The Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

In the summer of 2000, the Outreach Office of the Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University facilitated a study abroad seminar for North Carolina educators to visit Mexico, in an effort to foster a greater awareness of the diversity and richness of contemporary Mexican culture.

The exhibit Crossing Borders: North Carolina Meets Mexico is a journalistic account of the teachers’ seminar abroad, and is meant to be displayed in schools, community centers, or public facilities as a focal point of cross-cultural dialogue between North Carolinians and the Mexican community. Pittsboro photographer Jerry Markatos carefully documented the teacher’s journey through Mexico City, Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Morelos, capturing their interaction with Mexican culture and providing a window into daily life in Mexico.

The display includes fifteen mounted photographs, roughly 17”x 22”, with descriptive captions. In addition to the photographs, there are four large text panels with engaging personal accounts and historical information about each of the cities the teachers visited. The panels range from 18”x12” to 29”x12”. An accompanying handbook includes teacher biographies and descriptions of the final projects done by each teacher. The exhibit can be borrowed for up to two months for $100; borrowers need only pay shipping fees (FedEx Ground service) and include a $100 refundable security deposit.