by Karen Richter, 2020 Annual Meeting Coordinator

As (I hope) you’ve seen, the theme for Annual Meeting 2020 is Stories That Transform. This is maybe the most human, most exciting theme I’ve experienced over the last decade of annual meetings. Sharing stories, listening to the stories of others, crafting meaning and connecting events: these are the things that humans do. Over days, seasons, and lifetimes, these story activities form family, community, and culture.

So what better way to prepare for Annual Meeting and share ideas and experiences than a Southwest Conference Book Club! But here’s the rub… when you ask churchy, bibliophile people what they recommend to read, you can get overwhelmed. Take a deep breath and check out the recommendations below.

Natalia Serna, aka La Muna, is a Colombian-American songwriter and sociologist who has given much of her to walking with migrants, literally, on the trains through Mexico known as "La Bestia," through the mountains of Guatemala, and along the US/Mexico Border in the Sonoran Desert. She will present some of her work and music as well as reflections on the movement of people and what we need to live and thrive.

Pre-event on Thursday, April 23! No cost—just need to provide your own transportation to the border and buy your own lunch. We will walk across the border so people don't need to worry about driving across. Wear good walking shoes and bring a full water bottle, sunscreen, and a passport or government-issued ID (drivers license is acceptable). Participants should be able to do some light walking; the shelter in Mexico is about one-third of a mile each way. We will not be driving into Mexico.