Data Electronics

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I spent a week documenting the workers of Data Electronics (a circuit board plating factory) in Santa Ana, CA. What drew me to this factory is the opportunity that they have given many of their workers. Many of their workers came to the factory not knowing English or Spanish (the two dominant languages in Santa Ana), and some of the workers spoke only in a dialect (languages not known by the modern world) that is virtually impossible to understand unless you have grown up speaking the language. The factory has had patience with many of its employees by teaching them the skills to do their jobs, and in some cases how to read and write. Many of these individuals would have had to work in unskilled jobs that would pay them low wages, but Data Electronics gave these individuals an opportunity to have a higher standard of life.

The slide show above was made for my photojournalism class, and below are some of my favorite shots from the week I spent with the workers of Data Electronics.

Shailesh Vagahashia. Possibly the happiest individual I have ever met. This picture captures him perfectly. He is always laughing and smiling.

Justino Bautista. He spoke nothing but dialect when he first came to America. Now he can speak Spanish fluently and knows enough English to get around.

Francisco Bautista. With the money he has made at Data Electronics he has managed to buy land and build a home in Mexico that he plans to go live in, in a year.