hope in enrique's journey

Enrique's Journey

By sonia nazario, enrique's journey themes.

Without a doubt, family is the central theme of Enrique's Journey . By basing her investigation around Enrique 's story, Nazario explores the ways that immigration affects individual families.

Lourdes believes she is acting responsibly by traveling to the U.S. for work. Though she makes the trip for the sake of her children, they immediately feel the pangs of separation. Their whole notion of “family” becomes jaded. Who is their parent, or as Enrique asks, “Dónde está mi mami? Where is my mom?” Because of her decision, both mother and child suffer loss.

In the wake of separation, all concerned are led to create new family structures, often unhealthy ones. Enrique’s father starts another family, leaving Enrique doubly deserted and starting a spiral that leaves him to be traded from home to home. He wants to get his girlfriend pregnant largely because it might satiate his feelings of abandonment.

Meanwhile, Lourdes creates a new life for herself in the U.S. with her daughter Diana , but finds her life is incomplete without Enrique and Belky . Overall, the family unit itself is endangered, and this is one of Nazario's overall points. Even when they are reunited, their various resentments made a true reunion difficult. When Enrique makes his own journey and asks Maria Isabel to join him, he risks starting the same cycle of abandonment with his own daughter, suggesting that these decisions are not easily criticized, but rather must be considered as one of many factors at risk in the immigration debate.

Abandonment

At various points of the book, Enrique is abandoned by every significant parental figure in his life. First, Lourdes emigrates to the United States, leaving a five year old Enrique to be raised by his irresponsible father. Then, his father leaves to begin a new family, after which he is traded from home to home, largely because of the rebellious attitude that forms in response to the abandonment. In many ways, it is adolescent confusion over this abandonment that inspires Enrique to brave the significant risks of the journey to reunite with a mother he barely knows. Though this pain does inspire Enrique to fear repeating the cycle, he does abandon María Isabel, his girlfriend, who is pregnant with their child. The theme of abandonment comes full circle when Enrique and María Isabel leave their daughter in Honduras while they create a new life together in the United States. Enrique's greatest hope is that he can bring his daughter to him and not prove guilty of the same offenses that corrupted him in his youth.

As the title of the book suggests, a main theme within the narration is that of the journey. Enrique must travel thousands of miles in order to reach his destination, his mother. His journey is one of suffering and fear, of pain and longing. Through the lens of the author’s narration, we follow in Enrique’s footsteps as he overcomes each obstacle. The physical aspect of his journey challenges his body, as seen during his recovery from the injuries he sustained at the hands of the six men on the train.

However, Enrique's journey is not only physical, but also mental as he grows from a boy to a man. His anger, resentment, and feelings of abandonment fuel his confrontations with his mother. There are times in the book when he falls victim to his own shortcomings: doing drugs, tantalizing his mother, mismanaging his finances. His emotional journey concludes when, after he is reunited for a second time with his mother in Florida, Enrique reveals that he will stop living in the past, and will save enough money to bring María Isabel into the country so that they might work together to bring happiness into their daughter’s life. He is ready to take yet another journey, this time marked by responsibility instead of adolescent rebellion and resentment.

Although it is not overtly stated in the text, love is one of the greatest motivations that drives the characters. Enrique travels thousands of miles to reach his mother because he believes she is the only one who still cares for him. Lourdes makes the incredibly difficult decision to leave her home, her children, and the only life she has ever known, all in the name of love. Through their actions, characters reveal how terribly they feel the absence of love. Enrique falls in love with María Isabel, who “loses herself in Enrique.” The two conceive a child together, and although Enrique is not physically in Jasmín ’s life, the promise of bettering her life leads him to take control of himself.

Characters in this book must make many difficult decisions in order to deal with their debilitating poverty. Lourdes remembers too well the pain of her childhood poverty, and so refuses to let her children suffer it. As a result, she ironically must abandon them to take care of them - she sees no other option. Similarly, Enrique is willing to suffer the poverty of the journey in order to find greater wealth up north, wealth with which he can prove himself responsible and take care of his girlfriend and child.

However, one of the book's interesting counterpoints is the reminder that the U.S. contains its own threat of poverty. Lourdes works a series of menial jobs that disappear frequently, and has to weather many disgusting circumstances to survive. As the final chapter and afterword illustrate, the desire to escape poverty force families to make very difficult decisions that are ultimately not in their best interest.

