March 7, 2016 / Modified mar 7, 2016 2:13 p.m.

'Common Ground on the Border' Celebrates Region's Culture

Community group wants to defuse tension about U.S.-Mexico border

CommonGround logo
Nancy Montoya, AZPM

Listen:

The U.S.-Mexico border debate has taken controversial and some might say even “nasty” turns this presidential cycle. One community group wants to defuse the conversation with a three-day event celebrating the region.

“The border should actually be an economic engine for the United States. We should be lifting this area of our country up," said Randy Mayer, a pastor in Sahuarita. "Saying that it is so dangerous and that all these bad things are happening. The reality is, that that’s not true."

Mayer grew up in Montana, but has lived near the border for 18 years.

The pastor and members at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, with others, organized an event later this month called Common Ground on the border.

Instead of the border as a point of controversy, Mayer said, it should be celebrated for its rich cultural diversity.

Common Ground on the Border will feature music, guest speakers, art displays, workshops, food and entertainment. The event will be March 17 through 19.

For more information on Common Ground on the Border, go to its website.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona