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college or join the workforce after Gonzalez filled her project with soil
high school through an apprenticeship and a succulent as a gift for her
program," said Jolsna Thomas, mom. She’s taking classes in green
Rosendin Business Development architecture and design modeling to
Manager and Inaugural Chair for the work toward her future career and
Austin Chapter of NAWIC. saw the camp as a way to get hands-
on experience.
Many students pick their career
path in middle school, yet many Her planned future is filled with
ROSENDIN SPONSORS AUSTIN'S FIRST girls never consider construction or male-dominated spaces, but she’s not
concerned. “I’ve always played a lot of
specialty trades because they rarely
CONSTRUCTION CAMP FOR GIRLS see women in the fields. Camp NAWIC co-ed sports and I’ve always been the
only girl on my soccer team,” she said.
was designed to inspire campers to
“I’m kind of used to it. I don’t accept
challenge bias that prevents women
from seeking jobs in traditionally
male-dominated industries. no as an answer.”
By the time Gonzalez and the others
omen only make up 10 percent of the labor force During the camp, girls had the opportunity to listen to “Women are an untapped resource in the camp are ready to join the
in construction, according to data from the U.S. speakers from different sectors within construction, for the construction labor shortage workforce, NAWIC wants to have
WBureau of Labor Statistics. But as construction labor including roofing, plumbing, electrical, and carpentry. They that we are facing,” Ritchie says. made progress in bringing more
shortages become more pressing, one industry group is also worked on a variety of hands-on projects, including “Companies that hire diverse teams in women into the field.
tackling both problems with one swoop. designing and pouring concrete planters, electrical wiring, all facets report better performance,
and assembling and painting a community library. enhanced innovation, increased Anahi Avila, an 8th-grader at the
Rosendin sponsored Austin's first Construction Camp For creativity and, most importantly, camp, is out to prove she deserves the
Girls from June 10th - 14th. The week long camp gave 13 As part of the sponsorship, Rosendin brought the girls increased revenue.” same chances as anyone else.
girls heading into 7th, 8th, and 9th grades opportunities for to the new office in Pflugerville, Texas for hands-on
hands-on-learning and new experiences in an industry most experience. The campers were taught basic electrical This is the first camp of its kind in “We can do the same thing as a
young girls know little about. skills, worked in REVIT, participated in augmented reality Texas and it comes at a time when guy can do,” she said. Her family is
viewing through virtual reality headgear to understand how contractors say they can’t find enough involved in the construction industry,
The camp was created by the Austin Chapter of the buildings are build, built and wired a lamp to keep, and workers." and she wants to follow the same
National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) to spoke with female employees abut construction careers path, working with her hands and
enhance girls' educational development and expose them ranging from installing conduit to computer modeling and NAWIC hopes to convince the next building something from the ground
to new career possibilities. NAWIC holds similar camps more. generation of girls that working in the up.
for girls in San Diego, Kansas City, Baltimore, Chicago, and construction sector is a good way to
Orange County, California. “What many people don’t realize is the construction build a career. "Rosendin believes a diverse
industry is going high-tech, and if you are willing to learn workforce can tackle challenges from
“The purpose of the camp is to educate female students and have the right attitude, Rosendin will train you for Ramona Gonzalez needs no many different perspectives," said
about opportunities in the field of construction and to a great career,” said Claire Acquilano, Rosendin Building convincing. “I want to be a landscape Cassandra Lopez, Rosendin PreFab
recruit for our future workers and leaders,” says Taryn Information Modeler. designer or a sustainable builder,” the Foreman. "This is why the company
Ritchie, president of the Austin chapter of NAWIC. “We 8th-grader said as she removed her not only sponsors opportunities
started this Camp in Austin to give them hands-on "I want all girls to know that there is a huge opportunity in concrete planter, imprinted with a to expose girls and women to the
experience and to inform them of the many roles that they the construction industry that can provide a rewarding and design and the letters L-O-V-E on the industry, but also take steps to
can choose in the construction industry.” financially beneficial career, whether they choose to attend corners, from a plastic mold. develop workers based on their
unique skill sets."
16 The Feeder | Issue 2, 2019 Issue 2, 2019 | The Feeder 17