Immigration

Though the book is centered around Enrique's journey, its larger purpose is to examine the various approaches to immigration, in hopes of creating social awareness. Nazario's intention, clearly stated in her prologue, is manifest in the way she juxtaposes the protagonist's tale with interviews and details of other migrants and the many institutions they encounter on their journeys. By the end of the book, Nazario is directly confronting the questions of immigration. In the afteword, she examines how immigration affects the economy, the family unit, the community, and institutions like public schools. She is not interested in answering questions, but rather in asking them. This approach makes sense considering the complicated factors she explores through Enrique's journey - so much is at stake for both these individuals and their communities that a simple answer would surely ring false.

Behind the entire book sits the theme of hope - without it, most of the amazing accomplishment would not be possible. Enrique admits he lacks any faith that God will help him on his journey, as he has been too sinful. Instead, he relies on his own determination and skill to see him through. He finds hope in himself, in the distant idea of his mother, and in the other migrants who encourage one other. He sees defeat everywhere, but refuses to be discouraged.

Especially during the sections of the book devoted to the journey, Nazario explores the many places from which migrants get home. They are inspired by kindness from citizens, especially in places like Veracruz, where strangers run alongside the trains and toss up much needed food and clothing. They also find it in charity, given by the many churches and shelters devoted to their welfare. Nazario takes extra time to discuss particularly kind individuals like Padre Leo or Olga , largely because they help the reader understand how migrants can maintain their hope. However, most profound of all is the hope that migrants like Enrique have to reunite with their loved ones. The promise of Lourdes is the largest motivation he has.

Enrique’s Journey Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Enrique’s Journey is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

WHAT IS ENRIQUE FORCCED TO DO UPON RINALY REACHING THE AMERICAN SIDE OF THE RIO GRANDE

In order to remain undetected, Enrique and the others must wait for an hour in a half in a freezing creek into which a sewage treatment plant dumps refuse.

Why is crossing the river so difficult?

For Enrique, crossing the river by himself is dangerous. He cannot swim and if he's caught, he will be deported.

They are put in detention centers and sent back. The detention centers ar cramped full of crooks and people that exploit them.

Study Guide for Enrique’s Journey

Enrique's Journey study guide contains a biography of Sonia Nazario, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Enrique's Journey
• Enrique's Journey Summary
• Character List

Essays for Enrique’s Journey

Enrique's Journey essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario.

• Criticism, Sympathy, and Encouragement: Depicting the American Dream in 'The Great Gatsby' and 'Enrique's Journey'

Lesson Plan for Enrique’s Journey

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Enrique's Journey
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Enrique's Journey Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Enrique’s Journey

• Introduction
• Don Francisco Presenta Reunion
• Recognition
• Sonia Nazario

Class of 2027: Enrique's Journey

At age 16, Enrique begins the long, difficult, and perilous journey from Honduras to the United States to reunite with his mother. In reading his story together, we focus on universal themes of struggle, resilience, and refuge, as well as the complex issues surrounding immigration.

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• About the Book

Enrique is only 5 years old when his mother, Lourdes, leaves him and his sister, Belky, behind in Honduras so that she can go work in America. Lourdes promises only to stay until she can send for her children or return with enough money to support them, but each year setbacks prevent her from being with her children again. Enrique desperately misses his mother and believes that only she can understand and support him. After difficult stays with other relatives, Enrique sets out to find his mother. He is 16 years old when he makes the first of seven failed attempts to get through Mexico in the hopes of crossing the border into the United States. Along the way, he encounters gangs and bandits, but learns new survival skills that help him when he successfully crosses the border on his eighth try. Enrique is reunited with his mother in North Carolina, but the years apart have been tough. How Enrique envisions his mother and the reality he finds are very different.

An Epilogue recounts many interviews that the author conducted with Enrique, Lourdes and their family in Honduras since Enrique’s Journey was initially published in 2006. It reveals Enrique’s battle with drug addiction, his fractured relationship with his mother, and his struggles to be a husband and father in an environment that is often hostile to illegal immigrants. In many ways, Enrique is emblematic of many of his countrymen who came to the United States illegally. Finally, the epilogue poses questions and offers solutions to address the socio-economic issues raised by Enrique’s story.

