From classroom to construction: SME celebrates Women in Construction Week and inspires youth to explore Trades opportunities

To celebrate Women in Construction Week, our members are unlocking possibilities for tradeswomen to come with ‘Keys to the Future,’ this year’s WIC week theme.

In hopes to establish early positive exposure and provide young girls with an opportunity to acquaint themselves with trade-work, our Project Manager Jill Sydik, visited both Raymond Central Elementary school locations to read a very special book to students.

“I hope that by keeping construction in the minds of kids of all ages, both girls and boys, it helps to take away any misconceptions about being in the trades as being a lesser career,” says Sydik. Dressed in her PPE, Sydik read The House That She Built by Mollie Elkhart and Georgia Cartellano, a book based on a true story of a girl who wanted to build a house solely with women contractors. Books like it disarm negative stereotypes surrounding women in construction and validate both their ability and potential.

“What a week it has been!,” says Sydik after reading to 120 elementary schoolers and visiting several different classrooms. “We talked about what school subjects would be important to study in order to work in construction and I make sure the kids know that I went to school there, they usually find that cool.”

“It’s fun seeing the kiddos and their reactions, they enjoyed the book and asked a lot of good questions,” Sydik reflects.

To wrap up Women in Construction week, Sydik, alongside her National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Greater Omaha Chapter co-members, met with Nebraska State Governor Jim Pillen to receive a proclamation in honor of WIC week.The proclamation detailed NAWIC’s commitment to fostering community development through educational programs and projects, and ended in the official proclamation of March 3rd to the 9th, 2024, as Women in Construction Week.

We’re proud to be opening doors for future trailblazers!

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