Border Studies 2023

March 4 – 12, 2023 — Rio Grande Valley, Texas 

The Mexico-U.S. The Border Studies Program offers its 2023 intensive during the Spring Recess from March 4-12, 2023 in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. This program is designed to give the students an opportunity to meet researchers and practitioners, including service providers, who work with asylum seekers and migrants in Texas and learn about their work, experiences, and challenges first hand. We are grateful and proud to partner with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and many local non-profit organizations to offer this program and learning experience. 

The requirement to participate in the Border Studies Program is enrollment in Hub Co-Curricular 194 (which offers one Hub unit in “Individual and Community” for BU students) scheduled for Spring 2023 semester. In HUB 194 students engage with readings, discussions, and conversations with academics and practitioners which will prepare them to participate in the Border Studies Program in Texas.  

Tentative Schedule of Seminars and Site Visits to NGOs in Rio Grande Valley 

Sunday, March 5                               Site Visit and Conversations with Team  Brownsville

Monday, March 6                              Site Visit and Conversations with The Humanitarian Respite Center 

Tuesday, March 7                              Day 1 – Sawyer Seminar Series organized in collaboration with  University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley

                                                                 Panel 1:    Border Externalization and the RGV – History and Policy

                                                                 Panel 2: Multiperspective, Cross-sector Conversation on Border Externalization/Securitization

                                                                 Panel 3:   Health, Trauma, and Resilience 

                                                                 Keynote Event: Special Guest Ronald Rael, Teeter-Totter Wall Project

Wednesday, March 8                        Day 2 UT RGV/BU Border Regimes Sawyer Seminar 

                                                                Panel 4: Environment and Displacement 

                                                                Panel 5: Voices of Migrants and Hosts 

                                                                Panel 6: Art and Protest

Thursday, March 9                            Site Visit, and Conversations with La Posada 

Friday, March 10                                Site Visit, and Conversations with LUPE 

Saturday, March 11                            Site Visit, and Conversations with The National Butterfly Center 

Sunday, March 12                              Return to Boston