Congratulations on completing a delegation with BorderLinks! We know that our trips can be emotionally and physically exhausting, but hopefully you have had a chance to rest and are now thinking about what to do with your experience. We recognize that this can be a challenging part of the process, sometimes even more than the delegation itself. Part of our mission (and hopefully yours now too), however, is education for transformation and justice. As such, we would like to help you through this post-trip process. Below are just a few ideas about how to handle your experience and what actions you can take.
Craft Your Story
During your delegation, you were probably witness to many people’s stories. Stories are powerful, and, if told well, they captivate listeners and transcend barriers. To help you tell your story, we have included a section with suggestions on telling your story in our Toolkit For Action.
Tell Your Story
Once you have crafted your story, you have to find an audience. Telling your family and friends is an easy place to start, and indeed, they are often the most willing to listen. Immigration can be an emotionally charged issue, however, and you may quickly find yourself in an argument. Before you get too carried away, we suggest you read over an article by Professor Josiah Heyman of the University of Texas on how to address emotionally and symbolically charged arguments.
There are more opportunities beyond family and friends to tell your story. Once again, refer to our Toolkit for Action for ideas about how to get your message out.
Write Your Congressperson
Our mission at BorderLinks is primarily educational, so we do not involve ourselves in direct advocacy.
That said we encourage participants to share the realities of the borderlands with U.S. policymakers through emails, letters, faxes, phone calls or visits to Congressional representatives in Washington, DC or their local office.
Effective advocacy is concise, conveys a story and connects it to policy. When connecting with a U.S. policymaker, introduce yourself as a constituent, identify the issue(s) or bill that you are concerned about and share a personal story from your BorderLinks experience.
You might want to consult NCLR's resource page on immigration reform, and then read their tips on phoning your elected official.
Once you have done your research and decided what you want to say, find your Senator or Representative and give them a call!
Another good site for researching U.S. legislation is Thomas.
For more information on Arizona immigration advocacy, check out the Tucson-based Border Action Network.
Make a Submission to Us
If you have a statement about your trip or have written an article about your experience, we would welcome your input! Our quarterly alumni newsletter (Ver ~ Pensar ~ Actuar) is a place for our participants to express their ideas and keep an on-going network of concerned individuals connected after their delegations have ended. Feel free to take a look at our Alumni Newsletter and if you are inspired, make a submission. Your statement or article may end up in our newsletter or even on our website.
Raise Money
We do our best at BorderLinks to provide a comprehensive and complete immersion experience for our participants. Hopefully, this was evident to you. What may not have been evident is that, as a non-profit, our financial obstacles are considerable. We rely heavily on donations from concerned groups and individuals to support our programs and help us stay true to our mission.
If you feel that your experience was valuable, we encourage you to organize a fundraiser. We greatly appreciate your effort—individually or as a group—to help us out, no matter how large or small. If you would like to make a quick and easy transaction online, use our Donate Now feature.
Recruit Others to Join a BorderLinks Delegation
If you've just finished a delegation with BorderLinks, help us spread the word to your family and friends about upcoming BorderLinks programs. Our BorderLinks II trips are designed for individuals. Stay up-to-date on upcoming programs and encourage others to join.
