Up Close: The KBI’s Year in Review - Kino Border Initiative

By: Roxane Ramos

The past year was filled with important events for the Kino Border Initiative, starting with the KBI’s fifth anniversary last January. Here are the highlights from 2014.

The KBI’s Fifth Anniversary Celebration: In January, the Kino Border Initiative celebrated five years of service at the border and working to educate and advocate throughout the U.S. and Mexico. A forum at the Museo del Arte in Nogales, Sonora, was attended by more than 200 supporters and featured world-renowned human rights defender Father Alejandro Solalinde of Oaxaca as the keynote speaker.

Executive director Father Sean Carroll, S.J., welcomes everyone to the KBI’s fifth anniversary celebration.

Father Solalinde speaks with passion about the migrant experience.

The panel participants included (from left to right) César López, a member of the Border Justice Collective of Ambos Nogales; Father Solalinde; Father Ricardo Machuca Hernández, then KBI Director of Programs, Mexico; Sister María Engracia Robles, KBI Coordinator of Education/Advocacy, Mexico; Father Prisciliano Peraza García, director of the Community Center for Migrants and co-coordinator of the Human Mobility migrant shelters in Northern Mexico; and Isabel Garcia, director of the Pima County Legal Defender's Office and co-chair of Derechos Humanos in Tucson. — The panel participants included (from left to right) César López, a member of the Border Justice Collective of Ambos Nogales; Father Solalinde; Father Ricardo Machuca Hernández, then KBI Director of Programs, Mexico; Sister María Engracia Robles, KBI Coordinator of Education/Advocacy, Mexico; Father Prisciliano Peraza García, director of the Community Center for Migrants and co-coordinator of the Human Mobility migrant shelters in Northern Mexico; and Isabel Garcia, director of the Pima County Legal Defender’s Office and co-chair of Derechos Humanos in Tucson.

Father Sean, Father Ricardo, Chris Boitano and Sister Clara Alcátara Torres. M.E. share a laugh. Sister Clara is the Superior General of the Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist in Colima, Mexico.

The KBI Fourth Annual Dinner: Held in Phoenix on March 29, 2014, last year’s fundraising dinner drew a record 220 attendees and raised over $140,000, more than doubling the amount raised the previous year, with local philanthropist Joe Anderson spurring donations by offering to match the first $50,000 raised. This year’s dinner will be held on Saturday, February 28. For more information and to purchase tickets, please see: www.kinoborderinitiative.org/2015-kbi-annual-dinner-reservation/.

The KBI staff and volunteers gather as Fr. Sean welcomes the dinner guests at the Fourth Annual KBI Dinner.

At last year’s dinner, Joe Anderson’s matching gift of $50,000 helped spur donations.

Bishops at the Border: On April 1, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sent an impressive delegation of clergy—including seven bishops and 17 priests—to draw national attention to the immigration crisis. Cardinal Seán O’Malley celebrated Mass at the border, an event attended by scores of people on both sides of the fence.

Cardinal Seán O’Malley blesses the crowd at the border.

Father Sean Carroll, S.J., Executive Director of the KBI, greets everyone after the Mass.

The KBI’s Honorary Degree: Santa Clara University acknowledged the comprehensive work of the Kino Border Initiative “to help make humane, just, workable migration between the U.S. and Mexico a reality” with an Honorary Doctorate of Pastoral Ministry at their commencement ceremonies on June 14. Father Sean Carroll, S.J., the KBI’s executive director, received the degree on behalf of the KBI.

Fr. Sean Carroll, S.J., holding the honorary doctorate from Santa Clara University, with SCU President Fr. Michael Engh, S.J. (l.) and Dr. Kristin Heyer, professor of religious studies at SCU (r.). Photo by Charles Barry/Santa Clara University. — Fr. Sean Carroll, S.J., holding the honorary doctorate from Santa Clara University, with SCU President Fr. Michael Engh, S.J. (l.) and Dr. Kristin Heyer, professor of religious studies at SCU (r.).
Photo by Charles Barry/Santa Clara University.

A very happy day for the KBI: (from left to right) past board chair Luis Parra, board member Lucy Howell, migrant advocate/volunteer coordinator Marla Conrad, current board chair Jane Lacovara, executive director Father Sean Carroll, his mother Cathy Carroll, board member Mark Potter, and director of education West Cosgrove. Photo by Steve Howell. — A very happy day for the KBI: (from left to right) past board chair Luis Parra, board member Lucy Howell, migrant advocate/volunteer coordinator Marla Conrad, current board chair Jane Lacovara, executive director Father Sean Carroll, his mother Cathy Carroll, board member Mark Potter, and director of education West Cosgrove.
Photo by Steve Howell.

President Obama’s Executive Action: In November, the Jesuits of the United States, Jesuit Refugee Services/USA, and the Kino Border Initiative issued a statement welcoming President Obama’s executive action to end the legislative gridlock and place pressure on Congress to make immigration reform a priority. The President’s order will provide temporary stays of deportation to as many as five million undocumented migrants who live in fear of discovery and separation from their families, but there are another 6 million undocumented immigrants whose situations are unaddressed by the order. To read the complete statement from the Jesuits of the United States, JRS/USA, and the KBI, please see: http://www.jesuit.org/news-detail?TN=NEWS-20141121032132.

President Obama issues an executive order that will provide relief for up to 5 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Public domain image. — President Obama issues an executive order that will provide relief for up to 5 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.
Public domain image.

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