Migrant Written and Designed By Hiba Absar
*yelp reviews of the DWCMV on the wall
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Dedication This book is dedicated to Maria Marroquin and all the workers and volunteers. The community they have created together is truly outstanding.
*mug in Maria Marroquin’s office
Table of Contents Foreword 6 Introduction 8 Chapter One 10 Chapter Two 14 Chapter Three 20 Conclusion 26 Work Cited 28
*door of the DWCMV
Foreword I
n search for the best location for our subject for our Junior Documentary Project, my partner and I drove to San Jose in jam packed traffic, only to find out that the location was closed. After that unsuccessful attempt, we decided that it was not meant to be. That failure was beneficial to our project because it lead us to discover the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, the perfect location. It is local and it has a story worth telling. When I first came across the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, I thought it had a straightforward story; it connects day workers with employers and helps immigrants adjust to America. While researching, I uncovered that it is more than a resource; it is a loving community. The first time I visited the center, I was captivated by the familial atmosphere. The people’s various chatter, the colorful artwork on the wall, and kids running around invited me in. This community, full of people who otherwise would not have met, brings everyone together and supports each person’s endeavors. One of my favorite aspects about the Day Worker Center is their encouraging slogan; “we are realizing our dreams here.” When at the center, you see people living and appreciating their dreams. Even though their dreams are different than mine, the workers have inspired me to accomplish my goals. This documentary project has been laborious and draining, but it was all worth it because I got to look through the eyes of the workers, changing my outlook on life, and learn first hand about the incredible work the Day Worker Center of Mountain View is doing every day. I had the opportunity to step out of our jaded community and realize all the hardships immigrants face. I hope this book helps you understand the lives of immigrants and makes you fall in love with the Day Worker Center.
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*plaque on the wall of DWCMV
Introduction I
magine that you moved away from your friends and family to a foreign country, not speaking a word of the native language and not knowing a single person. People are constantly making judgements about you and your skills because you are not accustomed to their lifestyle. You feel scared and excluded. All you crave is a sliver of acceptance. The Day Worker Center of Mountain View is exactly the place you are looking for. The center is a place where immigrants receive aid in finding jobs and adjusting to the American lifestyle. Americans are uninformed about the daily struggles immigrants face. While, Immigrants are not assimilated to American culture. The general American public tends to make false assumptions about immigrants. Many citizens confine immigrants to the stereotypes of being illiterate, unqualified, and condemned to poverty. Common beliefs among citizens are that immigration is detrimental to our economy and immigrants are taking away jobs from citizens, but this is not the case. In fact, immigration helps our country and economy grow and prosper. The Day Worker Center of Mountain View is taking the common stereotypes and proving them wrong by providing classes like ESL and computers. The classes help immigrants in transition, while, the community supports their aspirations; making the center a truly unique community. The Day Workers Center of Mountain View’s mission is to help these immigrants, so they can be self-sufficient.
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Chapter One:
I
The Gain from Obstacles
n the movie Monsters University, Sulley and Mike Wazowski get expelled from Monsters University, yet they find a way to achieve their dreams of becoming world class scarers (highly regarded job) at Monsters Inc. They start working at Monsters Inc. as janitors and eventually climbing their way up to the scare room (their ultimate goal). New York Times bestselling author Nassim Taleb describes this occurrence as; “A little bit of adversity...results in a little more performance on anything.” Taleb goes on to say obstacles improve performance because there is more to gain. This concept also applies to immigrants because they have to climb over certain restrictions: documentation, language barriers, and cultural differences. With these hurdles to overcome, immigrants strive even more to prove themselves. With
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the Day Worker Center of Mountain View by their side helping them overcome these hardships, local immigrants are more capable of achieving their goals. It takes a certain type of person to leave their home country and move to a completely different place. Most immigrants come here for the primary purposes of making money and having a better life. Akram Khater, a professor of Middle Eastern history at North Carolina State University, concludes: “It takes somebody who is already self-selecting. So you’re looking at a population that has, you know, has the tools, the sort of entrepreneurial, adventurous, pioneering spirit, personality, mentality. And so that already prepares them to undertake this incredibly risky process.” Khater is stating that the people who actually migrate to the Unit-
