The coronavirus pandemic sparked the idea of 鈥渆ssential workers鈥濃�攖hose whose jobs were so crucial to the ongoing functioning of the economy and of our collective well-being that they were exempt from quarantine rules. Sadly, essential workers鈥攍ike the custodians who ensure that work spaces are regularly cleaned and maintained鈥攈ave also long been exempted from equitable pay, a strong enforcement of health and safety standards, and the dignity they deserve. Disproportionately low-income immigrants and people of color, custodial workers鈥� rights are a matter of racial justice, as Evalynn Romano, the daughter of University of Washington custodians, outlines in her analysis. This photo essay captures the hard work and dignity of UW custodians.
Time for Vacuuming, 2020. 鈥淚 like to take the picture so you can see the way I do the vacuum. Using the mask, the gloves, and doing my job. It鈥檚 happy too, because when I鈥檓 vacuuming, no tired at all because 鈥� I鈥檓 singing. I鈥檓 praising the Lord when I鈥檓 working.鈥� 鈥擜.R. Photo courtesy of A.R.
I鈥檓 So Proud To Be a Custodian, 2020. 鈥淵ou know what, honestly, I鈥檓 so proud to be a custodian. And I really like it. I鈥檓 trying to show that I鈥檓 a custodian. And I鈥檓 so proud. I鈥檓 trying to do my best that I鈥檓 doing my job. All my PPE, all I need is [in my cart], and everything is complete.鈥� 鈥擫.R. Photo courtesy of L.R.
He鈥檚 Doing the Right Thing, 2020. 鈥淵esterday, we have run and team group. It鈥檚 just like [when] somebody is not here and we have to [clean their areas] 鈥� we call it run. We have to do it, because that鈥檚 a part of our job. To make it clean all the time and safe and healthy.鈥� 鈥擫.R. Photo courtesy of L.R.
Happy Clients Make Custodians Smile, 2020. 鈥淪he wanted to let me know that the department is pleased with all of my hard work in keeping them safe during this pandemic. She also mentioned to me that my smile every day is so contagious.鈥� 鈥擲hirley H. Photo courtesy of Shirley H.
Tribal Connection, 2020. 鈥淣ative American influence to live and stay strong. Walk tall among the trees, stay proud and tall, and be known by the tracks you leave.鈥� 鈥擪ristine Paul Photo courtesy of Kristine Paul.
Bonding, 2020. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my kids, and that鈥檚 their dog, Ako. They move on and they鈥檙e happy now. They are wearing the mask. It鈥檚 just like dog is like a medicine. And they move on.鈥� 鈥擫.R. Photo courtesy of L.R.
Concentrate, 2020. 鈥淭hey are so nice. They are concentrating, about to log in their phone their time. I take that picture to 鈥� always remind me how to do 鈥� the time for login. Related to my health is the distancing. And we wear mask too.鈥� 鈥擜.R. Photo courtesy of A.R.
Leadership, 2020. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 like our leadership over there. Every day, I see [my co-worker] and me. Anything talking about funny things. You gotta have somebody around, especially in the work, because it鈥檚 hard to be doing by yourself.鈥� 鈥擲erafin Divina Photo courtesy of Serafin Divina.
Cleaning, 2020. 鈥淚 was working in [UW鈥檚] Paul Allen [Center]. I do like 10 refrigerator clean[ings] in one day. I just did that for like 25 minutes cleaning. That鈥檚 all you can do; wipe it down, turn it off the [re]frigerator, and the wings. I enjoy working, believe me. I鈥檓 not perfect, but it鈥檚 good. I mean, excellent.鈥� 鈥擲erafin Divina Photo courtesy of Serafin Divina.
My Yellow Shield, 2020. 鈥淭o avoid from having COVID. This yellow shield will represent you who you are. Lalo lalo na sa mga estudyante na nag-aaral sa building. [Especially for the students who study in the building.] Yes, not only myself, for everybody.鈥� 鈥擱.R. Photo courtesy of R.R.
