One of the goals of the Center for Working-Class Studies is to make work and workers more visible in American culture. Work is at the heart of human experience. Through work, we support our families and become connected to the community. Work defines who we are, including where we stand in society. For many people, it's where our most important relationships get started. Work structures our time, shapes and sometimes damages our bodies, and affects how we see the world. Work can provide satisfaction or frustration, pride or anger, economic stability or the conditions for ongoing struggle. Sharing stories of work can help us understand how it affects our lives, and understanding can be the first step toward change and growth.
The Worker Portraits project collected stories of workers in the Mahoning Valley, as told by YSU journalism students. But that's just a beginning. On this blog, we hope to share additional stories -- your stories. What's your job like? What does a good day feel like? What's the greatest frustration you face on the job? Send us your stories, and help us make work visible.
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28 comments:
It's never a good idea to pick favorites. But...
I do have a few.
Of the worker portraits that are posted, I have to say that I love the funeral director. I also love the story about Mesa. I think I like these two especially well because of the details in both.
As a reader, I feel like I really have gotten to know these two people through the many and varied details that are included in the stories.
I had the pleasure of perusing the Worker Portraits website the other evening. I thought the text gave me a broad snapshot of workers in the Steel (Mahoning) Valley. The color choice for the page’s background seems relevant. For me black symbolizes death, solemnness, and mourning. I think in many ways workers both past and present share similar sentiments with respect to working in the Valley. The choice to use black and white portraits of the workers was fitting as well, as many workers often describe their feelings of facelessness and namelessness in a grey world that is work. To my surprise, the topic of money virtually eluded the entire text. The central focus is on each individual person, as a worker. Personally, I feel this website offers readers who work, no matter where they may live, a sense of connectedness and belonging.
There is a tinge of irony in that the Steel Valley thrived as a center of industry and here are these “Faces of Strength” peering out at me through a computer monitor while we transition into the Information Age. The commonalities among the elements of the site, which I see as strengths, include the fact these are people who work and they live here in the Mahoning Valley. They are not going anywhere; they are staying here, and anyone from around the world who is interested in learning about their work can--via the internet. Although I am viewing the website primarily as a lifelong resident of northeast Ohio, just about any person who has ever worked should be able to relate to these individuals represented in some capacity.
The positive tone of the text enables me to better realize the intent of the authors. The English students from Youngstown State University objectively portrayed a selective array of workers and craftily shared their work stories. I found it encouraging reading the workers have good days and bad days, just like me. It is inspiring to gain an added respect and appreciation for the humanity of other workers. Certainly, this site will prompt dialogue about work in the class I am currently taking. In my opinion, the authors were successful in showing me a first-hand account in the lives’ of these workers.
I think Worker’s Portraits is a great tribute to the Mahoning Valley, and can be used to promote discussion among people about their work and what it actually involves in a typical day. Clearly, there is an appeal to the residents of the Mahoning Valley. As the lunch break chats that bonded the steelworkers of not so long ago dissolve before our very eyes, the internet enables people to continue connecting in a technological format. The work created for this website serves as an admirable example for other workers both nationally and internationally. Educators should consider using this as a vocational resource to inform young people about career options, too.
Before I actually read the Worker’s Portraits I assumed the site would lack a universal appeal, and would likely be suitable for only workers in the Mahoning Valley, but now I understand that the nature of work inherently has this collective attraction. I immediately felt drawn to Don Brown, once I read that he had applied for a job on the Ohio Turnpike, since I did work there at one time. I identified with each person in some way, though; for example, I think we have all experienced something like Ashley Miller’s Gladys incident. The challenge of creating a project such as this one is respectfully compressing these peoples’ lives into a singular page, meanwhile accurately depicting what their jobs entail. The writers skillfully captured the essence of both the people and their work through the Worker’s Portraits.
The Worker Portraits was such a great, uplifting read. The workers portrayed in this text, for the most part, seemed to have an upbeat attitude toward a rather unpleasant subject—work. This text discusses the role of a vast array of workers and personal testimonies about everyday occurrences. Also, the fact that this work is about the Mahoning Valley gives me a glimmer of a hope because it shows that in the face of adversity there are individuals who have the ability to make the most of their situations. Furthermore, some of the working conditions described in the Worker Portraits show me that there are people who can see beyond that and use their work to provide for themselves, families, etc. One aspect about the images that I find interesting that the photos are in black and white, but the people are smiling. This, to me, is a creative use of photography because the black and white image connotes a sense of dreariness, while the smiling faces add a sense of jubilance.