ed States have an ambitious mindset because they have already taken steps to achieve their dreams. Their migration is a testament to their zealous temperament. With this entrepreneurial inclination, many immigrants tend to be self employed (Camarota). A common belief among anti-immigration parties is that immigrants are taking away jobs from citizens. The truth of the matter is that many immigrants actually start their own businesses. Individuals at the Day Worker Center of Mountain View are encouraged to start their own businesses, such as cleaning, gardening, and tailoring services. By creating jobs for themselves, workers have become more financially stable. Through self-employment, many immigrants go on to expand their business and create their own companies. They not only
create jobs for themselves but also create jobs for others. Maria Marroquin, the executive director of the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, has experienced this first-hand. Former day workers come back to the center and hire other workers. A recent study has shown that
just as capable as citizens, even if they are undocumented. Some immigrants may not have had as much education as an American citizen but they compensate for it through character, ambition and hard work. Robin Goka, the job development coordinator at the center, mentioned a time a businessman came in to hold a seminar at the center and left hiring a woman for showing great work ethic. Having seen the world from a different viewpoint, immigrants at the Day Worker Center do not take any-
“More than forty percent of 2010 Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children,”
and those companies “employ more than 10 million people worldwide.” Society often neglects the abilities of immigrants. Christine Chatwell, a volunteer at the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, reports, “People don’t realize that they were professionals many times in their own jobs in other countries. And they are excellent at what they do.” People, mistakenly, tend to believe that since immigrants haven’t had the same opportunities as natives, their skills are inadequate. Immigrants are
thing for granted. They take into account that they are blessed and do not let the bumps in the road stop them. Immigrants are mistakenly viewed as incompetent, when in reality they can do anything any other citizen can do. Richard Alama, a day worker, showed he had the ambition to accomplish his goals “I’m a person that aims high, as best as I can. Because I have a goal.” Like Mike and Sulley, workers at the Day Worker Center of Mountain View start from the bottom but have the drive to reach the top.
*job board at the DWCMV 11
“The workers are very creative, and they don’t want to be given exact examples of what to paint. It comes out from inside them, it comes from their hearts.” -Christine Chatwell *art done by workers
Chapter Two:
A Center that Doesn’t Stop Giving
M
any Americans don’t realize the how much of a culture shock immigrants have coming to the states because they are uninformed about immigration in general. In Gustavo Arellanos’ book Orange County: A Personal History, Arellanos describes one of his great uncles, Lorenzo Arellanos’ first experiences when he came to America: “Then he noticed a disturbing image: there, in this seedy bar in a foreign country, were women. Drinking cerveza. And they weren’t prostitutes. Lorenzo had never seen reputable women touch alcohol. He walked out of the bar, shaking with fear. Lorenzo didn’t blink at the thought of sneaking into the United States in a trunk, twisted like a pretzel for three hours-but this was too much (65).” The simple fact that women drank in America startled him.
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Arellanos’ point is that every little aspect of American culture is new to immigrants. The Day Worker Center of Mountain View aids in helping immigrants adjust to the American lifestyle through, helping them find jobs, teaching classes, and providing a support system all for no profit. The founding principle of the Day Worker Center is to safely connect workers with employers. Over the years it has evolved to more of a community center, but it has not lost sight of that main goal. It has a full time job developer to specifically find each immigrants’ best skills and help find them a job in the field of their choice. According to the Mountain View Voice, “It is an alternative to waiting on the street for employers who may or may not pay a decent wage” (DeBolt). The Day Worker Center makes sure that every worker gets a fair
wage. It also provide background checks and resumes so employers are fully satisfied. After the work has been done, the Day Worker Center checks back in with the employers to get feedback for the workers. Through the center, workers are able to gain more recurring, stable jobs. For example, a gardener may have two or three houses they go to work at every week. As stated by Maria Marroquin, the executive director of the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, “People after using our services for a while, they feel more active, more self-sufficient.” The Day Worker Center helps immigrants become more self-reliant by connecting them to employers and helping them start their own business. Ernesto Navarro, a worker at the center, mentioned that all he truly wanted was a job with dignity. He didn’t want to be a burden on others.
