Borderlands Journey
Gain a deeper understanding of immigration issues on both sides of the border by hearing directly from those being affected. We’ll have the opportunity to meet with activists, border patrol agents, ranchers, artists, musicians, and local tribal members, as well as migrants hoping to make the journey north. Join us as we travel through the beautiful landscapes of the Sonoran Desert, explore the Arizona/Mexico border region, and immerse ourselves in the rich histories and diverse cultures of an area that has become a focus of intense debate.
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Gain a deeper understanding of the history of the U.S./Mexico border with an introductory presentation by NAU professor Bob Neustadt
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Travel to Nogales, Mexico, where we’ll volunteer with an organization supporting migrants, then stay on to listen to the experiences of staff and migrants
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Visit the Tohono O’odham Nation, with renowned human rights activist Mike Wilson, author of What Side Are You On?
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Hear from ranchers affected by the border and migrants
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Ride along on a “Line Tour” of the border with Border Patrol agents
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Learn how the wall affects the natural environment and animal migrations
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Meet with leaders of the Sanctuary and human rights movements
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Offer the gift of deep listening to a variety of activists, migrant advocates, and migrants
Trip Includes:
8 nights’ accommodation (double occupancy)
Transportation in private vans
Meals listed in itinerary: all breakfasts, five lunches, two dinners
Entry fees, site visits, honorariums for speakers
Half-price tuition for Introduction to Compassionate Listening workshop
Dates: November 7-15, 2026
Price: $3,950
Robert Neustadt, Professor of Spanish at Northern Arizona University, began taking students on field trips to the Arizona/Mexico border in 2010, and these experiences shaped the course of his creative output. In 2011, he co-produced the Border Songs CD, a double album of music and spoken word, in English and Spanish, about the border and immigration. Border Songs raised nearly $100,000 for humanitarian aid. During his journey to become an immigrant rights activist, he became a songwriter and recorded an album of (mostly) original songs, Voluntary Return: Songs of Solidarity with Migrants and Refugees. He has also published poetry and, in 2021, published a play, Border Voices (NoPassport Press). Bob is currently writing a book for Liverpool University Press entitled Music on the Line: Songs and Politics on the US/Mexico Border. This book-in-progress combines academic analysis, crisis reporting, and personal reflection
About our Journey leaders:
Kirsten Szykitka has spent many years living and working abroad, and has led group excursions in a wide array of locations. Highlights have included leading a multi-narrative trip to Israel and Palestine, a gap year program in India, a trail-building crew at Denali National Park in Alaska, private custom tours in the Czech Republic, and cultural tours in Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico. She enjoys creating spaces where culturally diverse groups can encounter each other in ways that cultivate curiosity, growth, and understanding. Kirsten is a certified Compassionate Listening facilitator, and serves on the staff of the organization. She brings many years of group facilitation skills, and will cultivate courageous space for listening sessions, as well as times for reflection and integration throughout the journey.