More than 60 universities, 50 high schools, and 10 cities have selected Enrique’s Journey as a common or one-city read.” (source: Penguin Random House: “Enrique’s Journey Teacher’s Guide ”)

• Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my book?

• Unfortunately, no. All One Book, One Helix books belong to Helix Charter High School. You will be required to return your book on the designated return day.

Can I write in my book?

• No, you may not. Because these books belong to Helix and we would like to use them again, please do not write in your book. If you want to take notes, highlight quotes, or use other active reading strategies, please use sticky notes, index cards, or other non-permanent devices to do so.

Why was this book chosen?

• We chose Enrique's Journey as the as the Summer 2023 selection because of its themes of resilience and refuge, which are motifs all freshmen will study in English, Social Studies, and Helix First classes. Based on the author’s Pulitzer Prize winning series in the Los Angeles Times , the adult version of the book was the first One Book, One San Diego selection in 2007. The Young Adult version, which our students will read, was published in 2014.

Will I be graded on Enrique's Journey ?

• Yes. Freshmen classes will include assignments, quizzes, and tasks for students to complete, with the assumption that all students have read Enrique’s Journey . These tasks will start the first week of school with a short quiz in your Helix First class. Your summer assignment will be due on Thursday, August 17th.

In which classes will I be expected to show my understanding of Enrique's Journey ?

• Helix First, Introduction to Social Studies, AP Human Geography, and Freshman English have all worked together to create curriculum and assignments specific to the One Book, One Helix text.

I am confused about an assignment or the book itself. Where can I ask questions?

• Please refer any questions to Christina Potter ( [email protected] ) or Aleen Jendian ( [email protected] ).

Can I read the book online or find my own copy?

• Of course you can! We encourage all students and parents to read the book in any form or medium they are comfortable with. Please know that you are still responsible for the hard copy the school has loaned you, and will be expected to return it in good condition.

What if I have lost my copy of the Enrique's Journey book?

• Please contact the school librarian, Christina Potter ( [email protected] ) in the case of a missing or lost book.

Where can I find more about Enrique and his Family? 

• There are additional resources here

I want to talk to others about Enrique's story. Will there be an opportunity to share my opinions and perspective?

• There will be multiple opportunities throughout the year to discuss the specific and general themes addressed in Enrique’s Journey . Please listen for announcements about these opportunities.
• Checks for Understanding

The following questions are to help you think about some of the central ideas & questions raised in the book. While you do not have to formally respond to these questions, you might find them helpful “guides” as you read through the text. And, some of these questions are ones that will be addressed in your classes.

1. Enrique’s Journey is a work of nonfiction. What sparked the idea for the book? One of the goals of any type of research is to deepen an understanding of the issue. How does Nazario set out to accomplish this goal? 

2. What does the United States offer Latin American immigrants that they cannot get in their own countries? Contrast the images of the United States that Lourdes and Enrique see on television versus what each finds in the United States.

3. Compare and contrast Enrique and Belky’s lives after their mother leaves. What negative habits does Enrique develop in his mother’s absence? How is his father partly responsible?

4. Describe the guilt that Lourdes feels when she leaves her children. Why does she kiss Belky good-bye, but find it too hard to face Enrique? How does she attempt to rectify her guilt when she gets to the states?

5. Cite evidence that Aunt Rosa Amalia is correct that the separation from their mother has caused Enrique and Belky deep emotional wounds. How do these problems continue to haunt Enrique after he is reunited with his mother?

6. What do the migrants mean when they say of Chiapas, “Now we face the beast” (p. 61)? What is the “beast”? How does Enrique endure his encounter with the “beast”? Debate whether Enrique is surprised by the brutal attacks on migrants.

7. Describe the gangs aboard the trains. What is Enrique’s attitude toward the gangs? How is his view of El Brujo different from other gang members? Why does their friendship end?

8. Latino immigrants come to the United States with hope for a better life. Why is their hope fragile? How do Padre Leo and Olga work to restore dignity to migrants, and give them hope? How do the “coyotes” take advantage of the migrants’ hopes and dreams.

9. What is the significance of the statue of Jesus that Enrique encounters? How does his journey change after this encounter?

10. Describe Enrique’s relationship with María Isabel. Why does she find it difficult to forget Enrique despite his flaws? How does she call upon her religion to get through her darkest moments with Enrique? What is Enrique’s reaction when he finds that he has a daughter? What conflicts arise between María Isabel and Enrique’s family?

