Miss Rosita was buying groceries today. But for someone else. Let’s thank her and all the wonderful @amazon Prime shoppers. Because of them, many of us have the convenience of groceries brought to our doorstep..

Construction workers are considered essential. Mainly to protect some wealthy contractor’s bottom line. So here they are. Risking their health for a daily wage. Making a minuscule fraction of what this fancy condo will sell for. If you live/work in a building less than 20 years old, it was likely built by Latino labor.

These 3 gentlemen are neighborhood trash collectors who arrived every Monday and Friday morning through the peak pandemic months. They don’t have the luxury of working from home.

Lewam is at the super-busy 14th @cvspharmacy. The only thing protecting her from infection is a thin plexiglass divider.

Symone is a DC native, serving in a high-risk zone - a grocery store. Folks like her give us the privilege of filling our fridges. Symone returned home when her college in Pennsylvania closed. But she wanted to help and knew that grocery stores would need more staff. So here she is being a star!

Most Fedex delivery people in the DC area are People of Color and Immigrants. Their essential service during this pandemic has kept our fridges stocked and boredom at bay.

What work is truly “essential” during this crisis? We’ve been told to stay home. Yet, people in this affluent neighborhood complained that a metal plate in the street was making it difficult to drive.It has forced these men out to pave the street. They’re grateful for the daily wage. But they had no PPEs and had to work close to each other.

What work is truly “essential” during this crisis? We’ve been told to stay home. Yet, people in this affluent neighborhood complained that a metal plate in the street was making it difficult to drive.It has forced these men out to pave the street. They’re grateful for the daily wage. But they had no PPEs and had to work close to each other.

Not everyone has the privilege of ordering Sunday night delivery during the coronavirus crisis. Thanks to @ubereats many restaurants are able to stay open. It gives some of us the luxury of “eating out” even during this crisis.

Tay was excited to have his photo taken after a long day at the cash register. Grocery stores are “essential.” That’s great for most of us. But it puts store workers, especially cashiers, at great risk of infection.

These ladies were made to landscape without any masks. But they were happy to be outside, together, and getting a paycheck.

Martez is our youngest delivery person on the block. “Essential” workers, like courier services, are still risking infection exposure. To deliver our needs and wants to our doorstep.

Even though we’re in the throes of a pandemic, many construction projects are in full swing. And it’s putting workers out there to make daily wage. Many of them in the DC-area are Latino immigrants.If you live/work in a building less than 20 years old, it was likely built by Latino sweat and cheap labor. Today, as you self-quarantine in the comfort of your home, please honor those who created it for you.

Tayvon is literally building roads and putting in water lines because no one’s out on the streets. He and his entire road crew are putting themselves at risk. But minimizing this work isn’t new.

Yujin is taking pickup and delivery orders at the entrance of a restaurant in my neighborhood. It’s a privilege for us to have great food options despite a pandemic. But she risks her health just to make a living. Let’s be very grateful for her service.

This police officer stood for hours at the entrance of Whole Foods to prevent theft and to ensure people wore masks. So many people walked past him, putting him at risk for infection.

Officer Thompson was stationed at the entrance of @wholefoods. So many people walked past her into the store, putting her at risk of infection. But she has to do her duty and make a living.

Sargent Yarbaugh (left) has been with @dcpolicedept for 35 years and hopes to retire next year. Officer Perkins (right) has served for 22 years. They were positioned at Malcolm X Park to enforce social distancing rules.

Until recently, the @nationalguard was deployed to enforce coronavirus rules. They literally stood in public places risking infection exposure.

Tony Smith has worked at @nationalparkservice for 31 years. While we’re sheltering at home, he’s trimming trees and planting flowers. Because of people like him, we have the luxury of green public spaces.

Karim has worked for Coke for 3 years. He offloads soda cartons on the street while lots of people walk past him, some without masks. Then he stocks the shelves putting himself at even more risk inside a store. All this, so many of us can still enjoy a drink.

Essential workers come in all forms. Saif, a Jordanian immigrant, has been selling sweet doses of joy during this difficult time. Ever wonder what it’s like to sit in a box on wheels all day just to make a living?

Who would’ve thought that food delivery services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, Caviar etc would be “essential.” Yet, they’ve been the lifeline of restaurant industry for the last 6 months. Staying home and having food brought to your doorstep is a pandemic blessing. An Uber Eats driver reputedly makes $8-12 per hour. They have to work weekends and holidays to make a decent income.

Some people are refusing to wear a mask for a few hours in public places. But a phlebotomist like Gevena has to wear hers for 8 hours a day. She can’t even social distance because she has to draw blood. So this is what keeps her and her patients safe. Gevena is a single mom of an 11 year old son. She risks hers and her child’s health everyday to make a living. When she’s done drawing blood, she has to help him through distance learning classes. She has no break.

Even though restaurants aren’t a necessity, restaurant workers have been “essential” during the pandemic. Because eating out is our national pastime and privilege. Through this pandemic, they are walking the tightrope between their health and a paycheck.

Meet Miriam. A residential cleaner. She’s considered “essential.”.

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But if she is truly “essential” shouldn’t she be better paid, have health insurance and bargaining power about when to work? How do most essential workers have the least essential choices?