Creating Community Across Borders: A Year in Review

Written by Meghan Moyer, Nazareth University student and Via GO alumna “The powerful sense of community and resilience through the deep history and contemporary uncertainties is something that stuck out to me the most!”

In January 2025, I was fortunate enough to travel with Nazareth University Alternative Breaks and Via International to the borders of San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico. There I experienced the defined resilience and community built around the challenging realities of life surrounding the border. 

Looking back, just one year later, my heart hurts knowing all the changes that have been made, and understanding the harsh realities impacting the entire migrant community, including those I met. The feeling of being at both sides of the border just a week before Inauguration is something that will never leave me. The fear that filled the air as I walked by the Mexico port of entry was overwhelming. Everyone there praying they would have the chance to bring better life to themselves and their families, or hoping to reconnect with loved ones on the other side. Every single one of them having worked hard to get where they were, knowing in a week, all could be changed.        

Throughout the week, I was blessed with stories from people throughout the two communities. Hearing from many including families just making it into the states, young adults, children, veterans, etc., all with unique stories, but a common theme of pasts of inhumane treatment. Yet, what was most inspirational is no matter how horribly these individuals were treated, they chose peace, love, community, art, and sharing their experiences with others.    

During this experience, we visited many areas to give us a clearer picture of life surrounding the border. One spot that has stuck with me since is Friendship Park. Friendship Park was once the only place at the border where people were able to have face to face conversations. Unfortunately, due to Covid and renovations, the US side has been closed since 2020. Looking at our current government, it is hard to comprehend that there is no sign of this park being reopened, with additional razor wire even being added (Rivera, 2025). As this year has progressed, it becomes more difficult to understand that even as we think we may be taking a step forward, we are met with more steps back creating further separation.   

Whiskey 8 was another place that has motivated me to share my experiences. Whiskey 8 is considered one of four open air detention centers along the border. The purpose of these is to act as an aid station for migrants that are between the borders hoping to claim asylum. Here, migrants could receive food, water, clothing, and other products given by volunteers through the walls. During our time at Whiskey 8, we witnessed the works of the detention center, as we watched the volunteers attempting to navigate the language barrier, and provide the people what they needed. The hardest part was having to watch them sit there and wait for border patrol, as we were on the other side of the wall. No one knew what their future entailed, and we were not able to help them any further. Understanding that this has been the journey of thousands, and as things are going, will be a journey for many more.   

Visiting places like Whiskey 8 and Friendship park, gave me insight into what migrants in my own community have probably faced as well. Once back from the trip, it was important I took what I learned, and assisted migrants in my own community. Rochester, is a city known for their vast migrant population, being known as “a City of Sanctuaries”, resulting in many organizations and services providing to these people. One of the organizations I got to volunteer with was Rochester Hope. There I was able to connect with people while hearing their stories, and was able to help create a welcoming, open space for people to gather and share a meal. Also helping them access the other services there as well, including the food pantry.

Since being at the border, and after volunteering at Rochester Hope, I realized that the biggest impact I can have is by sharing my experiences, listening to others experiences, and helping create community. Which is why I have continued to find ways to share my experiences. So often, we tend to ignore what “doesn’t affect us”, yet it is important to understand that change doesn’t just come just from the people it affects, it results from many people coming together, spreading awareness, working towards a common goal.

Lastly, if I could take away one thing from this past year, it would be, take every opportunity to learn, and then, once you learn, find a way to use that knowledge to make an impact!  

References

City of Rochester. (2026). Resources for Rochester's immigrant and refugee populations. City of Rochester.

Rivera, S. (2025, April 1). Marines install razor wire at border park, further restricting access. BorderReport.