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Add a ResourceCrossing Borders is a product of CASA de Maryland, the Center for Community Change and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM). It is for organizers and leaders who want to build power and community among people who don't look alike, talk alike and haven't lived alike. Its particular focus is the relationship between African Americans and immigrants. "Crossing Borders" isn't just about immigration. Immigration is our entry point to deeper conversations about the demographic changes taking place within communities and how we disorganize or reorganize relationships and power in response to that. Do we build permanent or temporary coalitions out of existing organizations? Do we build new multi-racial, multi-ethnic organizations from scratch? Do we begin to diversify single-constituency organizations? Borders aren't just lines on a map - they're about race, ethnicity, language, class, power and economics that prevent people from developing meaningful and healthy relationships with one another. Sometimes we cross borders with permission from others – a smile, a hello or other words of welcome or invite. Most times, we take risks and cross borders without permission. We do so for the sake of building new power configurations that bring diverse people into relationship with one another in order to win on issues of common interest. At its core, this is what Crossing Borders is about.
Posted by: Dennis Chin
