Global Migration
How might the United States manage borders and migration practically, culturally, and ethically?
Why Southern California?
From Spanish Settlement to American westward expansion, people have been drawn to California for centuries. While early migrants in the region colonized indigenous lands, contemporary borders have created new challenges and framings on migration. Today, the US-Mexico Border exemplifies the historical and present challenges of global migration and evolving identity.
As we visit border towns along with major cities like San Diego or even Los Angeles, we’ll work to unpack today’s immigration issues in the context of a complicated regional history and context. What’s it like for new migrants to arrive across the southern U.S. border? How should we navigate the issues of global equity and identity? How might we amplify the voices of migrants in this country - and around the world?
INSIGHTS + PROJECTS
On every Atlas Workshops program, the group works on an inquiry with real-world implications. Through intentional exploration, engagement with locals and experts, and team activities, students generate new insights and ideas about the topics, places, and global issues they’re investigating.
For some groups, the program incorporates a more extensive project—an opportunity to apply our learning and stretch our creative thinking by making something tangible or public.
We work to share the ideas and inspiration we find in the world, with the world, through collaborative initiatives and student expression. We can also work with you to develop a custom project or publish students’ insights via exhibition, photography, digital or print media, or other format.
Suggested Itinerary
Students will investigate the project question by getting to know California as a place, along with the people who live there, tinkering with ideas together to apply what they are learning, and sharing reflections, insights, and aha moments with others.
A Changing City and Identity: 1-4 Nights
San Diego
Welcome to California. In San Diego we will set the stage for our program and explore the implication of the border infrastructure, the desert, and the wall itself. In San Diego we will again explore border infrastructure and the friendship park divided by the fence. From high end shopping on the border to natural lands and parks, we will explore the diversity along the border. In San Diego we will also explore the diversity in the city as we try some classic Mexican-American fusion foods from the city, explore artistic and cultural heritage in the city, and connect to a range of different communities in the city.
Living at the Border: 2-4 Nights
Calexico and El Centro
Calexico is a small town directly connected to a larger city across the border, Mexicali. Nearby, El Centro, only a few minutes away, is the city at the heart of the the Imperial Valley, a major agricultural region for the country. Calexico and El Centro are full of stories, history, and families straddling the border and is a key crossing point today. Here we will meet with local groups and representatives that support the trans-border community, learn from artists and non profits, and work to understand what life is like in a true border town.
City and the Desert: 0-5 Nights
Los Angeles and Joshua Tree (Extension or Loop)
For a longer program, we’ll head North to Joshua Tree. From indigenous communities to a pattern of Westward migration, this region is a perfect place to dive into the issues as a group and frame our exploration. We will visit the park and learn about the unique history and geographies as we explore natural boundaries and understand the value of land and place at the simplest level. We will also explore inspirations of storytelling from some of the artistic communities in the area.
We will continue on to the Los Angeles area where we will explore the deeper implications of migration and identity, while we work to pull together our understanding into one experience. We will hear from diverse migrant communities about their differing experiences and the political and cultural obstacles at different time periods. From West African communities in Fontana to the Armenian groups in Glendale, from the diverse Chinese neighborhoods of the San Gabriel Valley to the hispanic communities around the city we will explore the evolving challenges and need for stories, arts, services, and advocacy.
Want to Learn More?
Custom Programs & Modifications
We have designed this itinerary to maximize the value and breadth of our project and program. We can modify any program, or we can plan an entirely custom program. This itinerary could be adapted to focus on more specific learning outcomes, visit different regions, hit a different price point, combine with another program, or cover a longer or shorter schedule based on the group’s needs.
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You can also check out other programs in California, request a custom program, or explore other related programs here:
