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Challenge: The focus of this pro bono project was the documentation of the personal stories of individuals who had experienced wage theft in Memphis, TN. The stories were collected for Workers' Interfaith Network (WIN), a local coalition of members of the faith and labor communities who advocate for workers' rights and a living wage.
Process: WIN connected me with four individuals who had experienced wage theft at various businesses in Memphis, including restaurants and mechanic shops. I interviewed each person individually, and wrote narratives to describe their experiences. WIN shared these on its website, in email action alerts, in appeal letters for a wage theft ordinance campaign, and in a report to Memphis and Shelby County, TN officials. Two of the write-ups are available here and here. Outcome: WIN was able to draw on the experiences of the people it advocates for to inform the local community and policymakers about the invisible crime of wage theft, which affects thousands of people in the Mid-South each year. My role: Research design, interviewing, write-ups |