Watch recordings below of recent Maryknoll Monarch Intiative speakers. You can also view them on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to the YouTube channel to receive notifications when recordings of future workshops are posted.
“The Impact of Administration Policies on Migrants" - Jesus de la Torre, Hope Border Institute - 03/18/25
Jesus works as assistant director for global migration at the Hope Border Institute, a strategy center for faith leaders pursuing justice at the US-Mexico border. There, Jesús coordinates work to address the root causes of forced migration in Central America, research and monitoring programs, and immigration advocacy work with faith leaders at the U.S. level. He has been honored to learn with migrant justice movements in Spain, the United States and Central America, and his research has focused on analyzing the impacts of the US and European migration policies on migrants' rights.
“Migrant-centered Advocacy in 2025 and Human Trafficking in Migration” - Heidi Cerneka - 03/18/25
Heidi works on migration, women and human trafficking in both El Paso, Texas (with Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center) and São Paulo, Brazil (with the Instituto Terra, Trabalho e Cidadania). Her almost 30 years of living in Africa, South America and Central America inform this focus bringing a faith perspective to her advocacy on the ground and challenging dehumanizing structures. Her work connects her to Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Brazil and the Mexico-US border where she continues to learn from activists and migrants each step of the way.
"History of the Border, Migration and Human Rights"- Alan Lizarraga, Border Network for Human Rights - 03/18/25
Alan joined Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR) in September 2022. As Communications Manager, Alan develops and executes strategic communication plans to effectively convey BNHR’s mission, goals, and campaigns to diverse audiences, including the media, policymakers, and the general public. . In addition to his communications role, Alan serves as the coordinator for The Frontera Texas Organizing Project (FTOP), an initiative led by the Border Network for Human Rights aimed at building community capacity and leadership, expanding strategies to document immigration law enforcement abuse, developing a border community-oriented narrative, and advancing advocacy efforts across six Texas border regions.
"Listening to the Voices of Migrants" - Maria Sajquim de Torres, Domestic Programs Director, JRS - 03/18/25
Maria is a Maya K’iche woman born, raised, and educated in Guatemala. Maria is an interdisciplinary scholar with degrees in clinical psychology from the National University of Guatemala, applied anthropology from Northern Arizona University (under a Fulbright scholarship), and a doctorate in interdisciplinary mental health from the University of Texas at El Paso. Maria has worked for over 25 years in the non-profit sector in the area of mental health of immigrants and refugees, women, and indigenous people. Currently, she works as the Domestic Programs Director for the Jesuit Refugee Service USA in El Paso.
"National and Global Overview on Migration" - Susan Gunn - Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns - 03/18/25
Susan first joined MOGC as office coordinator in 2012. In 2015, she took on the role of communications manager and, in 2018, director. Her previous overseas experience was in mainland China beginning in 1991. While there, she studied Chinese in Beijing and trained middle school teachers at rural teacher-training colleges from 1993-1997, while sponsored by the Amity Foundation, the largest charity in China, and the National Council of Churches of the USA. Susan and her husband also worked as short-term volunteers at Prem Dan, the house for the destitute and dying, run by the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India. They now live in Maryland with their three children.