Rochester, MN, USA
“Advancing the work in our proposal will allow us to address the marked disparities that exist for BIPOC women in Rochester. It will also help meet the needs of the construction and built environment industries that are vital to our growing community and in advancing the new federal infrastructure investment.” Mayor Kim Norton
Connecting women of color with high-paying careers
In Rochester, BIPOC women make up 13 percent of the population, yet fill less than 1 percent of available construction jobs. Where traditional workforce development models fail to address the types of conflicts anticipated when integrating BIPOC women into white-male dominated workplaces, the city is engaging BIPOC women, employers, and labor associations to design pathways for increased participation in Rochester’s growing construction industry, by focusing on education, training, hiring, and work-culture interventions.
Photo: Anuja KC
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director Chao Mwatela is working with construction leaders to build pathways for BIPOC women in the high-paying construction industry.
