Peg Bowden, a former Ashland resident, will be speaking December 5th, 7-9pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 87 4th Street, Ashland. Peg is a retired public health nurse, author of two books, a musician, a painter, and a volunteer with the Green Valley Samaritan’s migrant rescue mission on the Arizona Border with Mexico.

She will be doing a reading from her second book, A Stranger at my Door: a memoir. She describes it as “finding my humanity at the US/Mexico border.” When a stranger arrives on the doorstep, she takes a stand on the side of compassion. She explores both the ethical and moral dilemmas faced at the border and the values that guide her actions. This is especially timely as the current situation at the border escalates.

Peg will have copies of her new book as well as her first work “A Land of Hard Edges” that also addresses humanitarian work at the border. Both of her books have received high praise from well-known writers.

ART by BETTY LaDUKE: Betty LaDuke is an emeritus art professor from Southern Oregon University. Betty will display her works of art reflecting a recent visit to the US/Mexico border. Her work is well known in the valley and around the world. Her work expresses social issues, civil rights struggles, and women’s place in the world, cultural rituals and celebrations. She has been the recipient of the Oregon Governor’s Award in Arts