For the sixth year, Studio 2055 has produced an annual report for Job Options, Inc., a nonprofit company based in San Diego whose mission is to provide meaningful employment for individuals who have physical or mental disabilities. They are employed in government and commercial jobs where they perform with pride and dedication. This is Job Options’ 25th anniversary year.
In photographing and interviewing the yearly chosen subjects, I try to capture their personalities in word and picture by delving into their background, history and desires. For the 2012 annual report, the two featured employees are from the Naval Medical Center in San Diego and Job Options’ Chula Vista laundry facility. Both individuals have inspiring stories that are revealed in the report, along with photographs that illuminate their personalities.
I chose Balboa Park to photograph JOI employee Yolanda Richardson, where she and her grandson played a bit of basketball for the camera, and also posed for a more formal portrait. Laundry employee Fernando Vera and his family met up with Nanette and I at Greg Rogers Park in Chula Vista where they were successfully photographed during a two-hour session.
After meeting the two people profiled, along with their loved ones, I got a deeper sense of the worth of Job Options’ intent in fulfilling people’s aspirations and ability to overcome handicaps. Through the years I’ve met employees who have been unable to find meaningful employment, until they found Job Options. The change in their lives has been significant. They work hard, enjoy benefits and a lifestyle they would not have achieved without Job Options’ programs.
Each of the company’s annual reports, including the Job Options 2011 Annual Report, have been designed by Nanette Newbry, the Studio’s Creative Director. The reports are printed and linked from their website to an online version via ISSUU, a service that allows for viewing digitally uploaded material, such as portfolios, magazine issues and reports.
