Pacific Northwest Atlas of Essential Work

The Pacific Northwest Atlas of Essential Work – a collaboration with the UO Just Futures Institute – is a cartographic exploration of essential work, illuminating the intertwined labor and stories that shape the region’s identity amidst socio-economic challenges. The atlas makes visible the hidden spaces of essential labor of vulnerable workers that help define the region – including prisoners deployed to fight forest fires in remote landscapes, home care workers supporting our aging population, and the impact of activist protests against the fossil fuel industry. This web-based collection of stories represents diverse perspectives on essential work by scholars, students, and community partners. The atlas is still in development, and will serve as an educational and pedagogical tool that has the ability to incorporate additional stories as they are developed.