11. What is Enrique’s relationship with Diana, his half-sister? How is her life more stable than his? 

12. How does Enrique become the “most famous undocumented immigrant in America”? How might his story be a lesson about the perils of drug use and addiction? What chance do his children have for a better life?

13.  What motivates Enrique to stay in the United States? What things make him wish to return to Honduras?

14. Enrique continues his struggle with drug addiction, and suffers from depression. How does he blame his mother for his troubles? Explain what María Isabel learns from Lourdes about dealing with Enrique. Discuss why Lourdes tells María Isabel, “We have to cut him loose” (p. 257) 

15. The purpose of an Epilogue in a book is to add interesting developments since the book was written. What new information has Nazario revealed about Enrique and his family? 

(source: Penguin Random House: “Enrique’s Journey Teacher’s Guide ”)

• Summer Assignment

Creative Response to Enrique’s Journey . Due Thursday, August 17th in your Helix First class.

Choose an activity from the options below. The guidelines for each activity are intentionally “loose” in order to encourage creativity and individual expression. While we expect that you will challenge yourself and do your best work, we’re less concerned with page length, word count, and formatting, and more interested in a thoughtful, reflective response to the book.

Use your imagination. Be creative. And allow the power of Enrique's story to inspire you.

Your responses may be typed or handwritten.

Every freshman is expected to complete ONE activity from the list below:

6 - 10 JOURNAL ENTRIES

Using what you’ve learned from the book, and your imagination, write several journal entries from the perspective of one of the book’s characters. Each entry should be a reflection on an event / issue that occurred, that day, in the character’s life. Be sure to include the name of the character from whose perspective you’ve chosen to write.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE:

Imagine a judge orders Enrique to be deported. Write a newspaper article or editorial for a newspaper that takes Enrique’s side to stay in America or the judge’s decision to deport him. Support your opinion usings facts from the book.

CREATE A 3-D SCENE:

Choose an important scene, or setting, from the story and create a model of that scene using clay, a shoebox, balsa wood, or other materials of your choice.

LETTER TO ENRIQUE, THE AUTHOR, ENRIQUE’s MOTHER, or a POLITICIAN:

Write a letter to Enrique, the author, Enrique’s mother, or a politician that includes the following:

Your reaction to her story / what her story means to you

What you felt was the most powerful message in her book and why

Questions you’d like to ask about the story or issues revolving around the story

GRAPHIC NOVEL / COMIC :

Create your own graphic novel / comic book adaptation of Enrique’s Journey . Choose the major events of the book and create an “abridged” graphic novel version, OR choose a major scene / event and illustrate it in graphic novel format.

VIDEO BOOK TRAILER:

Create a “book trailer” (similar to a movie trailer) that promotes the book Enrique’s Journey . Use live actors, puppets, stop-motion, or a “slide show” format...or use a free tool like PowToons or GoAnimate to create an animated trailer. Upload your finished video to YouTube.

Create a timeline outlining major events of the book and their significance. The timeline should have at LEAST 10 events and include photos, drawings, clipart, or other graphics that help illustrate the events you choose to include.

DRAWING / PAINTING OR POSTER:

Create a drawing, painting, or poster inspired by the book. This could be a scene from the book, a thematic response, or something else that sparks your creativity.

TRACE YOUR OWN FAMILY’S JOURNEY TO THE U.S. :

If appropriate, reflect on your own experiences as an immigrant, or talk to your family members to find out more about when, why, and how your family came to the U.S. Write a brief history of your family’s journey, reflecting on the following questions:

1) Where did your family originate?

2) When did you or your descendents come to the United States?

3) How and why did your family come to this country?

4) What were some of the challenges you / your family members faced?

BROCHURE: 

Make and illustrate a brochure to aid newcomers to your community (this can be created on a computer or paper). Include information such as:

1) where to go for health care

2) how to register children for school

3) where to find free activities for children

4) where to find affordable places to shop for food, children’s clothing, toys, etc.

5) how to find legal aid

6) where to find religious organizations that conduct services in other languages

Remember that many immigrants don’t speak English. You may wish to use symbols, images, and very few words to describe the information in the brochure.

YOUR CHOICE

Create a project of your choice. Please email [email protected] or [email protected] for approval before you start your idea.

