Webster Students, Faculty Help ARISE Assist Families at Texas/Mexico Border

For five years, faculty members and students from the departments of Legal Studies, Spanish, and Nursing at Webster University have been making the trip to the U.S. and Mexico border in Texas. Webster's Interdisciplinary Border Project group works closely with the organization ARISE Adelante and other groups to assist leaders who then share the information with the local community. 

The Webster University Border Project group spent the week of March 6 at ARISE, an agency which promotes the empowerment of the immigrant community especially women and children along the Texas/Mexico border. The group was led by faculty members Anne Geraghty-Rathert, Silvia Navia, Graziella Postolache and Mary Ann Drake.

I taught them. But they taught me more...I'm so grateful for the opportunity to go on the trip."

Faculty were accompanied by six nursing students (including a recent graduate), one legal studies student and one Spanish major. Webster University faculty and students provided instruction and support to community members who serve, teach and care for others. The afternoons were spent hearing from community members about issues--including legal ones-- impacting them and their communities.  

Webster's Border Project group received two grants from the law firm of Sandberg Phoenix and von Gontard, PC, to support their work at the Texas/Mexico border. A crowdfund from the University to assist the group trip launched in January.

"I taught them. But they taught me more," said Pamerla Franklin, a nusing student. "I love Public Health and working with immigrants and hope to do so after I finish my MSN. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to go on the trip."