PAST WINNERS

2007

Amanda Bensel (Ecuador)
Aaron Dresben (France)
Sun Lee (Turkey)
Michelle M. Nermon (Costa Rica)
Khang Nguyen

2005

Lisa Chen
Mariatheresa Mortera
Kiel Schmidt

Highlight

Kiel Schmidt

Kiel Schmidt received the JLS Fellowship in 2005. His goal was to “investigate” the situation of immigrant migrant workers along the US-Mexican border. Schmidt’s project was carried out in conjunction with this employment as an intern with Public Architecture. The plight of day laborers has been an interest of Public Architecture since its establishment in 2002, growing out of the founding executive director’s previous and present work in immigration law.

In Schmidt’s and Public Architecture’s assessment, day laborers greatly contributed to our pluralistic society without the benefits of recognition or security. On the whole, day laborers’ contributions go unseen. However, most cities’ inability to accommodate them within the urban infrastructure is highly visible. Note the manner and venues in which most laborers gather and seek employment. Many misconceptions develop from this limited perspective and cities’ lack of preparedness and responsiveness.

These harmful misconceptions persist despite the hard work of day laborers themselves and the commendable efforts of numerous legal and social service organizations. In response, Schmidt and Public Architecture strongly believe that design holds enormous potential to initiate positive change on multiple scales.

Schmidt recently visited more than a dozen formal day laborer centers as well as gathering spots in the Bay Area and throughout California. Some of the centers assist day laborers in improving their English and provide additional skills training; other centers act as a liaison between employee and employer in a union hall model. These centers have achieved some changes in local public policy and impacted the lives of the day laborers they serve. As such, Schmidt suggests that there is an unmet need and role for design to significantly enhance these gathering spots, interactions, and general efforts.

Schmidt and Public Architecture are investigating a prototypical day labor place. This model is an open-air structure of variable size, which will protect day laborers from rain and sun, while maintaining optimum visibility and mobility. The structure would at least include a bathroom, graphic elements and web-connected kiosk to facilitate communication between employer and employee. The model involves minimal upkeep and staff, thereby creating a sense of ownership and pride among all parties. The day laborers will be collected under a permanent structure that projects an image of social, economic and civic integration.

Schmidt is deeply committed to directly engaging day laborers, and building on the successful ways that some day laborer groups have organized themselves. One direct application and manifestation of Schmidt’s investigation might be a major, multi-faceted public relations campaign. This might involve and array of media geared to a variety of audiences- including key decision-makers, community groups, employers, and day laborers. Schmidt is particularly committed to developing a much more significant Internet presence for day laborers, which would not only improve public perception, but aid in the hiring process and general awareness of the specialized skills many day laborers have to offer.

In summary, as a result of Schmidt’s work as a JLS Fellow, he proposes to measurably enhance the:
1. Unique culture of day laborers;
2. Knowledge of and access to resources for day laborers;
3. Physical spaces that effect day laborer procurement; and
4. Perception of day laborers by community members, potential employers, as well as city officials and policy-makers.