Example projects:

Questions about the summer assignment? Please contact:

• Aleen Jendian (English Department Chair):  [email protected]
• Christina Potter (Librarian):  [email protected]
• Additional Resources

We have listed links to videos, articles, and blogs to help you better understand the book.

You will also find volunteer opportunities to help our own community.

Business Insider article: "Hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants ride Mexico's 'train of death' every year to get to America"

CBS News photo series: "Child Immigration Crisis"

Pew Research Center:  "Five Facts about Honduras and Immigration" .

Los Angeles Times : "Enrique’s Journey: a Six-Part Times Series"

Other Resources

Sonia Nazario’s Author Page

Updates on Enrique and his Family

Media Stories About Immigrant Children

Q and A with the Author

• Crisis Support

While we are reading to focus on universal themes and complex issues, we are highly aware that each reader comes to this story with their own very personal histories. If your experience has included some of the violence depicted in this story, you may find some sections of this book to be particularly difficult to read. If you encounter a section that triggers some past experiences or memories, know that you are not alone. Here are some ideas to help you through.

• Breathe. Remember that you are safe.  Yes, you breathe all the time, but let’s slow it down for a few minutes.  Here are some recordings you can use:
• http://youth.anxietybc.com/calm-breathing
• If you find that you can’t continue reading, take a break .
• Go for a walk with a friend, talk with a trusted adult, work on a different task.  
• If you find that this is continuing to bring up difficult and painful memories, here are some places to get support this summer:
• Talk with a trusted adult.
• Call the Youth Crisis Line (24/7) 1-800-843-5200 or the SD Access and Crisis Line (888) 724-7240 or http://up2sd.org/hotline/ (live chat is also available)
• Check with your doctor or health insurance provider for referrals to local therapists.
• If you already have had a therapist or counselor in the past, reconnect with them if that feels right.
• If you are already actively experiencing mental health symptoms related to trauma prior to starting this book, and this book is triggering your symptoms, please continue to see your mental health provider.

Once you are here at Helix, if you need support regarding personal/social issues or mental health please visit us at the Wellness Center. We are able to meet with you to individually and in groups, and have access to resources to help with the variety of challenges our students and families face. We have walked with hundreds of students on their journeys towards wellness and success and we are here for you, too. All are welcome.

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Enrique's Journey

39 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 2

Chapters 3-5

Chapter 6-Epilogue

Key Figures

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

“I was struck by the choice mothers face when they leave their children. How do they make such an impossible decision? Among Latinos, where family is all-important, where for women motherhood is valued far above all else, why are droves of mothers leaving their children? What would I do if I were in their shoes?”

Nazario writes her Los Angeles Times series, the basis for Enrique’s Journey , after a conversation with her housekeeper Carmen. Nazario learns that Carmen left four children behind in Guatemala when she immigrated to the United States 12 years earlier. Nazario comes to understand that Carmen’s story is not unique. For many mothers in Central America and Mexico, supporting their children financially means abandoning them. Latinos view motherhood as integral to womanhood, making the decision particularly difficult.

“The letter helped me obtain permission to ride atop the trains of four companies that operate freight trains up the length of Mexico. That way, the conductor would know when I was on board. I would tell them to be on the lookout for my signal. I’d wear a red rain jacket strapped around my waist and wave it if I was in dire danger. I tried to have a source in each region I’d be in, including his or her cell phone number, so I could call for help if I was in trouble.”

Nazario’s approach to researching immigration is multipronged. She interviews migrants, aid groups, and others involved in illegal immigration, and undertakes the journey herself. Her direct experiences riding the trains lend authenticity and immediacy to Enrique’s Journey . This quote describes a letter Nazario obtains from the personal assistant to Mexico’s president asking that the authorities and police cooperate with her reporting. The letter helps keep Nazario safe by alerting conductors of her presence on the trains. It also keeps her out of jail three times.

“The boy does not understand.”

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AFK Journey Preview: Song of Strife Brings New Battles, Characters, and More

Game Rant previews AFK Journey's first seasonal update, which includes content of every kind, new heroes, and a whole new region to explore.

AFK Journey will receive its first major update today, titled Song of Strife. AFK Journey 's update brings with it a new map, music, cosmetics, game modes, seasonal equipment, two new heroes, and a host of other content. The story of Song of Strife revolves around a "Fake Merlin," who appears to be impersonating the game's main character, and the new region's Warsong Festival.

