Category Archives: Community

Interaction with the community of Falfurrias

Missing in Harris County Day / Dia de los DESAPARECIDOS en el Condado de Harris

Community, Human Rights, Migrant Death

Today is the 2nd Annual Missing in Harris County Day event. The event will have two areas for families to report missing loved ones: 1) a loved one missing in Harris County and 2) a loved one missing anywhere in South Texas.  If your loved one is missing in Harris County you will work with representatives from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.  If your loved one went missing in South Texas you will work with representatives from the South Texas Human Rights Center and Argentinian Forensic Anthropology Team.  We encourage any of our readers with missing loved ones to please come to the event today.  If you do not have a missing loved one but would like to learn more about the humanitarian crisis on the border you are welcome to come and join in a variety of other activities planned for the day as well.

The event will have free refreshments, personal guides to escort families of the missing, semi-private areas to talk with missing persons professionals, forensic professionals performing identification cheek swabs, Cyber Security demonstrations, panel discussions addressing missing persons issues, Child ID kits, activities for children, and much more.

Please bring the following if you are searching for a missing loved one: ID documents and photos of the missing person; two of the missing person’s closely related family members from the mother’s side for the collection of identification cheek swabs plus any other family members that can give a reference DNA sample; X-rays, dental or medical records, or other identifying documents; families and friends are welcome to wear memorial t-shirts and bring posters to commemorate their missing loved one.

Schedule of Events for the 2016 Missing in Harris County Day Event

10:00 AM – Event opens (Food and atrium with informational booths is open and available; Families can begin filing missing persons report

11:00 AM – Introductory Remarks

11:30 AM to 12:30 PM – The Missing and Exploited Discussion Panel

Co-Facilitators: Dr. Dwayne A. Wolf, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, HCIFS and Dr. Christine Kovic, UH-CL

Panelists:  Dr. Krista Latham, University of Indianapolis;  Lt. Manuel Cruz, HPD Missing Persons;  Lise Olsen, Houston Chronicle Reporter;  Carol Haaga, mother of Paul Schrum;  Nancy Lopez, sister of Nidia Rodriguez;  Karen Olvera, niece of Adalberto Chavez;  Yesseinia Olvera, niece of Adalberto Chavez;  A representative on trafficking issues

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM – The Missing Children Discussion Panel

Facilitator: Beth Alberts, CEO of Texas Center for the Missing

Panelists:  Tim Miller, CEO of Texas EquuSearch;  Officer Darrin Buse, HPD Missing Persons;  Gloria Esparza, mother of Ryan Esparza;  Jo Ann Lowitzer, mother of Ali Lowitzer;  NCMEC Project Alert representative;  NamUs representative

2:00 PM to 3:00 PM – Continue to collect missing persons information

Event Details: Date – Saturday May 14, 2016; Time: 10am-3pm; Location:  University of Houston-Clear Lake (Bayou Building Atrium)

Once More Unto the Breach

Community, Reflections

I have been given the extraordinary privilege of travelling back to Texas with the University of Indianapolis team.  Once again, I must prepare myself for the trip.  Some of the preparations are simple.  Packing is easy.  I do it the day we leave, so I usually only forget a couple of items.  Coordinating travel and hotels is effortless, mostly because Dr. Latham does all of that work (so I literally put in no effort, Thanks Krista!).  For me, the difficult part is preparing my mind for the journey.  It is a strange mix of emotionally taxing and immensely gratifying.   In order to plan, first I need to know what we’re up against.

Even with Dr. Latham’s meticulous planning, much of our agenda in Texas is up in the air.  This is an intentional decision that allows our schedule to be fluid and adapt to whatever circumstances arise.  The first leg of our journey this year will take us to Texas State to assist with the cleaning and analysis of the remains that we helped excavate over the previous years.  I really look forward this part.  Over the last couple of years, I had the pleasure of getting to know some of the amazing students and professors from Texas State, and I am honored to have the opportunity to work with them again.

Missing In Harris County Day flyer with dates
Join us May 14

From there, we will be travelling to Houston to participate in the second annual “Missing in Harris County Day”.  We will be helping to collect family DNA reference samples and taking missing persons information.  Until now, our field work in Texas has revolved around unidentified border crossers.
What is amazing about this opportunity is that it is open to anyone in Harris County that is missing a loved one.  Hopefully our efforts in Houston will help provide answers to families and loved ones.

For more information on Missing in Harris County Day, please click here.

Falfurrias sign with pink flowers and "Land of Heart's Delight" written beneath it
The Land of Heart’s Delight

The last leg of our journey will take us back to Falfurrias to volunteer at the South Texas Human Rights Center.  Over the last few years, we have cultivated an incredible relationship with the wonderful people of Brooks County and I look forward to seeing everyone again.  We’re not exactly sure what we will be doing, but I know the STRC will put us to work.  I guarantee it will be both physically and mentally exhausting.  I have grown to consider myself a small part of the community, so I expect this segment of our trip to be the most challenging and also the most rewarding.

Since I ended my last post with a quote from William Shakespeare, it seemed only fitting to begin this journey with another.

“I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,

Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot:

Follow your spirit…”

Henry V – William Shakespere

~Justin

Updates: The Humanitarian Respite Center at Sacred Heart Church

Community, Human Rights, Migrant Death
Toiletry donations for the Humanitarian Respite Center in a box
Donations for the Humanitarian Respite Center

We spent just a few hours at the Humanitarian Respite Center at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, TX back in June. Yet, we will never forgot our time there.  Hundreds of tired, hungry and broken migrant refugees come through their doors weekly and the volunteers never skipped a beat.  Through the sadness they witness daily they keep smile and hope on their faces. What started as a temporary response to the influx of migrant refugees across the border has been going for over a year.  Sister Norma Pimentel and her volunteers provide assistance and a place to rest for men, women and children along their journey.  Their ability to provide food, clean clothing, baby supplies, toiletries and humanitarian aid is based solely on donations and volunteers.  We view their donation request list frequently to see what supplies are needed. This month we noticed a need for toiletries and began collecting items.  Many people do not donate to various causes because they think their contributions are too small. We have learned over our course of working with the humanitarian crisis on the border, that many small contributions can make a huge difference. So please consider a donation of new or gently used items or a monetary contribution.

A request on Facebook for the Humanitarian Respite Center for volunteers stating upwards of 60 migrants would be arriving at the center
Daily requests for the Humanitarian Respite Center for volunteers

If you live near McAllen, TX or can travel there for a few days please consider volunteering.  You can keep up with their needs on their Facebook Page where they post daily how many refugees are arriving.  Sister Norma and the Humanitarian Respite Center were recently acknowledged by Pope Francis for their selfless acts of courage and aid in the face of this crisis. Please click on the red shaded words in this passage for links to more information.

A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its most vulnerable members