Nikki L.

Elder Participant

Nikki was born in South Korea but immigrated to Miami, Florida, in 1985, where she grew up. She eventually moved to Southern California in 2002. In college, she studied fashion and later entered the garment business through her family’s business in Miami and Los Angeles. Nikki has been working in the garment district for over 25 years and currently manages a clothing shop. She has a daughter who is now attending college at UCLA.

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Ofelia Z.

Elder Participant

Ofelia was born in Puebla, Mexico. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 to join her father and has been living in Los Angeles for over 17 years. She currently lives in Boyle Heights with her husband, daughter, and several other family members. She began working in the garment industry through a connection made by her aunt and was a threader at a factory in downtown Los Angeles for a few years. She is currently working at McDonald’s as a cleaner and cook.

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Petra H.

Elder Participant

Petra was born in Guerrero, Mexico. She used to work as a seamstress in the garment industry in downtown Los Angeles. Previously, she worked as a caregiver for young children. She has over 17 years of experience in the garment industry. She is involved with the Garment Workers Center, speaking to other workers about their right to fair wages and workers' compensation for repetitive stress injuries. She lives in Los Angeles with her two daughters.

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Jamie K.

Elder Participant

Jamie was born in Seoul, South Korea, but immigrated to Los Angeles when she was around 8 years old. She has been living in Los Angeles for over 30 years. Jamie works in the garment industry as part of her family’s business, importing fabrics and garments from large manufacturing companies overseas. During the pandemic, Jamie worked at a nursery, where she cultivated her love of plants.

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Luz H.

Elder Participant

Luz was born in Veracruz, Mexico. In Mexico, she spent 18 years working as an elementary school teacher. Luz eventually immigrated to the U.S. in 2003 and has been living in Koreatown since. She first began working in the garment industry as a cashier, then later as a machine operator. She is the mother of three daughters and grandmother to three grandchildren. Luz is an active member of various community-based service and empowerment organizations in Koreatown.

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Jung Koo K.

Elder Participant

Jung Koo was born in the Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and immigrated to Texas in 1975. In 1976, he moved to Los Angeles’ Koreatown with his wife and three children. Jung Koo’s first job in L.A. was at a sewing factory in the Garment District, and he later managed his own clothing store for around seven years. Jung Koo was twice elected as the president of the Korean Seniors Association. He was the inaugural president of Los Angeles’ March 3rd movement organization and was a board member of the Korean American Council.

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