The Future of the Border Region

The Texas Tribune is pleased to present its "Future of" series, exploring the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Texas' government, business and civic communities.

Join us as we travel to El Paso for a day-long series of conversations on the economic, political and cultural significance and evolution of the border region at a population inflection point for Texas. We’ll sit down with state lawmakers, members of Congress, diplomats, business leaders, educators, issue advocates and border residents to discuss, among other hot topics, what it means to be a bi-national city, how to harness the growth of a vibrant future workforce and leverage the potential of profound demographic change, what it will take to get border cities, the state and the federal government on the same page in terms of public policy, and where investments in health care, education, the environment, and others areas of physical and social infrastructure can make the most difference.

Schedule of Events

7:45 a.m. Breakfast & registration open

8:20 a.m. Program begins

8:30-9:30 a.m. – The Federal View of the Border

• U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso
• Woody Hunt, senior chair of Hunt Companies
• Moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune

9:45-10:45 a.m. – The Border and the Texas Legislature
Supported by Las Palmas Del Sol and El Paso Electric

• State Rep. César Blanco, D-El Paso
• State Rep. Mary González, D-Clint
• State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso
• State Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso
• Moderated by Julián Aguilar, immigration and border security reporter at The Texas Tribune

11 a.m.-12 p.m. – The Border Economy
Supported by Gulf States Toyota

• Miriam Baca Kotkowski, president of Omega Trucking
• Jon Barela, CEO of the Borderplex Alliance
• Dee Margo, mayor of El Paso
• Julio Chiu, founder and CEO of SEISA Group
• Moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune

12 p.m. Lunch

12:40-1:40pm – Educating the Next Generation
Supported by El Paso Community College and Raise Your Hand Texas

• John Floros, president of New Mexico State University
• William Serrata, president of the El Paso Community College District
• Heather Wilson, president of the University of Texas at El Paso
• Moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune

1:55-2:55 p.m. – Immigration and Population

• Jaime Esparza, district attorney for El Paso County
• Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum
• Linda Rivas, executive director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center
• Tracy Yellen, CEO of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation
• Moderated by Julián Aguilar, immigration and border security reporter at The Texas Tribune

3 p.m. End

Details

This event will take place in the Union Building East Room 308 (Tomás Rivera Conference Center) at UTEP in El Paso. The event is free, open to the public and will include a light breakfast and lunch. For those watching this event on livestream, please note the event will begin at 8:30 a.m. MST, or 9:30 a.m. CST. Paid parking for this event is available in the Glory Road Transfer Center (100 E. Glory Rd., map) located a short walking distance from the Union Building East (see walking map). Rates in the garage are hourly, with a $10 max/day. The Miner Metro East (Blue) Shuttle is also available from the Transfer Center to a nearby stop at University Ave. & Oregon St. The shuttle is free to campus visitors and is ADA accessible. Parking fees are not included with registration.

The Texas Tribune is proud to celebrate 10 years of exceptional journalism for an exceptional state. Explore the next 10 years with us.

Major sponsors for this event include Las Palmas del Sol Healthcare, Gulf States Toyota, El Paso Community College, El Paso Electric, Raise Your Hand Texas and The Borderplex Alliance. It is supported by Carlos Eduardo Cardenas, Attorney & Counselor at Law and hosted by the University of Texas at El Paso and foundation support is provided by The Simmons Foundation. Media support is provided by PBS El Paso, El Paso Times, KTSM and KTEP.

Tribune events are also supported through contributions from our founding investors and members. Though donors and corporate sponsors underwrite Texas Tribune events, they play no role in determining the content, panelists or line of questioning.