society. I think that this center is the best way to learn about these issues, and I wish that everyone could experience the border in the way that the Women's Intercultural Center has developed its Border Awareness Experience.”
~amtison [www.greatnonprofits.org]
"Between all the people and organizations we met with I was able to gain a better understanding of immigration and not only what migrants face but also how we could work on doing a better job of changing the system. I consider that every time I vote and when I speak with my representatives."
~gwenland [www.greatnonprofits.org]
“I came here with my college through the Border Awareness Experience Program and I must say my life was changed forever. I never knew how the Border and Immigration Issues could affect our entire nation. I didn't know everything that these people go through working so close to the border. Everything that happens across the border affects their city. We got to learn from different organizations and learned how they viewed the border and immigration issues. Best part is we were also given a tour by the U.S. Border Patrol and were able to talk with them one on one. I mean how many people can say they've done that. They took us all around the border and showed us their operations it was amazing just being able to ask them any questions we felt we wanted an answer to. There wasn't one question they wouldn't answer and they were very open with us as well. I loved the experience and our coordinator Saif was amazing he was very knowledgeable in immigration issues and he had grown up on the border all of his life. Just hearing his experiences and what he believes could help the issue was amazing. Learning from him was an incredible part of the experience as not only was he very open and honest, but he was funny and was always willing to make this our experience the way we wanted. Thank you to the Center and Saif for being so amazing.”
~Alice Wonders [www.greatnonprofits.org]
There is one review that absolutely changed a life, however, it is really long. If you want to check it out visit https://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/womens-intercultural-center-inc/417987.
How To Arrange "YOUR" BAE
Choose your areas of interest
Ecology, Economics, Health, Human Rights, Immigration, Labor, Militarization of the Border, Local Politics, Education, or other areas that are not listed here.
Choose site visits
Border Patrol Line Tour, Center Activities, Grassroot Organizations, Museums, NM/TX Health Departments, NM/TX Historical City Tours, Public Hearings/City Council Meetings, Schools/School Districts, tourist attractions/events, shopping opportunities, and more.
COST
Nonrefundable $25 registration and deposit per person to reserve BAE dates. A minimum of 7 persons required to schedule a BAE. We can accommodate up to 12.
$85 per person per day includes lodging and meals.
The first and last day will be counted as one day.
TO ARRANGE A BORDER AWARENESS EXPERIENCE OR REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Contact our BAE Director at 575-882-5556 or at