Laurie Jurs - Animator, Writers Group
September 29, 2014 by Judith Whipple
Newly retired in 2006, pondering the future, Laurie Jurs attended the annual Border Issues Fair. She found Pastor Randy Mayer who introduced her to Shura Wallin and was immediately asked if she spoke Spanish or had hands-on medical experience. “I realized then and there the Samaritan work was serious business,” says Laurie.
Laurie brought us her curiosity, energy and 22 years experience as Executive Director of United Community Health Center in Pima County. She made a commitment to improve her Spanish, essential on Samaritan Searches for accurate communication with migrants, as well as for putting all concerned at ease.
Searching for basura––effects left behind in the desert by migrants––became a passion. A background in anthropology and archaeology fueled this love, because, she says, the items tell stories and "link us as human beings." Tortilla cloths, lovingly embroidered by those left behind, became especially cherished.
Laurie wrangles the Samaritan Writers Group. Members seek to convey “this special time in history, in this place” to all sorts of people from politicians to students to Minute Men to Border Patrol agents to our fellow citizens. “We have a responsibility to engage people on border issues,” Laurie says.
Migrants have passed by her home near open range. In 2009, Laurie, her partner, Jennifer, and others established memorials at the sites of found human bones. Over the years, high school and college students, friends, family, journalists and interested people from around the country and world have walked to these sites, experiencing a tiny bit of what it means to risk everything to get to El Norte.
California born and bred, Laurie found a love of nature on her grandparents’ forested Gold Country land. She earned a Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley, 12 years after getting a BA in anthropology from Pomona College.
Soon after arriving in southern Arizona in 1984, she started and managed a 50-Mile Endurance Ride (horse race) for 20 years, which went from Arivaca Lake to the border and back.
Laurie is interested in what holds the Samaritans together. She believes in collaborative leadership, sharing responsibility and the whys and wherefores of older people’s activism and the joy of community.
“I get a lot of ‘juice’ from the Samaritans and how we work together,” she said, adding, “Besides, they have the best potlucks.”
Laurie brought us her curiosity, energy and 22 years experience as Executive Director of United Community Health Center in Pima County. She made a commitment to improve her Spanish, essential on Samaritan Searches for accurate communication with migrants, as well as for putting all concerned at ease.
Searching for basura––effects left behind in the desert by migrants––became a passion. A background in anthropology and archaeology fueled this love, because, she says, the items tell stories and "link us as human beings." Tortilla cloths, lovingly embroidered by those left behind, became especially cherished.
Laurie wrangles the Samaritan Writers Group. Members seek to convey “this special time in history, in this place” to all sorts of people from politicians to students to Minute Men to Border Patrol agents to our fellow citizens. “We have a responsibility to engage people on border issues,” Laurie says.
Migrants have passed by her home near open range. In 2009, Laurie, her partner, Jennifer, and others established memorials at the sites of found human bones. Over the years, high school and college students, friends, family, journalists and interested people from around the country and world have walked to these sites, experiencing a tiny bit of what it means to risk everything to get to El Norte.
California born and bred, Laurie found a love of nature on her grandparents’ forested Gold Country land. She earned a Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley, 12 years after getting a BA in anthropology from Pomona College.
Soon after arriving in southern Arizona in 1984, she started and managed a 50-Mile Endurance Ride (horse race) for 20 years, which went from Arivaca Lake to the border and back.
Laurie is interested in what holds the Samaritans together. She believes in collaborative leadership, sharing responsibility and the whys and wherefores of older people’s activism and the joy of community.
“I get a lot of ‘juice’ from the Samaritans and how we work together,” she said, adding, “Besides, they have the best potlucks.”