It appears that these profiles are in no particular order and I feel that this is very beneficial to the reader because there is no sense of hierarchy. Rather, readers may select any individual’s profile and read it with an open mind instead of thinking that the person’s biography is structured in any ascending or descending order. A level playing field gives extra meaning to this work because these are everyday workers, just like you and me.
I believe the intent of this text is to inform the reader that workers share a common bond. Everyone who has held a job in some capacity or another can relate to the toils and struggles that so many of us go through each workday. Extra credibility and respect can be added to this work because it is written by Mahoning Valley residents about Mahoning Valley residents. These contributors, utilizing the Internet have opened the doors to the world about the Mahoning Valley. At any given time, users may access this site and read about what it is like to live and work in this area; more importantly, the great people that make up this area.
It is somewhat difficult to pinpoint the users of this text because it encompasses the working-class. I believe the working-class can greatly benefit from reading the testimonials of other individuals in the same class. These profiles may be a sense of hope for individuals coping with the same work related issues and feelings. The lower-class may also feel a sense of hope when reading this text because it could shed some light into their lives and portray a sense of work ethic. This work should serve as an informative tool for all because it accurately depicts the definition of working-class.
I can relate mostly to Rob Zura because of his quote “My passions change like the weather in Northeast Ohio.” I feel the exact same way because of the ups and downs in this area, as well as the ups and downs in my own life. There are bits and pieces of everyone’s profiles that hold meaning to me because I can sympathize with different aspects of each testimonial. For example, Shawanda Boss’ vision and outlook for her future is inspiring. The fact that she wants to open a daycare and follow her heart is the way that everyone should be. Rather than concentrate on the present, breaking out of that mentality and striving to achieve for future is something that is a passion of mine, as well. I am a very goal oriented individual and these profiles have given me the chance to see that others are the same way. It is that precise attitude that will enable this area to prosper and succeed at the national level.
Holistically, The Worker Portraits website features various Mahoning Valley workers – each portrait is in image and daily work life. Specifically, the website covers not only work functions but also personal feelings about their work. The mind makes a natural link between work and income, yet surprisingly most profiles lack of discussion of money. The stories show the human element of work. The majority of featured workers display positive work attitudes. The portraits not all cover work life, but show the connection between the job and the community.
The photography shows juxtaposition – the use of black and white suggests a serious, solemn feel, yet the subjects of the photos are smiling. The workers portrayed are from multiple industries and possess a range of education levels.
I believe that the intent of this website is to entertain and inform. The portraits are written in an enjoyable, easy to read manner. Yet the portraits also reveal more person-specific details of daily work that inform readers and allow for a glimpse into the culture of the job and the personality of the worker.
The portraits are written by a collection of authors, all of which are people studying journalism at Youngstown State, located in the Mahoning Valley. The different authors bring different points of view, yet share a common university experience. They are all similar, yet different.
Since this is an online publication, the users are mostly e-literate people with access to a computer. Most users are probably from the Mahoning Valley itself; however the portraits are just as valuable to workers everywhere.
I very much enjoyed exploring this website and “meeting” the workers of the Mahoning Valley. Everyone has worked and everyone can relate to work as a shared experience. Most of us know people in similar vocations to those depicted (we all had an art teacher and we all have ridden a bus) and it is interesting to compare our previous notations about their work to their personal testimonies about their daily work life.
This allows people inside and outside of our community to get a true sense of what Youngstown is about. Everyone knows what we “used” to be, and think the area has just ran its course and is no more. Now people can see the area has transformed and is adapting to and embracing the changes faced with the community. I feel as if I got to know each person featured, and experienced every position in which they work. I’ve never stepped foot on a WRTA bus, but I feel like I’ve spoken to Gloria many times. It is people like her that make your day enjoyable no matter what you are doing or where you are going. Then you get to know Marty and you feel unfortunate that a nice guy that seems like your buddies you drink with is losing his job. The pictures are necessary to deepen this connection and link you with their story. The order of the stories goes along with daily life; you never know who you will run into next. I believe the intent was to inform readers of the new Youngstown life, and this was accomplished. I would have liked to have seen a professional or two, the ones that make $100K+ as mentioned in the intro that work here, as well as work in Cleveland or Pittsburgh, or a successful entrepreneur. This would allow everyone to see that we are focused on continuing the growth and diversity of the community and see where it will take us next.
I enjoyed reading the workers portraits. They are an interestin tale from all aspects of Youngstown. They tell not only of their jobs, but of the relationships they have made because of their jobs. They talk about their families outside of work and how this town affects their way of life. I particularly liked the bartenders story, Jenn, because that is my secon occupation next to serving. I often overhear my customers stories about life here in Youngstown, but I cannot imagine that this is the only place where poeple have problems. The stories are interesting to me, because i live here. This is an old town, but it is a great place to raise a family and make new friendships that will last a lifetime.
It is interesting to read these stories and become emotionally involved as if you have known some of these people for some time now. These stories represent a region. They represent a group of people from Youngstown, Ohio. One thing that stands out about all of them, is that none of them are holding a higher level, top paying job such as doctors or a lawyers. The closest to that is the mammographer.
The text is set up to convey a message about Youngstown in my opinion. The message says something like this."You can indeed live in Youngstown, Ohio and be happy about who you are and what you do for a living." I guess you can say this is the intention of the authors as well. They are trying to show that it is O.K. that the Steel industry has evaporated, and now....it is time to move forward and hey...many have begun to do just that folks. Their stories although different, have many similarities which hold the text together. They mostly enjoy the end of the workday where they can come home and relax with family. They all seem to be people persons. In other words, enjoy others company. I think the authors are trying to convey the message that this is a nice place with nice people to call home. Could the audience be younger people who we still have a chance to manipulate into staying put in the town they grew up in?
The one I grew found of was the Shipper. In my line of work, you can't help but feel for a man who at that age, should not have to worry about anything else but retirement. How he handles it is a tribute to the model of the hard working American.
One other portrait to point out is the mortician. Although dreary to me, it shows that even in todays world right here in Youngstown, Ohio, the family business is still practiced by many.
Youngstown is in a transition. This group of articles just takes some of the players on the playing field and shows us how they are handling such a major transition.
The Worker Portraits website gave me another outlook on our community and why it is as distant as it is today. In the past the steel indusrty gave our community a close bond that we all had a little something in common. Everyone knew someone that worked in the mills or auto plants, they were our friends, family, and even ourselves. We connected on a deeper level that led us all to strive for a goal. Now, were so broken up and diverse we lost that bond. We fight to get ahead and to another level because of scarcity and we don't even look into what others do for our community that should in fact bond us. We are all apart of a working unit and this website gives us a look into that world and attempts to bring us together.
Signs: The text represents the working class people of Youngstown. Although all of these people work, they all work in very different areas of work and they all share different feelings about their work. Most importantly, these people seem to like the work that they do.
Structure: The structure of this text is chronological. It starts off with an introduction that tells us the history of work in Youngstown. As we go through the introduction, it leads to the portraits where we see work in the present in Youngstown.
Intent: The creators of this material are students who are studying journalism at YSU and who are very interested in the past, present, and future of work in Youngstown, OH.
Use: The audience for this material are past or present students at YSU who are studying or interested in the past, present, and future of work in Youngtown. This reading will be mostly used for entertainement and enjoyment as these stories are real to many of us who work in Youngstown today.
Memory: These stories bring up the memories of all the past jobs I have held and always the feelings I have about those jobs. It seems that mostly everyone I read about enjoyed the type of work that they did and I made me bring up past feelings and memories I have about all of the jobs I held.
The following is a text analysis of Worker Portraits: Faces of Strength. The text tells the story of working individuals in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. This is a story in portraits of contemporary workers, as opposed previous generations of workers, which would have included a predominance of steelworkers. The text includes photos of workers in and around their place of employment, and gives the viewer an indication of what their work entails. These elements include the workers’ dress, work area or office, and facial expressions. More types of workers could have been included, although part of the purpose of the project is to encourage participation from Valley residents.
The book is structured by bringing together a set of photos that tells the viewer the story of contemporary work in the Valley. We view the workers from the perspective of their work places.
Youngstown State University staff and students were principally responsible for the creation of this text. The intent of the text is to give the featured workers a voice, and an opportunity to shed light on the work that they perform everyday. This text, along with the corresponding website, is intended to make these workers’ stories accessible to the community, and to encourage more use of the site.
This text is used for entertainment, education and art, and can be expanded depending on requests from the residents of the Valley. It includes information about work in the Valley, and has been used in the classroom, online, in museums, and in libraries, to promote and educate about the work done in the Valley.
Since I work in Youngstown, I view the featured workers as my contemporaries, particularly the younger generation and professionals. I have worked a variety of jobs, and can relate to most of the workers featured. In addition, I bring my biases about Youngstown when viewing this text, having worked in the city.
Text analysis:
This text tells the story of Youngstown and how the face of the city has changed since the loss of the manufacturing sect.The author uses the new wave of service industry workers stories to describe the city now as opposed to then.
structurally, this work is random in the sense that the author interviews people from many different jobs. They use the stories of workers to gain perspective on the changing landscape of the city.
The creator's of the book are YSU faculty and students. They wanted to show different perspectives of area residents. So much of our lives revolve around our work yet we all have a hard time understanding other peoples jobs. This text gives us the opportunity to see work through the eyes of the person doing the job.
