Mexico Solidarity Network
The Mexico-US Solidarity Network organizes for fundamental social change grounded in democracy, economic justice, human rights and redistribution of power on both sides of the US-Mexico border. The foundations of effective social change are education, community building, and organizing.
- Education is a collective process that involves an exploration and deepening of knowledge gained from life experiences, and an evaluation/expansion of life horizons.
- Community building involves the (re)construction of trust, collectivity, and group empowerment, with leadership constructed horizontally.
- Effective organizing includes a conscious evaluation of social problems and collective construction a new future grounded in empowered and autonomous community.
The central work of the Mexico-US Solidarity Network is in impoverished and exploited communities on both sides of the Mexico-US border. In Chicago, the Albany Park Autonomous Center is building strong community through innovative education and organizing processes directed by immigrants. In Mexico, the Network works in solidarity with communities struggling for housing, land, democracy and human rights. Our work includes:
- Albany Park Autonomous Center: Located in Albany Park, Chicago, in one of the nation’s most diverse urban neighborhoods, the Autonomous Center is an experiment in community building among largely Spanish speaking immigrants. English classes, a computer center, a literacy program, movie nights, and cultural events are all organized by and for members of the community. Small work groups are developing domestic worker and construction cooperatives.
- Mexico Study Abroad Program: The Study Abroad Program offers university students the opportunity to study Mexico’s most important living social movements.
- Speaking tours: Ten speaking tours a year feature leaders from Mexico’s most dynamic social movements who build cross-border links and educate for bi-national social change.
- Alternative Economy Program: The AE Program distributed artisanry produced by indigenous communities in Chiapas, offering hundreds of families a fairer market for their products.
The Mexico-US Solidarity Network is self-sustaining, independent of political parties and autonomous.
Students on the Mexico Study Abroad Program
Study Abroad Program
The Mexico Solidarity Network study abroad experience offers a dynamic, student-centered pedagogy combined with direct interaction with some of Mexico’s most important social movements. The unique integration of theory and practice provides students with important lessons for their organizing work back home and an in depth appreciation of the struggles of:
- Indigenous Communities [Chiapas]
- Campesinos, Braceros, and organized sex workers [Tlaxcala]
- Autonomous urban organizing around housing and culture [Mexico City]
- Maquilladora workers, barrio organizing and families of femicide victims [Ciudad Juarez]
The Program is accredited by the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana in Mexico City. Hampshire College is the US school of record and issues formal transcripts. The program is also recognized by the State University of New York (SUNY) system, the University of Texas-Austin, New Mexico State University, Appalachian State University and 70 other institutions. Upcoming Programs:
June 7- August 1
May 24- June 27
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
CONTACT MSN@MexicoSolidarity.org OR CALL 773-583-7728
Mexico News and Analysis: June 15-21, 2009
1. More troops deployed to Ciudad Juarez
2. No US strategy for curtailing weapons to Mexico
3. Senate approves US$420 million for Mexico
4. PRD falling apart