Crossing into Curiosity: Our Borderplex Adventure Begins!

Welcome to the first blog post documenting our 2025 Menlo Borderlands: El Paso journey! Over the past two days, Dr. Hanson and I have guided our group through a whirlwind of team-building activities, lessons on immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border, and deep-dive research sessions, all designed to help students develop essential questions for their final projects. ¡Qué emoción! (How exciting!) The Borderlands program is set to be an experience of self-discovery, immersive expeditionary learning, and fun! It's not just about learning the ins and outs of immigration policy, but also about making lasting connections with the community and finding new ways to understand our shared world. The group is already buzzing with anticipation to launch these projects in earnest at the Borderplex, and we hope you will join us for the culmination of their learning with their final presentations on Friday, May 30.

In true El Paso spirit, we’ve mixed academia with adventure. Think of this program as a rich fusion of academicexploration and community engagement, with just the right amount of “pica de chile” (a little kick). Students will be immersing themselves in the stories of the U.S.-Mexico border, forging relationships with local organizations, and contributing their skills to the community. As our students prepare to present their findings, we are reminded that El Paso is a city of contrast: where the sun shines on both sides of the border, cultures collide and merge, and a vibrant blend of food, art, and history pulses through the streets. From the border bridges to the bustling markets, El Paso is both a place of challenge and celebration. Through these blog posts, we invite the Menlo community to follow along as we dive deeper into this illuminating journey, navigating the real-world complexities of immigration, with a little humor and a lot of heart. Stay tuned for more updates from the Borderlands!

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