The authors created this with the hopes of informing and entertaining others in the community.
Reading this made me think about all of my past jobs and where in my life i was when i had them. A statement in the introduction struck me because it stated that people with low wage jobs with no benefits have little loyalty to the company. I find this to be true. I think that a union represents solidarity and brotherhood and i have been lucky enough to see this first hand.
Signs: The text represents face of the average worker in the mahoning valley. It gives a broad overview of the occupations of many individuals and then goes into detail on their daily work experiences. Symbols used include the physical appearance of the workers, the sights and sounds around the work place.
Structure: The structure of each portrait begins with a description of the individual and what their occupation entails. From their it is random, from what the individual likes and dislikes about their work, to their views on living and working in Youngstown.
Intent: The intent of the portraits seems to be a study of the average blue collar worker in the Youngstown area by a college student.
Use: The original audience for the text seems to be students at YSU in the journalism and working-class studies departments. Partially the text is for entertainment, but also for information and insight into youngstown’s working class.
Memory: Prior to my professional career, I was a worked as a pizza delivery driver. I think that would fit right in with these working class portraits. I am familiar with interacting with customers, the uniforms we must wear, and the sense of pride in a job well done.
Signs: The portraits are of different jobs in the Mahoning Valley. Each individual story is very detailed and paints a picture of an average work day. The writing is very real and uncensored. The pictures included with the worker portraits give the story more life.
Structure: Each portrait begins with a story about the individual’s work. Some give a physical description of the individual and ties it into their work. Each portrait talks about their current job and what their future aspirations are.
Intent: The intent is to give the reader a glimpse into a job different from our own. As the Introduction explains, our work in the Mahoning Valley is so diverse, that work is not a shared experience between people anymore.
Use: The use is for students or anyone interested in studying work in the Mahoning Valley.
Memory: Some of the portraits were of individuals that are working in a temporary job and going to school to pursue a different career. It reminded me of when I worked maintenance at the university and in the dairy/frozen foods department of a grocery store, while I was in college. These were temporary jobs while I worked towards an accounting degree. Just because the jobs were not in my chosen field, I still did the best I could and took pride in what I did.
Signs - The website tells the story of all different kinds of workers in the Mahoning Valley. It shows how now people do a variety of things and have different emotions about their jobs compared to when this was a steel town and everyone could relate to their jobs since everyone worked in the mills or knew someone who did. It also shows that we still have hard working people here who want to make this area thrive like it used to.
Structure - The book is structured by giving an introduction of the individual being represented and then goes on to tell more personal details of how they perceive their jobs and personal experiences they have encountered in their line of work. All of the people interviewed are listed on one page, and the reader can select which one they would like to read about in any particular order.
Intent - The center for working class studies wrote the article and their purpose is to study issues of work and class. They wanted to show how work has changed in the Mahoning Valley.
Use - I think this book can be used in a couple ways including informational for research or just as entertainment for people who are curious about the area (most likely people from here.) It also gives a positive message that although things are different there is still opportunities in this area.
Memory - I actually had Mr. Kollar for art class at Frank Ohl Middle School so it was interesting to see his thoughts about his job. He seemed very enthusiastic just as I remember him!
I believe that good things are coming back to Youngstown. I have been working downtown for almost 4 years now, and in that time I have seen great improvements such as new restaurants and new businesses coming to the area. I have high hopes for our area!
signs: I think the whole idea of this is to try and capture what the Mahoning Valley really is. Who works here, what they do, and what experiences they have.
structure: To me their are two main parts of each portrait, the first is common to all where the worker describes their job. After they move on to what was most important for them to talk about.
intent: The intent was to show people how work has changed and evolved in Mahoning Valley over the years.
use: I think the major use will be to educate people more about specific work experiences in the area.
Memory: I have held some different jobs starting around age 15 to now at 22. Compared to the stories on this site, I have so much more to learn and experience in the workplace.
Signs- The website tells the story of the way Youngstown used to be with steel mills and manufacturing plants, where the majority of the people worked these jobs together in a collective effort. Then it describes how those jobs went away and over time, the people went their own separate ways, looking for a path of their own,finding jobs on their own or moving away. The Portraits give us an idea of several people's experiences in different fields and gives us an overall perspective for the rest of Youngstown workers and their everyday lives.
Structure- I would say it is chronologically structured as in the introduction, they talk about Youngstown from the days of steel mills, to auto manufacturing plants, to Youngstown today.
Intent- The Center for Working Class Studies created workers portraits. I think they wanted to show us how Youngstown changed from being dominated by the steel working and auto-making jobs to evolve into an individualistic and diverse work community.
