The construction industry is a united front. We are a compilation of people of all ages, a range of skills and differing backgrounds who must work together to get the job done.
Isn’t it time we celebrate that? This week, we will.
The first Construction Inclusion Week is this week, running from October 18th to October 22nd, with a mission to:
- “Champion inclusion, empowering us to reach our full potential, fuel innovation, and enhance connections with our employees, clients, and the communities we serve; Harness and leverage the capabilities and global reach of the construction industry and its affiliates to cultivate and perpetuate a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
The purpose of this week is for members of the industry to come together to understand where one other is coming from. Construction Inclusion Week is made for every member of the industry, from general contractors to firm owners, specialty contractors and suppliers to real estate partners. Like individuals, no two organizations function exactly the same, but by the end of the week, we hope to align for the betterment of the industry as a whole.
We must note that the goal of alignment isn’t to say that the hope is for everyone to be exactly the same or think exactly the same way. Without diversity of thought or inclusion of individuals of every background, we will miss the opportunity to make the biggest impact. To continue to make an impact, we need to attract the best talent and keep them on the job. But, we can’t do that with a two-dimensional recruitment and retention strategy. Instead, we need to embrace our differences and unite as an industry, from apprentices to presidents, collaboratively building awareness to amplify the need to advance diversity, equity and inclusion.
Will you help bring awareness to diversity, equity and inclusion concepts for job sites, teams and companies?
We can join together on a united mission with focused content. There are resources available that will help members of the construction industry have the often difficult but always necessary conversations that, in the end, lead to a more inclusive construction industry as a whole.
To kick off this inaugural week, industry members nationwide will focus this week of education around the theme of “Building the Foundation for Inclusion.” Every day of Construction Inclusion Week will be guided by a daily theme:
- October 18th: Leadership Commitment and Accountability
- October 19th: Unconscious Bias
- October 20th: Supplier Diversity
- October 21st: Jobsite Culture
- October 22nd: Community Engagement and Outreach
For more direction on how to bring each day’s theme to your organization, download the Construction Inclusion Week Planning Guide here. Then, peruse their other resources, including Construction Inclusion Week collateral to share with your team and social media resources to update your pages with profile picture frames, header images and even sample posts.
If you are a leader in your organization, we highly encourage you to download the Construction Inclusion Week Comprehensive Guide here. In it, you’ll find talking points that align with each day’s theme in both English and Spanish. They make it simple with easy access to the daily videos and recommendations for at-home activities.
When you join us in celebrating Construction Inclusion Week, you’ll send the message to your internal organization and to the industry as a whole that you are committed to the future of the industry. Visit the Construction Inclusion Week website for more information.