Game Rant recently got a first look at Song of Strife and the many changes it's bringing to the AFK universe . Fans of AFK Journey 's hex-grid based combat will want to check out the novel mechanics associated with the game's new heroes, Alsa and Soren, and the cinematic trailer heralding the launch of the new season.

Onward, to the Ashen Wastes

Players with a Resident Level of 240 (and an account that has been active for at least 42 days) can access the new content today by taking a wagon from Hollystone to the Ashen Wastes. Day one players should be ready to tackle the new environment, while new AFK Journey players may have a short wait before they can venture into the desert. This new region is an entirely separate map, and as its name suggests, the area is an unforgiving expanse of sand with all-new lighting and weather effects in the game's signature storybook style.

Players will quickly find Sunseek Arena, the new hub area comparable to Hollystone. The arena is the venue for the season's Warsong Festival, which plays a central role in the season's storyline, and its eponymous colosseum hosts the new battle modes that are arriving in Song of Strife. But the new battles are not for the faint-hearted, and even experienced players may want to brush up on winning team comps in AFK Journey if they are having trouble.

Alsa and Soren

Perhaps the most exciting additions to Song of Strife are the new heroes from the Uru Tribe: Alsa and Soren. Both heroes are from the Mauler faction , bringing new mechanics that will enable exciting new party compositions.

Alsa, the "Desert Flare," is in AFK Journey's Mage class . She creates stone structures that can be used for offense and defense. Her barriers can intercept enemies to protect fragile fighters, or they can box in enemies with her team's damage dealers. Meanwhile, Soren, the "Silent Fury," is a Rogue who fights with a staff and heavily favors the game's new knockback mechanic, which is also employed by the Ashen Wastes' new spider enemies. His ult, a whirling strike with his staff, can be used for evasion or AOE damage.

Other Tweaks

Other new content coming to AFK Journey includes a new soundtrack, new puzzles, new seasonal artifacts, and equipment, which dedicated players will want to secure to maximize their options. One of AFK Journey 's novel features is that equipment is shared between all characters of the same class , alleviating some of the grinding elements typically associated with gacha or wish-based games. Players will also be able to acquire new cosmetics for heroes based on the Ashen Wastes.

In addition to the new battles, mechanics, and content, the new season brings a handful of QOL improvements as well, such as check marks next to completed dialogue options.

AFK Journey

A spin-off to AFK Arena, AFK Journey is a free-to-play fantasy RPG available on mobile devices and PC. AFK Journey features hex-based tactical combat and a wide range of heroes to unlock.

‘Journey To Hope’ To Explore Immigration Through Dance

“Journey to Hope,” a story of immigration through modern dance, will be performed by Dance Science students on May 4 in the courtyard and inside the Liberal Arts and Arts and Humanities Building.

Choreographed by  Carisa Armstrong , program director and associate professor, and  Christine Bergeron , associate dean for academic affairs and clinical professor for the program, “Journey to Hope” will have free showings at 6 and 8 p.m. Free tickets can be reserved in advance at the  ticketing website .

It will be presented in nine sections with original music by composer Richard Hall of Texas State University, with a question-and-answer portion to follow. Seventeen students are featured in the production.

Armstrong and Bergeron said their work will share the perspective of immigrants on their way to their future home. It begins with having to say goodbye to family and their home country, getting proper papers in order, and going where their new future leads them .  They wanted to showcase what that process is like and how difficult it can be, Bergeron said.

“The purpose of the piece is to really allow people a moment to contemplate what all that means,” Armstrong said, “and how that might feel for someone who is moving to a new place and embarking on a new journey.”

The idea was inspired by “ But Where There’s Hope There’s Life ,” a project choreographed by Armstrong and Bergeron that addresses stories of the Holocaust. As part of the research process, Bergeron said they learned more about the displacement of people, and they started to question the immigration process.

“When someone is immigrating to the U.S., there are a lot of ways they might get there,” Bergeron said. “They might get there overseas, they might get there through a truck, they might just get there traveling over desert. And they don’t ever get to stay in one place. This piece is about shifting from one place to the other.”

