Bridging Borders Presentation

Mary Pharmer will give a PowerPoint presentation that illustrates the work of Annunciation House: https://annunciationhouse.org/

Mary lived in the Annunciation House community and, along with many other volunteers, provided support to migrants as they sought asylum and journeyed to sponsors across the US.

Her main desire is to share stories and information that could help Wisconsin folks get a clearer idea of the “crisis at the border.”

Volunteer Information: https://annunciationhouse.org/volunteer/

Co-Sponsors (each co-sponsor will say a few words about their organization following the main presentation):

Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Bonnie Margulis
https://wisconsinfaithvoicesforjustice.weebly.com/

Centro Hispano
Karen Menéndez Coller
http://www.micentro.org/

US El Salvador Sister Cities/Madison Arcatao Sister City Project (MASCP)
Barbara Mergen Alvarado
https://www.mascp.org/

The presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. but feel free to come early and take a walk through the Natural Path Sanctuary and the Farley Center farms.

Light refreshments will be served.

Mary Pharmer reflects:

Hospitality has been the central focus of my life. Growing up in a large family in Bald Eagle, MN (near the Twin Cities) our home was an open door for family and friends. We moved to different cities and kept up this family tradition. As my two children, both adopted from Haiti, grew we carried on the “open door.” My careers as an elementary school teacher and pastor were shaped by welcome and inclusion. Chaplaincy at the Salvation Army shelter and Central Wisconsin Center gave me additional opportunities to be involved with a variety of groups of folks.

For a long time, I wanted to travel to be of service on the SW border. I connected with Annunciation House in El Paso, on the Mexican border. This house of hospitality has been accompanying the poor in migration since 1978. Donations are the only source of funding as the Annunciation House receives no government support.