Window Door, 2020. 鈥淪queezer. She clean the window [of the] door. Because that鈥檚 our job. I like it, to clean. I鈥檓 very happy. That鈥檚 my job.鈥� 鈥擬ihret Dessu Photo courtesy of Mihret Dessu.
T3 Machine, 2020. 鈥淓ight or so years ago, we don鈥檛 have this 鈥� we use mop, wet mop. Wet mop is very hard. We use this one, T3 machine. I like it. Big help for me.鈥� 鈥擬ihret Dessu Photo courtesy of Mihret Dessu.
Blower, 2020. 鈥淓lsa is hard worker. She blowing outside. Because when you blow outside, the inside [of the building] keep clean. Safe for inside, that鈥檚 why I like it.鈥� 鈥擱.M. Photo courtesy of R.M.
Looks Good Garden, 2020. 鈥淥rganic, it鈥檚 good for your health. When you do it, it makes you happy. It鈥檚 more work, but it makes you happy. Tomatoes and zucchini at my house.鈥� 鈥�Amaresh Teklehaimanot Photo courtesy of Amaresh Teklehaimanot.
Small Table for the Coffee, 2020. 鈥淭he weekend Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I sit there, I make coffee. My husband, he sit next to me. Even my friends sit next to me. You know, talking each other 鈥� just enjoy life. Enjoy. That鈥檚 coffee. Coffee is health! You know, we have energy.鈥� 鈥擶.T. Photo courtesy of W.T.
For Memory, 2020. 鈥淚 am eat [at the mall], with a flower. That鈥檚 why I do it. My body relax is good. Sometimes, I鈥檓 off Saturday, Sunday. And boring [at] the house. [My son says,] 鈥極K, go mama,鈥� with the little bit of walk.鈥� 鈥擫eteberhan Zewdie Photo courtesy of Leteberhan Zewdie .
Baskets, 2020. 鈥淭hat particular basket is on the side of his auntie and uncle鈥檚 house 鈥� we don鈥檛 play the game as much, but I鈥檒l take time to shoot baskets or have my son shoot baskets, and that gives us some physical activity and something that we do together. As 鈥� son and father, you know.鈥� 鈥擳.W. Photo courtesy of T.W.
Empty Seat, Empty Heart, 2020. 鈥淚 took a picture of my empty heart while watching an empty bus caused by a pandemic.鈥� 鈥擝.H. Photo courtesy of B.H.
Will Be Back to Normal?, 2020. Photo courtesy of B.H.
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Sonali Kolhatkar
joined 猫咪社区! in summer 2021, building on a long and decorated career in broadcast and print journalism. She is an award-winning multimedia journalist, and host and creator of聽猫咪社区! Presents: Rising Up with Sonali, a nationally syndicated television and radio program airing on Free Speech TV and dozens of independent and community radio stations. She is also Senior Correspondent with the Independent Media Institute鈥檚 Economy for All project where she writes a weekly column. She is the author of聽Rising Up: The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice聽(2023) and聽Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence聽(2005). Her forthcoming book is called聽Talking About Abolition聽(Seven Stories Press, 2025). Sonali is co-director of the nonprofit group, Afghan Women鈥檚 Mission which she helped to co-found in 2000. She has a Master鈥檚 in Astronomy from the University of Hawai鈥檌, and two undergraduate degrees in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin. Sonali reflects on 鈥淢y Journey From Astrophysicist to Radio Host鈥� in her 2014聽TEDx talk聽of the same name.
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Evalynn Fae Taganna Romano
is a proud daughter of University of Washington (UW) custodians, a public health researcher serving communities of color, a mental health clinician for survivors of violence and traumatic loss, and a strong advocate for custodial worker rights. Since the pandemic began, she has served, collaborated with, and advocated for custodians at UW, bringing attention to the inequities they face through photography-based storytelling. Evalynn enjoys drinking coffee, going on hikes, bouldering, and community organizing. Evalynn is based in Seattle and speaks Tagalog, Waray-Waray, Khmer, and English. She can be reached at: www.uwcustodianproject.com
Michael Luong
is the associate art director at 猫咪社区!.
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