More than 1,000 construction industry firms throughout the US are participating in the inaugural Construction Inclusion Week, which kicked off this Monday.
The event was organised by Time for Change, a consortium of six general contractors comprising Gilbane Building Company, DPR Construction, Turner Construction Company, Mortenson, McCarthy, and Clark Construction Group.
The collaboration’s goal is to identify ways to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the construction industry.
The virtual event offers five days of content and resources.
Daily themes include Leadership Commitment and Accountability, Unconscious Bias, Supplier Diversity, Jobsite Culture, and Community Engagement.
Over 70% of registered companies are non-MWBE/SBE/LGBTQ+ certified firms interested in enhancing and improving inclusion efforts.
Live webinars, small group conversations, online educational content, supplier open-house events, and community outreach are among this week’s activities.
Stephanie Gorman, Community and Citizenship coordinator at Turner Construction Company, said: “I think the week goes one step further by teaming up with other contractors in the area to take action against any kind of injustice in the industry.”
Dan Johnson, CEO at M.A. Mortenson, added: “We’ve made a choice that we’re going to be diverse and inclusive and to embrace equity. If you don’t want to do that, you don’t have to work here.
“We cannot attain the goals we have for our company, or our industry, unless we embrace diversity, equity and inclusion.
“The demographics are changing, and if we only recruit and retain people from a shrinking sliver of the population, that’s not sustainable.”
Image credit: Supavadee butradee/Shutterstock Inc.
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