AFSC /INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETING JOINT SERVICE PROJECT

Western Quaker Workcamps
Sponsored by AFSC and the Intermountain Yearly Meeting

Friends,

We offer authentic, cross-cultural service learning for intergenerational groups who wish to travel off the tourist trails and see a different world from a different perspective. We challenge you to try to see it from the perspective of an indigenous person from Mexico or the United States of America. We ask that you see what you can learn from them about Community, Harmony, Simplicity and Equality.

Service is the vehicle for this exploration and part of the exploration is the nature of service, itself.

Mexico is on my mind as I am packing to lead a trip into the Sierra Madres this weekend. Mexico is nearly always on my mind, since I live here on the border. Not on the fence border exactly, but close. The border with Mexico cannot be contained in the width of a fence anyway. And fences are to keep animals in or out, not humans. Fear divides us more than the border does. And we pass through fear the same way we pass through the border; one obstacle at a time.

And often the fear is created the same way the border is and for the same reasons. But what does our experience show us? Are you ready for that experience?

In service,

Mike Gray

El Desemboque de los Seris: from June 25 to July 2, 2009 or thereabouts for the Seri New Year

Economic development, food security and cultural survival all come together at this traditional celebration of the coming of the summer rains, the ripening of the cactus fruits and the harvest of the mesquite beans. Throw in feasting and dancing for a real party. Cost is $500 per week.

Wambli, South Dakota: from July 8 to 16, 2009 with the Oglala Lakota on Pine Ridge

A return to pick up on the work we did last summer on Kennedy Hall. Cost is $600 per week.

Pine Ridge: from July 19 to August 2, 2009

It looks like we have participants for this to work. I’m hoping you can participate for two weeks, but if you can only do one of the two weeks, we will work it out for you. Cost is $600 week.

In service,
Mike Gray
JSP Project Coordinator

Registration forms for all projects can be found on the right of this page.

With the Seris.

Information & Resources

Welcome to the Joint Service Project >

Vision, Mission and Goals >

FAQs -- Frequently Asked Questions (RTF)

El Desemboque de los Seris registration form

Pine Ridge registration form

A description of El Desemboque de los Seris (RTF)

A description of La Mesa de Abajo (RTF)

JSP Evaluation Form (DOC)

JSP Volunteer Co-Facilitatator (RTF)