Use- I think its use is for anyone interested in learning more about Youngstown work history. used for general knowledge or classroom purposes.
Memory- It reminded me of the many jobs that I have endured over the past several years and made me appreciate some of them
Text Analysis of Workers Portrait Website
Signs:
The text represents different types of work and workers in the Mahoning Valley in the 21st century. Each person has a different job along with a description of the typical work & experiences they have daily. Symbols include descriptive words the writer has used to convey the sights and sounds of the worker’s workplace environment. As the introduction explained this website shows us the stories behind the statistical data post steel town era. It describes the work and worker of today in the Mahoning Valley along with their picture or portrait.
Structure:
The structure of the website is chronological; it begins as a book would with the Introduction which describes the history and changes of the work and workers of the Mahoning Valley. The “Portraits of the Workers” gives us the snapshot of work currently in the Mahoning Valley. It also, has a list of workers interviewed where a selection can be made or as in a book a chapter or a story can be selected for viewing.
Intent:
The site was designed by YSU students. Those students participating in professional writing/editing/journalism studies included their stories, their pictures and their web design on the CWCS website is for the purpose of others gaining knowledge of work and how it has changed in the Mahoning Valley in the post steel mill era.
Use:
This book and site can be used to educate and entertain its users about work in the Mahoning Valley.
Memory:
My memory is of Mahoning Valley past & present. The jobs are no longer the same as in the past but the attitudes remain positive and inspirational. As with Shawanda Boss-McIntosh, I found her to be an inspiration with her positive outlook. Each story held my interest and gave me insight into different jobs. The family business as was discussed by Ian Maynard, this was so true to this area. There were many family started and maintained businesses in our area. My husband worked at a family run funeral home during his teenage years and learned to drive cars by parking cars. I think everyone can relate to something in every story.
Signs - the site reports the employment profiles of individuals in various industries in the Mahoning Valley.
Structure - 1)in most cases, a background of the individual is provided. 2) It also details where the individual currently works or the individual's current activities and gives a depiction of the individual's daily routine. 3) It than reports what the individual aspires to become.
Intent - these stories are generated by local students with varying majors. The intent, as it is stated in the introduction, is to help others understand the changing nature of work in Mahoning Valley, as it has evolved from a mostly "Steel Town" to an area with diverse employment opportunities. I believe an additional intent of the site is to portray a sense of pride and strength that the Mahoning Valley reflects.
Use - the original audience of these portraits are most likely the students or possibly the workers of this area. I believe the audience would use this information to gain an understanding of the job market within this community. The intent was to educate on the evolution of the job market in this community but could inadvertently be used by the audience in a way that portrays the dominance of low paying, low opportunistic jobs in this community.
Memory - like many people, I have held many different types of jobs from working on a farm, in a factory, doing deliveries, working in an office, etc. I remember what it was like at each job and the experiences I've had at each job have helped shape my core values and my attitudes towards work. It's easy to relate to these individuals because that too is where I started, at a job that is a stepping-stone into my future. Right now, I'm still not where I want to be, but where I am now is a progression into who I aspire to be.
I thought the Worker Portraits study was quite interesting. I enjoyed reading different peoples stories of their jobs. Some people seemed to really enjoy what they did and others seemed aggitated at what they did. Using the text rubric I analyzed the study as follows:
Signs: Individuals behind the statistics in the Mahoning Valley. The text represents the jobs that people have now that are not all steel jobs like they used to be. Somewhat pride in the valley is represented. People are giving detail of their day to day jobs and their experiences. Although the area is somewhat depressed, there are still jobs and many people are happy with their job.
Structure: This is pretty random. There is no real category with the jobs. All include descriptions of the people and their job. It is their personal feelings that are portrayed. There is a similar structure that most have pictures and describe jobs.
Intent: The intent is to learn about the meaning of work in the Mahoning Valley. Give a taste of mahoning valley work and what jobs are out there.
Use: The students of YSU are the main users. People also who are interested in work in general and those who want to understand what work is like in Youngstown.
Memory: This reminded me of some of the jobs I have had in the past. Although I was not a bartender, I was a waitress for several years until I graduated. I liked the part about regulars, but the attitude was somewhat negative. I loved being a waitress and hearing peoples stories. I also like Stefanie had Mr. Kollar in Frank Ohl. I remember him wearing his apron. He was such a nice teacher. I think that the jobs we have mold us. This reminds me that from each job you have no matter what they are, you learn something and you take that to the next job. Nothing is a waste of time because there is value to take from everything you do.
