Women in Construction Week 2023: Who Builds the World? Girls!

Image courtesy of lakesidealliance.com

To kick off Women in Construction Week 2023, Lakeside Alliance hosted “Who Builds the World? GIRLS!”, an event where young women and girls in grades 6 through 12 could immerse themselves in the world of construction, and be inspired and instructed by women working in the industry. Dozens of students joined us inside the huddle tent on the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) site on March 4 for a half-day of interactive activities led by women helping to build the OPC. The students met women business owners and got a taste of what it’s like to be a carpenter, an electrician, a structural and landscape architect, a bricklayer, a site supervisor in charge of safety and beyond. 

The event was the brainchild of Lakeside Alliance project manager Erin Cullen, who began working in construction in 1997 while in college, performing auto CAD and drafting for a pile driving company.

“I was always good at math. My dad was a contractor and he pushed me into engineering, but I always knew I wanted to build stuff,” Cullen said. “When I started, there were very few women in the trades or even on the business side. This event shows girls that this is something they can do.” 

Jori, a 7th grader at Christopher Elementary School, worked confidently on a wooden jewelry stand under the guidance of union carpenters. “I learned that you can be what you want to be,” said Jori, as she sanded the edges of the wooden base. 

Jori’s mother, Krystle, emphasized the importance of exposing Jori to different careers: “It empowers her with choices and keeps her focused on her dreams. She told me she wants to be a pediatrician, but I want her to know that she can also be an engineer.”

Annie, a sophomore at Taft High School, said she would consider being a business owner, but wants to get on-the-job experience first. “I find [construction] interesting because I like working with my hands.” She said she realizes there aren’t a lot of women in the industry, but she doesn’t mind being a trailblazer. 

On that note, Lakeside Alliance asked industry professionals volunteering that day to share their thoughts on how women have progressed in construction:

Tenna Monroe, a carpenter’s steward for Concrete Collective: "Things have changed tremendously. When I first started, women were barely recognized. We didn’t have equipment or apparel that was right for us. For example, the gloves would only be available in men’s sizes. I would always advocate for inclusivity for women on that front, and now jobs do a better job at buying equipment that we can use."

Sandya Dandamudi, president of GI Stone: “When I started the business, women were either secretaries or they were interior designers. And, when I walked onto a job site, that’s what they thought I was, too. But now women are in leadership positions. They’re owner’s reps, they’re architects, they’re designers, they’re project engineers, they’re project managers.” 

Dina Griffin, president, Interactive Design Architects and associate architect on the OPC project: “A friend sent me a Black History Month calendar celebrating Black women in architecture. There are about 115,000 architects in the United States, and there are only just over 500 Black women. That’s not even a percentage point. That’s why I wanted to make sure we participated in this event. There may be kids out there who don’t even know the profession exists, or don’t know what we do and that it’s an option to choose as a career.”

Tina Chung, president of Horizon Contractors and board member for the Federation of Women Contractors: "I think overall it’s getting better. When I used to go to meetings, someone would tell me, ‘Oh I really liked what you said in the meeting’ in a condescending way. Now, I think there's a bit more respect. We can talk like normal people. I think there are a lot more women in the industry, either in construction management or the trades, and so people expect us to be here."

Sharon Latson Flemister, project director for the We Can Build It Consortium, the Obama Presidential Center workforce partnership: “Women have made progress in some areas. But women can’t be hired just to make construction jobs look good. We still need to focus on retention so that men and women of color alike can actually make a good living and build a life for themselves.”