El Cajon for Curbed - a suburb of San Diego which is home to the second largest Iraqi community in the U.S. as well as immigrants and refugees from around the world.
A view of El Cajon from surrounding mountains.
Esam Zora works in his plot at the Fresh Farm Community Garden, a project stared by the International Rescue Committee. Esam who is originally from Iraq, started working at the garden in 2012 and helped build the garden which grants plots to immigrants and refugees from around the world. He along with other gardeners grow organic produce which they sell at farmers markets around San Diego.
Inside a campaign office for Ammar Campa-Najjar, who is running for Congress in California's 50th district against Duncan Hunter Jr.
St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral.
A view inside St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral.
Moments during mass at St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral.
Holy water, St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral.
A strip mall located along Main Street.
Thair Behnan, the manager of Ali Baba Restaurant, which has been in business for 16 years.
Outside of Artists Barber Shop along Main Street. Most of the workers at the shop are originally from Iraq.
Noel Audish plays piano for children at the Iraqi Culture and Arts Association.
Tania a student at the Iraqi Culture and Arts Association, practices writing her name in Arabic. The Iraqi Culture and Arts Association was founded in 2013 by Hussain Alghazali and Nital Meshkoor. Its mission is to promote Iraqi ancient Mesopotamian culture throughout the local community in San Diego and build bridges between Iraqi, American and international artists. It also provides free beginners level Arabic language classes for children in San Diego community.
Hussein plays with the youngest of his four sons, Moutaz, at a park near their home. Hussein and his family are refugees originally from Aleppo, Syria and have recently arrived in California after having lived in Jordan and Florida. Because of the high cost of living in San Diego and only Hussein being employed as a butcher, it has been difficult for the family to get settled. Besides working full time at a market, Hussein and his wife are currently taking English language courses and their children are enrolled in local schools.