Common Ground on the Border

The US-Mexico Borderlands have always been a beautiful mix of culture, language, cuisine, economies and people. It has also been a place of struggle, high and low temperatures, a fragile environment, and the push and pull of immigration. The Borderlands is the perfect place to explore the arts, touch the culture and have deeper conversations about the complicated issues that collide here.

January 16-18, 2025
9:00 - 5:40 PM + Evening Events
Good Shepherd UCC, Sahuarita, AZ
$TBA

Join Common Ground on the Hill at Common Ground on the Border!

INFO TBA!

Join Common Ground on the Hill Executive Director Walt Michael on a trip to the Borderlands! Walk the desert, visit a migrant shelter, assist with a water drop, meet the members of the Green Valley Samaritans, discover the art of the borderlands and immerse yourself in its culture. This land of beauty and struggle, with it's mix of food, language, economies and people, will leave you changed forever.

Cost includes airfare, hotel (double occupancy), transportation, AND admission to Common Ground on the Border (Jan. 16-18). We will take local excursions as well. Entrance fees and and meals (unless otherwise noted below) are not included. 

NOTE: When you have registered for the week-long trip, the Common Ground on the Hill office will follow up with additional details. You do NOT need to register on the Common Ground on the Border webpage - we will take care of that for you!

sign up for cgoth trip to the border

Questions? Email maria@commongroundonthehill.org

General Itinerary TBA

SAMPLE ITINERARY

TUESDAY

  • Arrive in Arizona, flying out of BWI
  • Sightseeing
  • Dinner on your own

WEDNESDA

  • Sightseeing
  • Meals on your own

THURSDAY Common Ground on the Border

  • Field Trips (entrance fees included)
  • Meals on your own

FRIDAY Common Ground on the Border

  • Opening Session
  • Lunch on your own
  • Session with Artist-In-Residence
  • Dinner (provided)
  • Concert

SATURDAY Common Ground on the Border

  • Border Lectures
  • Lunch on your own
  • Dinner (provided)

SUNDAY

  • Sunday morning worship at Good Shepherd UCC (optional)
  • Meals on your own
  • Sightseeing

MONDAY

  • Sightseeing
  • Meals on your own

TUESDAY: Return to BWI

About Common Ground on the Border

Landscape in Arizona borderlands, showing cacti with mountains in the distance. Some people walk through the brush.

Common Ground on the Border & Border Issues Fair features classes in art, music and a variety of lectures. The US-Mexico Borderlands have always been a beautiful mix of culture, language, cuisine, economies and people. It has also been a place of struggle, high and low temperatures, a fragile environment, and the push and pull of immigration. The Borderlands is the perfect place to explore the arts, touch the culture and have deeper conversations about the complicated issues that collide here.

Common Ground on the Border is presented in cooperation and partnership with Common Ground on the Hill. For the past 30 years, Common Ground on the Hill has gathered in Westminster, Maryland, and other locations as a multicultural community of musicians, artists, writers, lecturers, actors, and dancers, sharing skills with students of all ages and with one another. In this way, we believe that we all can improve ourselves, our communities and our world as we meet, share and celebrate our arts and cultures on "common ground."

This year we are again combining two popular events - Common Ground on the Border and the Annual Santa Cruz Valley Border Issues Fair and Concert - giving space for people to participate in the entire experience or just parts of it.

We are delighted to offer this edition of Common Ground on the Border. Our planning team has energetically approached the work of stabilizing and growing this very important gathering. We hope to see you in January!

If you would like to view the Common Ground on the Hill catalog/brochure, please send us an email and we will send it to you via email:  wmichael@mcdaniel.edu

additional information