Attendees of the immigration Think Tank.
On January 14th and 15th, San Miguel High School in Tucson, AZ was the site for a “Think Tank” meeting on immigration, designed to provide an opportunity to reflect on and share ideas concerning current migrant issues and related long-term needs along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Hosted by the District of San Francisco New Orleans Office of Education, the gathering welcomed several Brothers and Lasallian Partners from the Districts of San Francisco New Orleans and México-Norte (North Mexico), as well as clergy and prominent civic figures from Southern Arizona. Members of the San Miguel faculty also participated.
In their invitation, planners stated that the event’s goals would be “to gather and understand better the current issues surrounding immigration, to understand how our Districts may work together and creatively, respond to those most in need, and to develop concrete next steps to be shared with others in the District.”
Brother Chris Patiño, FSC, who ministers at San Miguel High School and helped to organize the gathering, wrote, “The Immigration Think Tank is an initiative that is a response to a current reality and a challenge made by the 45th General Chapter of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. One of the themes that arose from the Chapter is for the Lasallian mission to go ‘beyond borders’ and respond to the emerging educational needs of our time.”
Attendees Included:
- Gery Short, Director, Director, Office of Education, District of San Francisco New Orleans
- Ms. Kenenna Amuzie, El Otro Lado Coordinator, San Miguel High School, Tucson, AZ
- Ms. Catherine Buck, Campus Ministry, Cathedral High School, El Paso, TX
- Br. Carlos Castañeda Casas, FSC, Director, Lasallian Educational Mission, Distrito de México-Norte
- Br. Jorge Felix, FSC, Teacher and High School Coordinator, Colegio La Salle, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México
- Br. Alejandro González Cerna, FSC, Teacher, Colegio Regis-La Salle, Hermosillo, Sonora, México
- Mr. Abel Gutierrez, Teacher, Cathedral High School, Los Angeles, CA
- Ms. Alma Mejia-Garcia, Founder, El Otro Lado, Tucson, AZ
- Ed O’Connor, Director of Student Life, La Salle High School, Pasadena, CA
- Br. Chris Patiño, FSC, Think Tank Coordinator, San Miguel High School, Tucson, AZ
- Heather Ruple, Think Tank Coordinator, Young Lasallians Director, District of San Francisco New Orleans
Presenters and Guests included:
- Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, Executive Director, Kino Border Initiative, Nogales, AZ
- Br. Tim Coldwell, FSC, General Councilor, RELAN Washington, D.C./Rome, Italy
- Dr. Celestino Fernandez, Sociology Professor, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Most Reverend Gerald F. Kicanas, Bishop of Tucson, Tucson, AZ
Article contributed by Ms. Harriet Sitter, Associate Director of Advancement, San Miguel High School.
