Border Crossers accomplishes its mission by creating Partner School relationships between schools in diverse New York City neighborhoods, bringing together classrooms from demographically distinct schools and neighborhoods. Students are paired up as pen pals and communicate around a shared curriculum. Several face-to-face Meet-Ups occur during the course of the year with both classes of students including visits to each other’s schools.

Over time, Border Crossers will integrate its program at every grade level in the elementary school continuum so that students re-encounter the same students from their Partner School every year. Border Crossers supports Partner Schools to deepen their collaboration through shared activities such as community- building events in local gardens, parent workshops, and professional development for teachers. To find out more about one of Border Crossers' current school partnerships click here

The social justice-based curriculum focuses on three program areas:

1. Identity
2. Community
3. Change-making

Program Logistics:

As part of the program, students will:

• Attend Meet-Ups with Partner School
• Participate in culminating program events with parents and community members.
• Participate in Pre and Post Meet-Up lessons.

Program Benefits:

• Students are exposed to distinct communities of people and different parts of New York City, expanding their worldview and eliminating stereotypes.
• Students gain leadership and social action-building skills.
• Students develop the language to talk about race, class, inequality, and social justice – and the ability to use language to cross borders.