Three National Peace & Justice Ministries staff visited the U.S.-Mexico border in late January. As border militarization and border wall construction have increased in recent years, MCC learning and serving opportunities in the borderlands region help individuals deconstruct walls in our hearts and minds—and equip us to advocate to deconstruct the physical walls that lead to migrant injuries and deaths.

One participant was Anthony Khair, an international fellow with NPJM through the IVEP program.  Anthony’s home in Palestine is close to the Israeli separation barrier. He reflected on the similarities between walls around the world and how physical separation barriers are symbols of our individual and societal values. Galen Fitzkee, NPJM’s legislative associate on immigration and Latin America, on his first visit to the region was reminded that, while the border is a prickly political issue, it is first and foremost a human issue affecting the lives of real people.

If you would like to experience this transformation for yourself, consider joining us on a future learning tour! (Check our migration events page or email npjm@mcc.org)   

As the U.S. Congress debates reauthorization of the Farm Bill, one important piece to watch is the Food for Peace program. Food for Peace addresses the root causes of global food insecurity and builds resilience in vulnerable communities. Another vital provision in the Farm Bill is the “flexible cargo preference,” which speeds up delivery of food assistance. 

Take action: Ask Congress to include strong funding for the Food for Peace program in the 2023 Farm Bill

MCC staff and partners in Nigeria successfully advocated to the U.S. Congress for two specific actions to support peaceful and democratic elections later this month in Nigeria. On Jan. 8, Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menedez (D-N.J.) introduced a bipartisan resolution committing to support democratic and credible elections. Then, on January 25, the U.S. government imposed visa restrictions on those who are undermining the democratic process in Nigeria.

Learn more about the upcoming elections in Nigeria! In this radio interview on Africa Now!, Charles Kwuelum guides listeners through the election process, the political parties involved, youth participation, and the historical context leading up to the elections. 

Join us for the second webinar in this MCC and Mennonite Church USA sponsored webinar series, Beyond incarceration: A hard look at dismantling the prison system and building healthy communities. Hear from renowned practitioners, Dr. Teiahsha Bankhead, Executive Director of Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, and Hassan. A. Latif, founder of Second Chance Center in Aurora, Colorado. Learn more and register for the webinar. 

Calling Anabaptist youth of high school age or anyone who attends a Mennonite high school in the U.S., including in Puerto Rico, to submit an essay on a public policy issue. This year's topics are climate change, immigration and mass incarceration. Submissions can be in Spanish or English. A grand prize of $1000 will be awarded to the top essay. Read more about the contest.

MennoCon will be held July 3-6, in Kansas City, Missouri, followed by a youth and young adult climate summit on July 7. Join our team for interactive youth workshops on immigration, mass incarceration, Palestine and Israel, climate change and more! Register for MennoCon beginning March 1. 

MCC and MC USA are hosting learning tours on mass incarceration in different parts of the U.S. Join MCC Great Lakes for three days focusing on the complexities of the U.S. criminal legal system as seen on the West Side of Chicago. Participants will engage with returning citizens and local organizations who are focused on re-entry work. Read more and register by March 1. 

Is your church or organization offering free or low-cost legal services to immigrants? This 40-hour course will touch on all areas of immigration law and practice and provide the necessary training for individuals who wish to apply for accreditation from the U.S. Department of Justice. Early Bird registration ends February 27! Find out more about this training or email immigration@mcc.org.

The migration experience may be one of grief, loss and trauma. The AITM seminar seeks to promote wellbeing by increasing awareness, addressing wounds, reducing harms, and fostering healthy community integration. It is most helpful for those who have experienced migration directly, are service providers, or are part of a church providing sponsorship and support. Read more and register.

Registration is open for Ecumenical Advocacy Days, an annual gathering of advocates supported by nearly 50 Christian denominations and organizations. This year, the conference theme is “Swords into Plowshares -- Achieving Enough for All and Pursuing Peace,” based on Micah 4:3-4. The virtual conference will feature keynote speakers, worship, workshops and advocacy opportunities for all attendees. Register for the conference. 

Daniela Lázaro-Manalo was the opening keynote speaker for MC USA’s Hope for the Future Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, Feb 3-5. The conference is a gathering space for BIPOC leaders and focused on “The Book of Esther, ‘Such a Time as This: Collective Trauma and Hope,’” carving out a meaningful space for healing, intergenerational dialogue, community building, and worship.

Charles Kwuelum joined with artists, activists and advocates on Feb. 3, in Washington, D.C., to view Nigerian artwork on human rights, civic engagement and peacebuilding in the lead-up to the elections in Nigeria later this month. MCC U.S. supported this important exhibit along with the Church of the Brethren.

Jes Stoltzfus Buller, Saulo Padilla, Galen Fitzkee and Kirstin De Mello participated in the Mennonite Educators Conference in Leesburg, Virginia, from Feb. 2-4. Attended by over 350 teachers and administrators, the conference included two workshops presented by NPJM: People on the Move and You Got Booked! 

In January, Anthony Khair spoke about his experience as a young adult in Palestine and about the political context in Palestine and Israel at a convocation at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, at a Peacemaking and Justice class at Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas, and at Shalom Mennonite Church in Tucson, Arizona. To invite Anthony to speak to your church, college or group, email npjm@mcc.org.

NPJM was thrilled to have MCC East Coast Communications Director, Laura Pauls-Thomas, join our team for four weeks in January. Laura devoted her time to climate change advocacy strategy through learning tours and young adult engagement. She also explored the streets of the U.S. capital on her bike, commuting to and from the MCC DC office. Thank you, Laura, for your spirited contributions! 

On Feb. 8, NPJM staff hosted 17 faith leaders from the Anabaptist Climate Collaborative Pastoral Care for Climate 2023 cohort. They met with congressional staff to advocate for more responsible critical minerals mining, with an emphasis on recycling, clean-up and consultation with indigenous communities.

1,950 mile-long open wound
     dividing a pueblo, a culture
                 running down the length of my body,
   staking fence rods in my flesh,
   splits me    splits me
 me raja     me raja

--excerpt from Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa