Professor Born has been working with Omar Nunez Mendez since meeting in 2011 at his school, Ollin Tlahtoalli Center for Language and Mexican Culture. They have organized several classes from the University of Washington to study food systems, culture, and migration, and in 2017 Ollin hosted the 1st International Assembly for Cross-Border Community Development, in the lovely community of Cuajimoloyas in Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte. A UW group participated and helped sponsor the event. The 2nd International Assembly for Cross-Border Community Development was held in Santo Tomas in 2018. Themes of the assemblies include highlighting indigenous knowledge, identity construction, food and community, national and transnational migration, youth empowerment, and territorial defense and cultural appropriation. Due to COVID-19 planning has stopped for the 3rd Assembly; community planning with begin again once the pandemic is over.