To showcase the constant motion, the “Journey to Hope” audience will see sections of the work in multiple locations: across the courtyard and inside classrooms and the Black Box Theater in the Liberal Arts and Arts and Humanities Building. Guests will meet at the Black Box Theater to check in. Blankets will be available for guests to sit on in the courtyard, and chairs will be available for anyone who needs them, Armstrong said.

At the courtyard, the dancers will perform in a pool that represents a large body of water that immigrants would have crossed during their travels, Armstrong said. The pool was built by  Jam Martinez , the school’s production manager, and  Jeff Watson , the school’s theatre facility coordinator. It is 16 feet by 30 feet and will hold about 4 inches of water, Armstrong said.

A section titled “Necessary Goodbyes” explores leaving family behind, Bergeron said. The music accompaniment will also help demonstrate immigrating by water, she said.

“For this section we took gestures of different ways different countries say hello and goodbye,” she said. “And in the music, we asked our composer to incorporate saying ‘goodbye’ in different languages. ‘Conquering the Sea’ incorporates music akin to the children’s rhyme ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat, to show traveling by water.”

Another section looks at the process of completing paperwork and how long the process can take. To showcase frustration about “drowning in bureaucracy,” Bergeron said students were asked to think about a time they were stressed and in a place that was overstimulating, so they could connect to those moments to help bring that frustration to the surface.

The section also examines “What is freedom?” she said.

“Because once you get that paperwork and you get to be here, what does that actually mean? Because you have probably made these huge sacrifices to be here, and people might have been lost along the way, or you might have to leave large parts of your family behind.

“So, freedom has this double-edge sword in a way — a sense of ‘We got through it, but at the same time we lost people along the way.’ Or, ‘We had to leave people behind, so my freedom is a sacrifice of those other people’s lives.’”

Many of the dancers have not been directly impacted by immigration, so during the creative process they worked on ways the dancers could “connect to the emotional aspect of the work,” Bergeron said.

“We spoke with the dancers about the feelings that come from the loss of a loved one,” she said. “Or how they feel when they are frustrated by something they don’t understand, or leaving someone they wouldn’t see in a long time.”

Armstrong said what makes all art accessible is a concept of universal understanding of each other as humans. With this piece, she said they hope to tell a story through dance in a way that brings people together.

“The human element of this storyline is what we really want people to connect with, because we know what that inner emotion is like. That is what connects us to pieces that don’t have words, or we don’t necessarily know the exact story of what is going on, but we can pick up on the emotion and the connection between people.”

Media contact: Rob Clark, [email protected]

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Enrique’s Journey recounts the unforgettable quest of a Honduran boy looking for his mother, eleven years after she is forced to leave her starving family to find work in the United States. Braving unimaginable peril, often clinging to the sides and tops of freight trains, Enrique travels through hostile worlds full of thugs, bandits, and corrupt cops. But he pushes forward, relying on his wit, courage, hope, and the kindness of strangers. As Isabel Allende writes: “This is a twenty-first-century Odyssey. If you are going to read only one nonfiction book this year, it has to be this one.” Now updated with a new Epilogue and Afterword, photos of Enrique and his family, an author interview and more, this is a classic of contemporary America.

National Bestseller

Named one of the best books of the year by the  washington post ,  san francisco chronicle ,  miami herald , and  san antonio express-news., named the best non-fiction book of 2014 by  the latino author ., among the most chosen books as a  freshman or common read:  nearly 100 universities, more than 20 cities and scores of high schools nationwide have adopted  enrique’s journey  as a their freshman or common read. middle schools are now using a version adapted for young readers as their common read., published in august 2013: a new version of  enrique’s journey   adapted for young readers  for the 7 th  grade on up and for reluctant readers in high school and geared to new common core standards in schools. the young adult version was published in spanish in july 2015. new york city has made the ya edition part of its classroom curriculum., published in february 2014: a  revised and updated   enrique’s journey , with a new epilogue and photos., published in eight languages., recent updates.

“What Part of Illegal Don’t You Understand?” My Family’s Refugee Story Shows We Can Have an Immigration Policy that is Both Sane and Humane

My Family’s Refugee…

IT’S MONDAY: TIME…

Recent Appearances

Sonia’s tedx: solving illegal immigration [for real ], a journey towards hope – sonia speaks at kids in need of defense (kind) virtual event, buy enrique’s journey.

