GO! El Paso 2024

My “why” heavily stems from my parents’ immigration story. Hearing their recount and pursuing research as a career, I’ve grown an appreciation for listening to people’s experiences and stories because I’ve realized they hold power for change. And through GO!, I can understand and witness the complex realities of the lives affected on the front lines. 

I decided to journey to El Paso because I deeply feel the importance of shedding light on this issue and finding ways to support our communities and others, especially as the child of immigrant parents who have faced their own unique challenges and barriers in accessing resources and opportunities.

As a child of two humble immigrants, I have always wanted to know their journey of migrating from Guatemala to the United States. Hearing stories from my dad telling me how much he suffered and how much he had to sacrifice to come here for a better life. Every person has their own story, and I know with participating in GO! I would be able to hear stories of gente humilde y honrada.

My why is that I want to learn more about immigration and I think the best way to get educated is to learn from people directly experiencing the injustices of the us immigration system. I've read and heard a lot about immigration from Mexico in the news and I'm grateful for the opportunity to connect with the human beings behind the news stories. I'm excited to be able to meet people I wouldn't otherwise encounter if not for GO!

Growing up in a Salvadoran immigrant family, I always felt that I could never repay my parents for the immense sacrifices they made for my siblings and me. So, I found an outlet by making an effort to learn about the different and unique experiences of immigrants. By participating in GO, I know I can continue that learning process to support the community better and hopefully gain a deeper understanding of my family's experience.

I immigrated to the United States at a very young age. My parents and I were the first in our family to put down our roots in the US, later followed by my extended family. Thus, growing up, I saw the struggles my family faced in search of better opportunities. However, migrants are not a monolith. I want to learn more about the individual experiences migrants go through and how to support different communities. By participating in GO El Paso I hope to learn more about global immigration and how I can be a proactive member of the global community.

Coming from parents of immigrants, I grew up hearing their stories and their purpose for coming to the U.S. Like them, a majority of my close relatives have went through the same struggles when crossing the border, but although they faced many challenges during that time, they never gave up and years later have started their own businesses and have become better versions of themselves with the endless opportunities they were given here in the U.S. By participating in GO El Paso this will give me the opportunity to hear others’ stories and experiences and be able to witness firsthand immigration policies and promote a better understanding of the issue and for others to be enlightened.

My reason is that recently I’ve been seeing a lot of asylum seekers move into my neighborhood and always wondered what reality was like for them. However, I am aware that asylum seekers aren’t necessarily the same as immigrants (and their stories can be so different!), but they definitely got me more interested in how different groups of people migrate to America! Having been born in NYC from a parent who was also an immigrant (My mom came to America from DR!), I decided to participate in this GO! trip to educate myself on the experiences many individuals and families go through when migrating to America and learn how I can stay informed on the topic and simultaneously shed light on it.

I think the dominant Asian American community that I’ve grown up in California for the majority of my childhood and adolescence has taught me complacency and an ignorance for external cultures.I think that being immersed in a setting in which I am so unfamiliar would not only allow for my growth as an individual but also a mutual exchange of cultures, familiarity, and empathy.

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well. As someone who has experienced it firsthand, I can attest to the enriching experience of participating in the program last year. It provided me with a transformative insight into the foreign influences on South Africa and their struggle for freedom, a struggle shared by many Africans, each with their own unique stories to tell.

This project would focus on learning about educational access and social justice through immersive experiences, educational programs, and direct engagement with communities. Students would gain insights into the realities of stakeholders who lived through apartheid and those who are experiencing the negative effects of it years later. Your support will enable us to expand and make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable communities through a donation today! Thank you.