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Working for Dignity: The Santa Cruz County Low-Wage Worker Study

Steve McKay, associate professor of sociology and director of the UC Santa Cruz Center for Labor Studies, unveiled a multimedia project he and his students created about low-wage workers in Santa Cruz County. Held at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, the exhibit showcased photos, text, interviews, and videos. Photos by Melissa De Witte.

  • Faculty, staff, students, community members, and friends all gather to view student produced media about low wage worker conditions in Santa Cruz county. Sociology student Edward Ramirez took many of the photos on display.
  • Faculty, staff, students, community members, and friends all gather to view student produced media about low wage worker conditions in Santa Cruz county. Sociology student Edward Ramirez took many of the photos on display.
  • From far left to right, professor emeritus Walter (Wally) Goldfrank, sociology student Edward Ramirez, sociology professor Steve McKay, and sociology & politics major, Patrick Justice listen to student presentations.
  • A packed room crowds together to listen to students and community leaders highlight problems low-wage workers face in Santa Cruz.
  • Here, sociology student Edward Ramirez (left) and sociology professor Steve McKay (right) listen to student presentations.
  • Steve McKay, associate professor of sociology and director of the UC Santa Cruz Center for Labor Studies.
  • Faculty, staff, students, community members, and friends all gather to view student produced media about low wage worker conditions in Santa Cruz county. Sociology student Edward Ramirez took many of the photos on display.
  • UCSC students and friends gather to view the project they researched.
  • Steve McKay, associate professor of sociology and director of the UC Santa Cruz Center for Labor Studies, talks about some of the pieces on display.
  • Pictured here is sociology professor Miriam Greenberg (far right). Faculty, staff, students, community members, and friends all gather to view student produced media about low wage worker conditions in Santa Cruz county. Sociology student Edward Ramirez took many of the photos on display.
  • On display was the Disposable Camera Project, a photo series documenting work as captured by workers within Santa Cruz. Participants were given a disposable camera and asked to take pictures that represent what they do at the job.
  • Faculty, staff, students, community members, and friends all gather to view student produced media about low wage worker conditions in Santa Cruz county. Sociology student Edward Ramirez took many of the photos on display.
  • Faculty, staff, students, community members, and friends all gather to view student produced media about low wage worker conditions in Santa Cruz county. Sociology student Edward Ramirez took many of the photos on display.
  • UCSC sociology student, Ariana Rocha helped with the Working for Dignity project.
  • One of the pieces featured in the show.
  • Faculty, staff, students, community members, and friends all gather to view student produced media about low wage worker conditions in Santa Cruz county.