Looking for the Roots of Migration
Oaxaca, Mexico
February 17-26, 2014 (new dates)
This is an opportunity to explore first-hand the economic and political roots of the migration of millions Latin Americans into the United States. What causes people to uproot themselves from their histories and homelands and take a long, painful, costly, and dangerous journey into a foreign land where they seldom know the language and are often greeted with hostility?
Explore this question by visiting and experiencing the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, where many of the forces for migration are stark and clear. The good news is that Oaxaca is a beautiful state of two million people, and you will fall in love with the people, the land, and their history. The bad news is that nearly half of the Oaxacan population has left the state going north, seeking food for their families.
Why is it that each year many people—both men and women—leave Oaxaca and travel to the United States?
What to Expect:
See the real reasons for migration to the U.S.- Stay in the homes of families directly impacted by their relatives’ migration North
- Gain knowledge of ways U.S. policy affects migration patterns
- Meet people resisting destructive byproducts of NAFTA and other “free” trade policies
- Visit a local shelter for migrants moving to or from the U.S.
- Meet with returned migrants who have experienced life in the U.S. justice system
- Visit a local women’s cooperative that provides alternatives to migration
- Discuss ways to act in solidarity with people from Oaxaca and immigrants here in the US
Cost:
$950 + airfare (arranged on your own). This covers all of your expenses “on the ground” in Oaxaca, including transportation, food, and lodging. Scholarships and fundraising opportunities are available.
For more information or to apply please contact:
Stan Duncan
standuncan@post.harvard.edu
781-504-6875
Download this notice in a pdf flyer here. Access the website here.
Co-sponsored by the Justice & Witness Council of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Mission and Justice Committee of the Southeast Area of the MACUCC, and Jubilee Massachusetts.
