STEPS TO INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT:

DESIGNING a Welcoming Workforce

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The Forum returns to live programming with "Designing a Welcoming Workforce" on August 31.

We will now be live streaming the event in order to give guests the option to attend either online or in-person.

COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Masks are required at the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 Training Center. 

The construction industry says that it needs workers. And yet nontraditional workers, who demographically represent the future workforce, often feel unwelcome. There is zero tolerance for safety or substance abuse violations on our worksites. And yet racism and sexism continue, and we continue to lose nontraditional workers. 

This program will explore ways in which we might create a "welcoming workforce." 

Designing a Welcoming Workforce is the first of six programs, "Building Tomorrow's Construction Workforce", which will run from now until December of 2022.

Over the series, "Building Tomorrow's Construction Workforce" will introduce and discuss a systemic change approach to workforce development. 

This program will include: 

Outakes of the nationally-acclaimed short film Sista in the Brotherhood. This documentary-style drama examines the path of a young black woman construction apprentice. It demonstrates the barriers she faces as she struggles to join our industry and improve life for her and her famly. 

A presentation by Dr. Roberta Hunte, producer of Sista. Dr. Hunte is an assistant professor at Portland State University, focusing on black studies and of women, gender and sexuality studies. Her research includes the microagressions that blacks and women experience on the construction jobsite, and strategies for addressing microagressions in the workplace.

An interview and discussion of issues and strategies for creating a welcoming construction workplace will be facilitated by Forum Executive Director/Co-Founder Tom Finan. The panel includes: 

Nicole Adewale, principal, ABNA Engineering. As a co-founder of ABNA, Nicole is highly involved in the day to day running of ABNA; which has grown from its humble beginnings as a two-person firm, to more than 90 professionals and union tradespeople across three offices, performing work in more than 13 states. One of Nicole’s greatest passions is opening doors of opportunity for young people to pursue careers in architecture, engineering and construction through support of K-12 education.

Ronny Griffin, business manager, Laborers Local 110. In June, Ronny Griffin made history when he became the first Black construction trades business manager in the St. Louis area. Ronny comes from a construction family (father and uncle) which is extraordinary. At a time when he could have retired from his career as a laborer he began taking on recruiting the next generation of workers. He said he feels "deflated" with the impact of racism on these apprentices.

Joylynn L. Pruitt-Adams, EdD has been an educator for 44 years. She retired from University City in 2016 after 17 years in the district where she served as a principal, executive director of instruction, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and superintendent. She said her schools faced challenges that many others do not have, such as poverty, transience and homelessness among students. She arrived for an interim assignment as superintendent at Oak Park and River Forest High School in the Chicago suburbs on the heels of the airing of a television documentary "America to Me," which showed the disparities between the education received by black and white students.“My tenure here at Oak Park and River Forest High School has been the most amazing and challenging of my 44 years as an educator,” Pruitt said when she officially retired in July of 2021.

Gabriel Cardenas is a board member for Construction Forum. He is vice president of operations for Missouri Constructors. He does the estimating, runs daily operations, sets long term company goals, and directs marketing and sales. He was instrumental in helping organize Forum COVID outreach to the Hispanic Community. He is an active member of the Forum's Emerging Leaders.

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