Text Analysis:
Signs: The website tells us a story about how the steel mills and manufacturing plants have been shut down and the area now has a variety of jobs. The portraits show us the different experiences and viewpoints of people that are working in different job professions. This allows us to understand the current job culture and the lives of workers in the Mahoning Valley today. We see the workplace environments, lifestyles of workers, job descriptions, and home lives from these portraits of workers.
Structure: The text is in chronological order from the introduction, talking about the steel mills in Youngstown in the past, to the auto industry plants, and to today’s jobs in the area. The text in the Portraits section allows the audience to see a relationship developed with the introduction talking about the collective jobs that are present today.
Intent: The Center for Working Class-Studies wrote the article and they were written to help us understand how the jobs of the Mahoning Valley have changed and evolved to the present. The work in the Mahoning Valley went from being a steel and auto industry to a diverse workforce community. The goal of Worker Portraits is to help us learn about the meaning of work in the Valley in the 21st century.
Use: The text was used to be informational and also for entertainment for readers who want to understand the area and work environment better. The article shows people that there are still enjoyable jobs in this area. The text is used to educate people about the jobs in the Mahoning County. The audience is the students or the workers of this area.
Memory: I have held many types of jobs from being a cashier/bagger at a grocery store, city maintenance worker in summer, working in a steel mill, to now being an accountant. I remember my experiences from each job, the good and the bad. I can relate to the people’s viewpoints because I have had similar opinions on the jobs that I have held before.
Signs:
The story told on this website is about actual people, their work and their connection to the Mahoning Valley. The community has certainly taken a shift from the common thread of the steel manufacturing to a variety of different types of work. Each person has his or her picture listed with very descriptive text about themselves and their work. The title “Faces of Strength” is a powerful message to the reader and a great tribute to the workers and faces of the Mahoning Valley.
Structure:
The text of this website is organized in a manner with an overview about the book, an introduction, information about the creators, and then a random selection of workers in the Mahoning Valley describing their working lives of today. Each person’s detailed interview drew me into their life, which made me feel like I was walking in their shoes. All of these elements of the website are interconnected with the common focus of work. Migrating through the website was fairly easy and it certainly held my attention.
Intent:
Major creators of the project included the Director of the Journalism Program at YSU, the Co-Director for the Working Class Studies at YSU, and a senior YSU student in the Professional Writing and Editing Program. What a perfect match for a website of this nature. The Mahoning Valley is an historical pillar in the steel mill era but as mills closed, life in the Mahoning Valley had to move on. This website portrays that movement in many different aspects of the varied types of work as seen today. Work is the common focus and creates a bond among many people no matter what type of work is performed.
Use:
This site may be used in a variety of ways from informational, to educational in a class setting as we are using it, or one may find this as purely enjoyment. Anyone interested in the Mahoning Valley could be considered users of this site. It may interest different generations in different ways. I believe the original intent was for the students at YSU particularly in the Center for Working Class Studies and the tribute to the Mahoning Valley. With the extent and capabilities of the Internet this site can reach anyone with a remote link to our community may find it very interesting.
Memory:
The images in my mind from this reading include the faces and varied professions of the individuals in this valley. The identity of our community as the Steel Valley is now a memory but one of deep significance for me since my father and many relatives worked at the steel mills. A new generation of work now exists which brings more variety to the work available in this area. A sense of pride and community roots result after my reading.
SIGNS: This text (website, pictures, etc.) represents everything American + Mahoning Valley. It is a vivid display of the various professions around the town, and how each individual is closely associated with each other. The text provides a close look at a day-to-day experience of each citizen, and expresses their thoughts and feelings of their job and its importance.
STRUCTURE: Each writing/portrait combination follows a format in which a common daily experience is provided, followed by the importance of their work and any areas of deep love and/or hatred (strong word, maybe dislike would be better) toward what it is they do. The overall website is set sort of chronologically, as the history of Youngstown is displayed and touched upon first, followed by the modern day experiences associated with the portraits.
INTENT: Being that this project was created by Sherry Linkon and YSU journalism students, I feel they share a common interest in the history of the Mahoning Valley and want to adequately pass along the diversity and evolution of workers in Youngstown.
USE: This entire website will be used for both entertainment and educational purposes. People of the Mahoning Valley have a deep sense of pride, and therefore will be extremely interested in hearing such historical stories, viewing the portraits, and also the corresponding readings. Additionally, this website will be used for the exact purpose we use it, for educational experiences.