The Day Worker Center of Mountain View offers numerous free classes that anyone can take to help him/her adjust to America. The most important classes offered there are English as a Second Language and Computer Skills. Learning English is essential to being successful in America. Many immigrants come to America not knowing English, which limits job opportunities. Christine Chatwell, a volunteer, emphasizes, “Employers often come in and want someone who speaks English really well. So it’s vital that they learn English.” Another important skill to possess in today’s job market are computer skills. According to Marroquin, “Computer classes, for example, are something many people don’t have access to in their countries and now in the city has some support from donors and has the equipment so that they can use sometimes and so that they can communicate with their families in the other part of the world.” Marroquin’s point is that the Day Worker Center of Mountain View offers services that many immigrants don’t have access to, opening up new opportunities. In to-
day’s evolving world, especially in Silicon Valley, it is essential to have the basic ability to use a computer. The Day Worker Center of Mountain View is a beneficial resource to immigrants for learning important skills they will need in their life. Today, the Day Worker Center of Mountain View is more than a resource; it is an inclusive com-
munity. Nobody understands what the workers are going through better than other workers. The center is not just a place immigrants come to look for jobs. It has become a place where workers can come together and support one another. In the words of Marroquin, “Beyond all this is
just the sense of community, the feeling of honorship, like they are part of the center, this belongs to them which is most important at least under my perspective, it is one of the big things. We support. We can help.” To the workers, the center has become their support system. Alama agrees “coming here it’s really nice, like a family, because I have no family here in the States.” Many workers leave their kids at the center when they go out for work. Dozens of families rely on the Day Worker Center. The center’s dependability has widely affected people’s everyday lives. The Day Worker Center of Mountain View has improved the lives of many immigrant families. Pablo Alvarado reports, “We meet the unmet needs of lowwage and immigrant workers. We educate them about their rights. We offer the workforce development they need to gain dignified employment, teach English, and often help them navigate their new country.” This compassionate community helps immigrants in every aspect of life such as career, education, and friendship. 15
*a worker during an english class
*a worker knitting in her free time
“It’s really a microcosm of what I wish society was like because they have people here from all different cultures.” -Christine Chatwell
*The DWCMV building
Chapter Three:
Through the Looking Glass
W
hat do you know about the lives of immigrants? A countless number of people are misinformed about immigrants causing the formation of numerous stereotypes. When the Day Worker Center of Mountain View first moved to its new location, people believed that it would disrupt their community because it was located in a residential zone. There was a lot of resistance from neighbors and the outside community. The center was, mistakenly, foreseen to bring more crime. In many cases, society sees immigrants as criminals. Chatwell argues, “The people don’t realize that immigrants stay away from the police and they don’t commit crimes. They
are very well-behaved.” Chatwall exclaims that immigrants don’t want to cause any trouble; they want to coexist peacefully and have better opportunities than they did in their home countries.
Latino, but that doesn’t stop the Day Worker Center from helping a diverse group of people. In fact, there is a worker from France that teaches a French class at the center, and another worker from New Zealand who got left behind by a ship (Marroquin & Alamo). Marroquin observes, “If you just look around you will find people from India, from China, from Europe, and United States bornAnglo.” The center isn’t limited to Latinos nor immigrants alone. The community they have is inclusive of everyone no matter race or immigration status. Opposers thought and some still think today, that “Immigration is increasing poverty in the United States” (Ruark). The
“If you just look around you will find people from India, from China, from Europe, and United States born; Anglo.”
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Additionally, the public often falsely perceive the Day Worker Center as a only a place for Hispanic people. Because of California’s geographical location, most of its immigrants are
Center was expected to attract the impoverished to the prosperous city of Mountain View. In reality, Immigrants contribute to the economy and help it thrive. According to Marroquin, immigrants do nothing but help the economy. They add to the money flow because more people equals more spenders. Chatwell acknowledges that the day workers “do jobs other people don’t want to do.” Several American citizens would not want to be a day worker. If we did not have immigrants there would be a hole in the economy. Some may even consider the idea of immigrants doing jobs citizens don’t want to do to be a misconception. Not all immigrants are day workers. Some immigrants may be the cofounder of Google, but the Day Worker Center mostly focuses on helping day workers (Report: New American Fortune 500). By helping immigrants, the Day Worker Center of Mountain View is helping the economy. The greater community views immigrants as being isolated from them, when in fact, immigrants have brought over countless numbers of everyday items
that have become a part of American common culture; apple pie is from Holland, yoga is from India, and pasta is from China. All kinds of different cultures come together at the center and influence others. Chatwell observes: We have people of different cultures working in the kitchen and they learn from each other about certain styles of cooking… you see people of different colors and all different cultures sitting together enjoying each other’s company. Both America and the center are a blend of cultures. The workers at the Day Worker Center also impact the outside community through community service. Chatwell recognizes all the hard work the center has done and is doing for the community when she states: The Day Worker Center does a lot of volunteer work, as far as cleaning up the street, planting flowers in different places, planting trees...They’re constantly helping in the community...they love giving, they’re very generous. The workers want to help make Mountain View a better place to
live for everybody. Immigrants are not detached from society, they actually contribute to what our society is today. Both the Day Worker Center and immigrants are misunderstood. The center and immigrants are essential in maintaining a flourishing community. Through helping immigrants navigate through America, finding day workers jobs, and participating in community service, the Day Worker Center of Mountain View is contributing to the bigger community, which is a truth that the general public often overlooks .
