Empowering the Next Generation: A Three-Year Journey of Mentorship and Community Engagement
¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp’s Three-Year Partnership with Garden City Elementary Exposes Youth to Construction Industry
What began as a single event during Construction Inclusion Week in 2022 has blossomed into a comprehensive three-year program introducing young students to the world of construction. ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the construction industry and within our communities shines through in its impactful partnership with Garden City Elementary School in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
In the first year of the program, ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp hosted a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fair at the elementary school. 25 ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp volunteers engaged with students through safety and construction activities such as a Bend and Stretch, building construction equipment out of Legos, discussing various roles of equipment on job sites, and even providing students with their own safety gear, including vests and a customized hard hat with their name on it. Additionally, ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp's Community Empowerment team surprised the students and staff at Garden City Elementary with a $25,000.00 grant from the ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp Company Foundation. This grant funded field trips and supports an ongoing mission to create hands-on learning for students.
Jess Branch, community empowerment specialist at ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp, explained, "We specifically looked to support Title I schools because they often have a much more diverse student body. By meeting with these students, we can introduce them to the world of construction and the possibilities for different career paths."
In its second year, ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp volunteers organized a field trip to its Minneapolis headquarters for the same group of students. The now fourth graders participated in hands-on activities, receiving a mini tool kit, their own safety gear, and the chance to build with lumber. Students learned about the importance of safety by participating in ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp’s Bend and Stretch safety practice, as well as exciting conversations about the variety of career paths available in the industry.
In the third year of this program, the students, now in fifth grade, were given a private tour of US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Students were excited to explore the field, learn about the architecture, and see firsthand what a career in construction could look like. This full-circle experience reinforced the program's goal of exposing students to potential career opportunities and inspiring them to consider construction as a viable and rewarding path.
Throughout the three years, the impact of the program has been profound. Branch shared, "Every year to our surprise, we've received a manila envelope full of handmade thank-you cards from the students. They write these little messages about how excited they were to meet us and how much they look forward to our visits." The program's success is attributed to the dedication of ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp's Community Empowerment team, who have consistently shown up and engaged with the students.
"This wasn't just a field trip. We did this with their future in mind and the future of our industry. The goal is to have a diverse pipeline of talent so that the construction industry can continue to progress in a way that reflects the communities we're in.," noted Branch.
By introducing students to construction early and providing them with the tools and knowledge they need, ¾º²Ê×ãÇòapp hopes to inspire the next generation of builders.