Project Spotlight

Initiative Description

Anew course in the SSW centers borderland issues in SouthernArizona, specifically inTucson, Nogales, MX, and on the Tohono O"odham Nation.

“Social Worker Borderland

Immigration Issues is taught from an…[AR/AOP] approach…In-class group discussions centered the economic, racial, and power inequities experienced by migrants, refugees, and Indigenous people in relationship to U.S./Mexico border policies and systems….Course delivery was online, with three in-person field immersions, allowing for greater student inclusion from otherASU campuses.”

“TheTucson Borderland Course worked to infuseAR/AOPthrough two paths: mechanisms of conversation and learning in the classroom, and through the spotlight and compensation of important individuals doing related work at field immersion events.”

Initiative Impact

ASU students and migrancy advocate experts were positively impacted by this project.

“Students shared in individual reflections an appreciation for new insights, awareness, and knowledge regarding the communities, policies, services, and providers addressing the challenges migrants, refugees, and borderland communities experience as a result of outdated and ineffective U.S. border policies and systems.”

“And so to be able to provide a speaker fee payment… many of them were shocked not only to be getting something, but also that the amount that it was in.And so that brought a lot of actual joy to folks…And it also communicated to community that we were serious.”

What’s next?

Drs. Ignacio and Shafer will continue teaching the course and creating field immersion teaching moments.

“As a result of this project, a fully developed syllabus, Canvas site, and associated curricular materials, including the logistics planning documentation of the field immersions will have been developed and pilot tested…. We will explore long term sources for these program funds, including external grant writing, fundraising, and/or assessment of other resources atASU and the on the Tucson campus.”