MEMORY: Reading through this website, especially the individual portraits, makes me think back to my mother's days of work. Currently, she holds a stable, albeit underpaying job as a teachers aid in Austintown. However, when I was growing up, she bounced from job to job trying to make a secondary income for her and my dad. While these texts applied to both skilled and unskilled work, the mere fact of reading about a variety of jobs brought back the memories of my mom finding joy in the jobs she had, which were not glamorous. Still, she was able to see its effect of others, and worked as hard as she could to make people happy.
Signs: The portraits depict people with various backgrounds, ages, gender, race, and education in the Mahoning Valley. It describes a typical work day for that particular individual and also mentions their future aspirations. The pictures indicate that the workers enjoy their jobs for the most part even though it might not be where they want to be in life. The pictures and articles represent a shift from a "Steel town" to a more service oriented workforce as discussed in the introduction to Worker Portraits. Thirty years ago the workforce was made up of 43% in manufacturing compared to only 17% currently. Though the steel and the auto industry have declined the education and health care make up the largest category in this area now at 17% of the workforce.
Structure: Starts off with a chronological depiction of the history of employment and the types of jobs and the changes from the steel and auto industries in the Mahoning Valley to the more service oriented workforce we have in the 21st century such as nurses, teachers, clerk, bank tellers, bartenders, etc. It then shows portraits of workers in the 21st century with a title attached to indicate what their particular story is about. The pictures that go along with the story give the story more life and shows the diversity of the current workforce.
Intent: Is to make students and others aware of the shift in the makeup of the workforce from steel and auto to service type jobs. This shift effects the working relationships between people and shows that there is no longer a shared experience about work like there once was when we were a "steel and auto town" because of the diversity of the workforce. The intent is to help students and others learn more about the meaning of work in the Mahoning Valley in the 21st century. It gives us an opportunity to look at work in the community through stories and picture of real people and the work they do. What better way to explore what kind of work is in the community than to read real stories about real people and the details of their work day.
Use: The original audience for the text is first of all other YSU students and anyone who may visit the website to explore information on the study of the working class. The website is a good form of communication to students and others interested in the history of work in this area.
Memory: I can relate to the change in workforce first hand. My dad worked in the mills every since I can remember until he was 55 and unemployed. It was such a shock to the guys in the mill when they closed. Of course the mill would have its slow times and shut down for short periods but it always started back up. Even though there was talk about it shutting down I really don't think the employees or community really thought it would happen.
I found the stories to be captivating. It was like eavesdropping on a conversation where you found out all about the stranger across the restaurant or the woman behind the counter you see daily. You know them enough to say hi but you don't know anything about them. I think the Worker Portrait text as a whole tells the story of the modern day workforce in Youngstown. It is used to educate that while the faces of the workforce (no longer a grizzled, manly looking steel worker as in the past). The spirit of work is alive in the Mahoning Valley. It was a collaborative project of the CWCS, photography students and English students. Truly encampassing the talents of many. The audience is broad - probably viewed by many students but also open to the general public who has an interest in work life in our area. The text is structurally organized by subject. All of the portraits are of workers - there is not one category of employment that is specifically included although I think that traditionally "white collar" workers are not included as they are not the "norm" in our area. One common thread that I noticed that while there was a distinct sense of pride or accomplishment that these people felt from going to work many were using work (or this type of work that they current do) as a means to an end - what I mean is that they were working at this job while going to school or trying to "better" themselves.
I found the stories to be captivating. It was like eavesdropping on a conversation where you found out all about the stranger across the restaurant or the woman behind the counter you see daily. You know them enough to say hi but you don't know anything about them. I think the Worker Portrait text as a whole tells the story of the modern day workforce in Youngstown. It is used to educate that while the faces of the workforce (no longer a grizzled, manly looking steel worker as in the past). The spirit of work is alive in the Mahoning Valley. It was a collaborative project of the CWCS, photography students and English students. Truly encampassing the talents of many. The audience is broad - probably viewed by many students but also open to the general public who has an interest in work life in our area. The text is structurally organized by subject. All of the portraits are of workers - there is not one category of employment that is specifically included although I think that traditionally "white collar" workers are not included as they are not the "norm" in our area. One common thread that I noticed that while there was a distinct sense of pride or accomplishment that these people felt from going to work many were using work (or this type of work that they current do) as a means to an end - what I mean is that they were working at this job while going to school or trying to "better" themselves.
Part of the Work In America Course offered at Youngstown States, i was able to view the website and read the amazing stories. The text represents a collection of stories from different the many different professions. It represents the worker view feelings, like dislikes, challenges, and opportunities that are coming from their current jobs. I really enjoyed the pictures that were up for display. It gave me an a chance to put a face on the words and connect to the story. The pieces included selected information about the jobs.
I think the structure was organized in random. I think the amount of space and size between each storied emphasized equality. they were all adjacent to each other. Are minds are accustomed to read from left to right, and some stories might be mentally skipped, but i think there was no intention of that in the structure.
