Our host cities, San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Mexico, provide the perfect site for this bi-national conference. These two cities share the busiest land border in the Western Hemisphere, with over 150,000 pedestrians and passenger vehicles crossing daily. Tijuana has become one of the most visited cities in the world, known for nightclubs, restaurants, beaches, and the famous Caesar Salad. San Diego is known for its cultural heritage sites, richly diverse neighborhoods, and an abundance of craft breweries. While there are barriers, both physical and governmental, this region is interconnected by a shared cultural and environmental ecosystem. Did you know: 1 in 4 people in Tijuana speak English and half of the San Diego population speaks Spanish?

The diversity of the area encompasses the Kumeyaay people and Chicanas/os whose lineage in the area goes back six generations (or more) to communities who trace their origins to places all over the globe. Some of the diverse communities in the San Diego area also include: the Filipino community numbering more than 200,000, one of the largest populations of Iraqis outside of Iraq, the Sudanese community, and military service members from multiple branches. This region understands how to build consensus and work across divides of various kinds.

This year’s conference will be hosted by San Diego State University, the oldest higher education system in San Diego which continues to make a significant impact on the region; the Old Globe Theatre, a Tony-Award winning theatre in its ninetieth year, located in historic Balboa Park which features eighteen museums as well as the San Diego Zoo; and Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT), an essential part of artistic life in Tijuana, including presentations of work from 16 states of the Mexican Republic and more than 19 countries around the world.

As an organization, our conferences are our flagship events. Our first bi-national conference happen to be at a time when international collaboration is more important than ever. We invite you to celebrate LMDA’s 40th anniversary as we continue growing across the continent. If you are willing and able, we invite you to cross between San Diego and Tijuana with the thousands of border crossers moving through who deserve a functioning and respectful border. As we cross, we do so recognizing those who are now and perhaps have always been prohibited from crossing borders. We see the act of participating in this bi-national conference as an expression of hope for the type of world we want to function in; one where international travel happens in an atmosphere of mutual exchange and safety.

Yes, LMDA has arranged travel with a local tourism bus company that regularly takes groups across both sides of the border, be it high school field trips or groups for cultural events. For the conference, the bus will be near the SDSU South Plaza Campus housing on Friday morning to take folks to CECUT and back at the end of the evening. Then, on Saturday, the bus will pick up folks at CECUT to go to The Old Globe, returning after the banquet. 

NEXUS is designed for pre-screened travelers to expedite their entry into and out of the United States and Canada at designated land, sea, and air ports of entry. While NEXUS members may be able to use Global Entry kiosks when entering the US via Canadian preclearance airports, it doesn't offer expedited entry to Mexico. 

Remember to always travel with your passport and/or proof of permanent residence in case you are required to prove your citizenship or permanent residence status.

U.S. citizens entering Mexico by land, a valid passport or an enhanced driver's license (if applicable) is generally required. You may also need a Mexican tourist card (FMM) depending on your nationality and intended length of stay. By air, a valid passport is required.

Yes, this is possible. There are several flights from Vancouver or Toronto into Tijuana, by way of Mexico City. Costs, however, are more than flights into San Diego and the timing is sometimes not ideal.

While the LMDA conference might be connected to your work, you are not being paid to attend. We advise you to let authorities know you are traveling for tourism/visiting the area and/or attending cultural events instead of answering “for work.”

The short answer is that yes, CBP can search your devices. Constitutional protections are generally weaker at US borders, including airports. Here is a link to a helpful resource about protecting your data on phones/laptops.

From Tijuana to San Diego, crossing the border is very simple. You can take an Uber and let the driver know you're heading to the border. There are two main pedestrian crossing points: El Chaparral and San Ysidro. Both options are safe for crossing.

• El Chaparral is open from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM every day of the week
  San Diego, CA 92173, Estados Unidos
  https://maps.app.goo.gl/PPFWNpTSjLgi1kAB7
  The advantage of crossing through El Chaparral is that once you're in the U.S., you're close to a shopping center, and it's quicker to request an Uber from there.
• San Ysidro is open 24 hours a day
  720 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92173, Estados Unidos
  https://g.co/kgs/5xfejGj
  The advantage of San Ysidro is that there's access to the MTS trolley right after you cross.

From San Diego to Tijuana, we recommend crossing through San Ysidro as there are more transportation options and it's the most commonly used crossing by daily commuters. You can take an Uber/Lyft to the border or the MTS trolley green line stops at SDSU Plaza, then you transfer at 12th/Imperial to the blue line towards San Ysidro at the border.

If it's your first time walking into Tijuana from San Diego, I suggest heading to New City Plaza (a shopping center) after crossing—it’s about a 15–20 minute walk—and from there, you can request an Uber to your final destination.

New City Plaza
P.º del Centenario 9580, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22010 Tijuana, B.C.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RWQ3rdNbJbWeDxtGA

LMDA strives to create fully accessible programming at all of our events and gatherings. If you have accessibility needs that have not yet been addressed, please reach out to our Accessibility Coordinator at accessibility@lmda.org so that we can ensure your needs are met at the conference.

Want to keep the conference fun going after the day’s sessions have ended? Join us at one of the conference bars!

• In Tijuana, check out the lively atmosphere and enjoy connecting over a drink at Stock Bar at Hotel Real Inn located in one of the conference hotels at Plaza de los Héroes 9902, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22010 Tijuana, B.C., Mexico 
• In San Diego, folks can take in food, libations, and good conversation at Eureka! SDSU at 5140 College Avenue Suite 111, San Diego, California 92115 (619) 220-2400 .

The only meal included with full conference registration is Saturday evening’s banquet at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park. However, there are plenty of places nearby to grab a bite to eat throughout the conference on both sides of the border. Check out this resources page. (link or include info from things to do)

If you purchased a regional lunch with your registration, volunteers will direct you where to go on Friday afternoon at CECUT. If you didn’t pre-purchase a regional lunch in advance, you can do so at the Information Desk for $15-20. (as supplies last)

LMDA has had great success using Slack as a communication platform for the membership and we are happy to provide a Slack channel specifically for keeping in touch before, during and after your time at the 2025 conference.

We hope that Slack can be a useful tool for conference registrants to receive conference announcements as well as communicate with one another about ancillary activities like carpooling/ridesharing, tourist activities, photo sharing, and emergent events.

As a member benefit, you should have received information on joining our Slack channel in the welcome letter you received when purchasing or renewing your membership. If you did not receive the letter or have questions about our Slack community, you can contact Heather Helinsky, LMDA's VP of Membership, at membership@lmda.org.

Volunteers are expected to work a major portion of all three days. 

• Registration fees are waived for those who volunteer. You are responsible for paying for travel and room/board as well as a reduced closing banquet dinner charge of $25, should you want to attend.
• We try to assign volunteers to rooms/panels they want to see, but there is no guarantee. Plus, some shifts require working at the registration table, which means missing an entire session. 

If this interests you, please contact Danielle Ward at conferencecoordinator@lmda.org. She will add you to the list of potential volunteers and let you know more as we get closer to the date.