the long walk of

carlos guerrero

May 1, 2024 film screening  at the u of a

with community tabling and special guests doctors without borders

Building strong community connections is a core value for Humane Borders, and on May 1, 2024 we hosted a sold-out film screening, panel, and community tabling event at the University of Arizona's Health Sciences Center. The evening kicked off with a dozen major southern Arizona non-profits tabling and networking, with an emphasis on recruitment of summer volunteers. 


Following the tabling was the screening of the indie film, "The Long Walk of Carlos Guerrero," with Director/Producer Joseph Mathew in attendance and making opening remarks. The film, released in 2023,  is the odyssey of survival of an undocumented New York city chef and a young girl from El Salvador, after they get stranded in the deserts of Arizona.

ABOUT THE FILM

event sponsors

The event was sponsored by SEAHEC (Southeast Arizona Health Education Center), the U of A Collge of Nursing, Casa Alitas, and the U of A Health Sciences Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Many thanks for making this a memorable evening for all! 

Mike Wilson, Tucson humanitarian

Mike Wilson, a longtime humanitarian and former Humane Borders volunteer, plays himself in The Long Walk of Carlos Guerrero. In addition to Wilson, several southern Arizona humanitarians are featured in the film. Humane Borders provided a water station for a scene in the movie.    

director joseph mathew

Joseph Mathew, Director/Producer of The Long Walk of Carlos Guerrero, says "In the early 2000s, I saw a small article in the New York Times about the soaring death rate of migrants crossing the border into Arizona. Being an immigrant myself, I was deeply moved by this story...undocumented people in the United States have few rights and live in a constant state of uncertainty and fear...this trauma is rarely talked about and inspired me to write the story of an undocumented New Yorker, who takes the ultimate risk to return to Mexico after many years to see his ailing mother one last time.


The film is a way for me to acknowledge the humanity of all the undocumented Americans who live among us."

the migrant journey: Medical update from the Arizona Border

Panelists

Following the screening, Humane Borders hosted a panel discussion on medical needs at the Arizona/Mexico border. The conversation focused on humanitarian needs near the Sasabe port of entry, as well as confiscation of medications of people migrating.


Pictured (left to right): Dr. Belen Ramirez (Doctors Without Borders), Amy Pacheco (SEAHEC), Laurie Cantillo (moderator, Humane Borders), Christine Ashimwe (SEAHEC), and Sarah Roberts (Tucson Samaritans)

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