In preparation for Confronteras, participants committed to five training sessions devoted to building the logistical, mental and emotional groundwork for our five-day trip in February. Our first meeting with the four youth staff was an overnight vision and dialogue held at Samantha’s apartment in Claremont. From there we were able to develop the curriculum that gave us background knowledge based on the interactions and learning experiences we hoped to have on our journey. This turned out to be a learning process for me as I fished through the paperwork and foundation built by our Send Us 2 India program Summer 2011, and researched topics I though pertinent to the framework we were creating. With help from Cheng and Sam, logistical paperwork was pulled together to line up applications, passports, waivers, and fundraising efforts. The partnerships formed with organizations and community members in Arizona and Mexico were established beforehand over the phone as I made phone calls and verbally connected with they many people that made our trip possible. A small parent orientation was held (in Spanish) in October, and trainings started in November. Over the next four months we would discuss various pieces of history and current events that related to what we saw in our own community and would see in Tucson and Nogales. Confronteras started as an approach to open up a conversation and learn about the very sensitive and real topics of immigration and detention that effect the community of Riverside and our families so deeply. Our preparation for the trip started to open up a space where we could reflect, make broader connections and then act on what we found to be true.
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