Border connections: Exploring the relationship between sustainable systems, migration and public health through community-based partnerships in the United States, Mexico and Guatemala

Objectives: The purpose of this poster is to present the collaborative efforts of an inter-professional group of Public Health and School of Planning graduate students in creating and implementing a tailor-made service-learning course that focuses on building partnerships with NGOs, governmental agencies, and educational institutions throughout the United States/Mexico and Mexico/Guatemala border regions. The project's intent is to understand the complexities of health disparities in these border regions by exploring the relationship between migration, health, and economic development within a framework of public health advocacy. Through multi-national collaborations and the utilization of digital storytelling, the group examines why so many people from Central and South America embark on the treacherous journey of northern migration, leaving behind their homes, friends and families. The use of digital storytelling is intended to provide a medium that can transcend language and culture in order to promote communication, understanding and partnerships around the topics of border health and migration among project partners, stakeholders, colleagues, and the general public. The learning objectives of this project are to: explain causes of migration and health effects on migrant families and communities; compare the Guatemala/Mexico and the Mexico/United States border regions; discuss sustainable development models; describe efforts to provide direct service and support within local economies; and, demonstrate cultural understanding. The students have diligently documented their efforts in creating and executing this project in the hope that their experience can serve as a model for future student groups that wish to study international issues of migration and health equity.