James Beard Award-winning baker, Don Guerra, is the School of Transborder Studies' Baker-in-Residence. In honor of his outstanding contributions to the preservation, innovation, and cultural significance of borderlands foodways, and for sharing his expertise, knowledge, and craft with our academic community. His work exemplifies the deep connections between food, heritage, and transborder identity.
Don Guerra accepts the School of Transborder Studies Baker-in-Residence certificate from Director Irasema Coronado in Tempe, Arizona, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Don Guerra presents Bread without Borders
On March 5th, 2026, Don Guerra presented Bread without Borders at the School of Transborder Studies. Drawing on his work as founder of Barrio Bread, Guerra reflected on baking as a cultural practice rooted in place yet shaped by transborder histories, foodways, and shared traditions of the U.S.–Mexico region. Through stories of regional grains, collaboration with farmers and millers, and the everyday act of breaking bread, Guerra showed how baking can sustain local economies, honor heritage, and build relationships that transcend political boundaries. At its heart, the lecture framed bread as a catalyst for connection—linking land, labor, and community at the table.