The stories were collected from journalism students of Youngstown State University. The project was organized by the Center of Working Class Studies at Youngstown State University. The intentions were to present the stories of ordinarily working Americans.
The original audience of the piece, were people interested in the Center for Working Class Studies. That includes a wide spectrum of people including students. The text was presented online, simply to tell a story, and to hear the voices of people you normally don't hear the story of.
Having worked plenty of previous jobs in array of positions, i remembered hearing the stories of people i worked with. I remember hearing of the struggles, hearing about their passion, hearing about their experiences. Its something i really enjoyed and it reminded me about a lot of those stories. I don't bring any assumptions to the text and it makes perfect sense to me.
Signs: This text represents the continuing changes in our economy/society and how our jobs have also changed as the outcome. It breaks down the day to day, allowing us to take a deep look into the working lives of locals. One thing hasn't been changed though is the heart and soul of the community and the people that believe in it. The portraits of the people make their stories more personable. The pictures link what would just be words to a face. The use of black and white photographs convey an element of emotional depth that you would not get out of a colored photograph. The black and white takes the photo from being a picture of someone at work and makes it art.
Structure: The people that are featured on this website were random, these are stories of people from different races, ages and genders, some who love what they do for a living and are content at where they are in life, some who are using the jobs they have now as a stepping stone to better their selves and some who don't particularly have passion for the work they do but need to wake up everyday and carry out the roles assigned because it pays the bills. The website is laid out as just individuals that you can meet and relate to after the introduction. The background of Youngstown in the Intro sets the stage for the citizens of Youngstown.
Intent: A new generation of Youngstown is the mastermind behind this incredibly interesting website. Their positive outlook on Youngstown makes it easy to appreciate my roots and feel proud to call myself a "Yongstowner".
Use: The original audience was intended not only for students, current or alum but for anyone who does or has lived in Youngstown. Although the text could be looked at as a tool for the creator's work, it was very informative as well as easily readable for entertainment purposes.
Memory: This text could be taken as a staple of Youngstown culture. It completely embodies the history of Youngstown and what makes it such a historical landmark.
Signs:
Before entering the actual portraits, the site is described is an on-going/continuing document of those who keep the valley alive. This same page indicated that 30 years go 43% of jobs in this area were manufacturing based, and now only 17% are, with the largest sector of work in the valley comprised of school and healthcare related jobs. I thought it was interesting that the back drop of some of the pages appeared to be engineering drawings of rolls. I felt this facilitated a feeling of the reader “what used to be”. This foreshadowed, to a degree, what one might expect when reading the portrait summaries. The portraits page literally was a page of photos with a small blurb beneath, one might even describe the verbiage beneath the pictures as “eye catching”. The portrait pictures were all framed the same way no one individual seemed overwhelmingly excided or sad. The portrait descriptions, in my opinion, created a feeling of ease among the individuals interviewed even though each to a degree had dreams and aspirations outside of the occupation which he/she held.
Structure:
The structure of each portrait appeared to be the same. It would start with a very brief description of the individual’s name and occupation then digress into a very detailed description of how the individual was dressed, and the era/feeling one might have if you were standing beside the individual being interviewed. The interview/description would then continue to describe a day in the life of the individual executing the tasks required per their job. Each interview/description also typically showed interaction of the individual with either co-workers or individuals to show that there was a bond with the community.
Intent:
The intent appears to be that though manufacturing jobs have gone, and though it appears as though individuals have occupations in the valley, which they enjoy and continue to hold year after year, there are greater ambitions and aspirations of most. The individuals who make up the valley, though those interviewed do not make a tremendous amount of income annually and make work long hours or shifts, have a certain bond with the valley community, which may be stronger here than elsewhere. The individuals interviewed were literally a small representation of individuals who keep the valley running, and personally, I question if these individuals would hold the jobs that they do, if the mills were still up and running, due to pay, benefits, etc.
Use:
I feel the audience for the text would literally be anyone who has/had ties to the valley, to show that the valley is still comprised of individuals who wake up every day, go to work (work hard) and have strong ties with their community. To a degree I feel it is to illustrate: though the majority of the “hard working” manufacturing jobs are no longer present, individuals still face the same struggles and have similar ambitions today as they did decades ago, only the setting and job opportunities have changed with society, technology and overseas competition.
Memory:
It promoted a feeling that individuals regardless of occupation still have ambitions and dreams. There are many individuals who wake up every morning, still work shifts, may not make a great deal of annual income, but do not hate their job and have very strong ties with their community, which some feel has fallen by the wayside.
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