Pope: May the Jubilee be a time to rediscover, proclaim, build hope

By Linda Bordoni

“Christian hope gives us the courage to build a fraternal and peaceful world when it seems barely worth the effort,” Pope Francis said as he encouraged the faithful to rejoice in the gift of the resurrection and “see the promise of good at times when evil seems to prevail.”

The reality of Christian hope was at the heart of the Pope’s homily as he celebrated Second Vespers on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica following a ceremony in which he proclaimed the ordinary Jubilee of 2025 with the public reading and delivery of the Bull of Indiction.

The theme chosen for the Jubilee year that kicks off on 24 December 2024 with the Opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica is “Pilgrims of Hope”.

Invitation to celebrate and proclaim hope to the world

“Brothers and sisters,” the Pope said, “Jesus destroyed our death, that we might receive life, forever,” and explained that “it is this hope, based on Christ who died and rose again, that we wish to celebrate, ponder and proclaim to the whole world in the coming Jubilee.”

This hope, he explained, “has nothing to do with mere human optimism or the ephemeral expectation of some earthly benefit.” It is “a gift daily bestowed upon us until the time when we will be one in the embrace of His love.”

Hope sustains us in the journey of our lives

Reflecting on the concept and reality of Christian hope that is “unperishable” and “unfading”, the Pope said it sustains us in the journey of our lives, even during the darkest and most difficult moments and times.

It opens our eyes to future possibilities, he continued and makes us see the promise of good at times when evil seems to prevail.  

“[Christian hope] makes us dream of a new humanity and gives us courage in our efforts to build a fraternal and peaceful world, even when it seems barely worth the effort.”

Singers of hope in a world marked by despair

Pope Francis went on to encourage Christians, as they prepare for the celebration of the Jubilee, to lift up their hearts to Christ, and become “ singers of hope in a world marked by too much despair.”

Hope, he remarked, is needed by the society in which we live, “often caught up only in the present and incapable of looking to the future;” it is needed by our age, “caught up in an individualism that is frequently and content merely to scrape along from day to day.”

Hope – he continued – “is needed by God’s creation, gravely damaged and disfigured by human selfishness,” and it is needed by peoples and nations who look to the future with anxiety and fear. 

“As injustice and arrogance persist, the poor are discarded, wars sow seeds of death, the least of our brothers and sisters remain at the bottom of the pile, and the dream of a fraternal world seems an illusion.” Hope, he said, brings courage, comfort, closeness and care.

Hope, the Pope said, is needed by our young people, by the elderly, by the sick and by those who suffer in body and spirit.

Hope is needed by the Church

“Hope is needed by the Church,” the Pope added, so she never forgets, that “as the Bride of Christ, she is loved with an eternal and faithful love, called to hold high the light of the Gospel, and sent forth to bring to all the fire that Jesus definitively brought to the world.”

“Each of us, brothers and sisters, has need of hope in our lives.”

In times of darkness, the Pope remarked, even when we feel overwhelmed by despair and unknowingly yearn for the presence of God, we are reminded of the words of theologian Fr. Romano Guardini who wrote that once darkness has lifted and people ask God: “Lord, where were you? they will once more hear his answer: ‘Closer to you than ever before!”

“Brothers and sisters,” he concluded, “May the Lord, risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, grant us the grace to rediscover hope, to proclaim hope and to build hope.

“May the Lord grant us the grace to rediscover hope, to proclaim hope and to build hope.”

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Enrique Iglesias on what partner Anna Kournikova thinks of him kissing his fans

The couple share three children.

It's all love-love between Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova.

During a recent interview on SiriusXM's "SiriusXM's Hits 1 Miami with Mack & Jen" , the "Bailamos" singer was asked if his longtime partner gets jealous when he kisses fans at his shows.

Enrique Iglesias, Miranda Lambert drop romantic 'Space in My Heart' music video: Watch

"Not at all," he said in a clip released Wednesday, discussing how the Russian former tennis pro feels about the matter. "Anna will be at one of my shows and I'll do that. I do that all the time."

Iglesias continued, "I love embracing and kissing and just hugging my fans. I like getting close up."

The "Hero" singer said Kournikova has told him she gets looks from women at his shows who ask her if she's OK with it, and said she responds by saying she's "totally cool" with it.

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"I love to get so much love from my fans," he concluded. "And I know that if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be where I am."

Iglesias and Kournikova, who starred in the Spanish performer's "Escape" music video in 2002, share three children .

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