The neighborhoods along our border with Mexico were built by unscrupulous developers who took advantage of some of our nation’s poorest citizens. Most of these communities lack basic services such as running water and electricity and many suffer from flooding problems, health issues and high unemployment.

There is much to tell in terms of the legislative and policy debates, but there are also important lessons about building communities.

The stories I’m able to tell through the lens of a camera are rarely talked about among mainstream America. Many times the issues I’ve examined are problems not many have thought about just like the colonias.

When Dr. Jaimie Chahin of Southwest Texas State University first approached me to tell the story of the children and their families who live in colonias, I readily accepted.