*sign for French Class 21
*a worker 22
*another worker 23
*Maria Marroquin
“We are a part of the solution and not the problem.� -Maria Marroquin
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*schedule
Conclusion T
he Day Worker Center of Mountain View is here to help. It offers nothing but beneficial services to workers: including assistance in finding jobs, English classes, computer classes, seminars on how to open bank accounts, art classes, and much more. Immigrants and workers leave the center feeling empowered. Society has made immigrants look like the bad guys through stereotypes that make immigrants out to be uneducated. The Day Worker Center helps immigrants fight these misconceptions, yet they still exist. The truth is that immigrants are not so different from the average American. One day when I was at the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, taking pictures, I noticed this particular group of people just gossiping and laughing at each other. They reminded me of my friends and I hanging out. Another day, I saw a worker watching a multitude of cat videos on W and snickering in his chair. Yes, they were immigrants but what does that matter? They are still humans and they share same nature as us. They aren’t a different species; they are “normal people”. Here in the Silicon Valley, we might be more fortunate than them but that doesn’t make us superior. So, why do many Americans tend to look down upon immigration? Several Americans are not well informed. Places like the Day Worker Center of Mountain View are here to help educate the masses on what is true.
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*a certificate the DWCMV has received 28
Works Cited Alamo, Richard. Personal Interview. 15 Mar. 2014 Arellano, Gustavo. Orange County: A Personal History. New York: Scribner, 2008. Print. Camarota, Steven A. “Immigrants in the United States, 2010: A Profile of America’s Foreign-Born Popula tion | Center for Immigration Studies.” Center for Immigration Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. Chatwell, Christine. Personal Interview. 18 Feb. 2014. DeBolt, Daniel. “A New Era Dawns for Day Worker Center.” | Mountain View Online |. Mountain View Voice, n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2014. Furman, Jason, and Danielle Gray. “Ten Ways Immigrants Help Build and Strengthen Our Economy.” The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. Goka, Robin. Personal Interview. 24 Feb. 2014 Marroquin, Maria. Personal Interview. 15 Feb. 2014. Navarro, Ernest. Personal Interview. 18 Feb. 2014. “Report: New American Fortune 500.” Partnership for a New American Economy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. Ruark, Eric A., and Matthew Graham. “Immigration Is Increasing Poverty in the United States.” Poverty. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “Immi gration, Poverty and Low-Wage Earners: The Harmful Effect of Unskilled Immigrants on American Workers.” FairUS.org. 2011. 3-17. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. “Who Are the Most Successful Immigrants in the World? Full Transcript.” Freakonomics RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
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*a poster on the DWCMV wall 30
Migrant Hiba Absar
Hiba Absar is a Junior at Freestyle Academy. Being born and raised in California and from Pakistani descent, Hiba has been exposed to the perspective of two different cultures. In the future, she hopes to pursue narrative filmmaking and go on to directing romantic comedies. You can definitely call her a hopeless romantic. She is a dreamer but has the passion and dedication to achieve her goals. Being the youngest of three sisters, she is the baby of the family but she doesn’t let that stop her from being mature at the same time. Her friends believe her to be a loyal and trustworthy person whose loud voice and sass are unmeasurable. She brings laughter and happiness to others through her witty comments. You can’t help but be happy around Hiba.
Working Mig rant Title Written and Designed By Hiba Absar
Written and Designed by Hiba Absar