CHICAGO, IL—Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) and Power Construction are pleased to announce a partnership to implement the RISE Up for Equity Respectful Worksite program developed by ANEW. This initiative marks a significant step towards fostering worksites that provide women and other underrepresented workers with equitable opportunities to thrive and advance their careers in the construction industry.
RISE Up, which stands for Respect, Inclusion, Safety, and Equity, is a comprehensive training program designed to create and maintain safe, inclusive, and productive work environments. The program offers tailored training modules for executive leadership, managers, and workers, including specialized areas such as bystander intervention.
ANEW, founded in 1980, has a long-standing mission to increase the representation of women in construction trades. As an affiliate of ANEW’s RISE Up program, Chicago Women in Trades will facilitate the delivery of RISE Up training to its partners, including employers like Power Construction.
Power Construction has agreed to pilot this innovative program, beginning with executive-level training. This collaboration underscores Power Construction’s commitment to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture.
“We are pleased to partner with Chicago Women in Trades to bring the RISE Up program to our organization,” said Sean Glowacz, Director of Community Development, AICP for Power Construction. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our values and ongoing efforts to create a safer, more inclusive and equitable work environment.”
“The RISE Up program represents a significant step forward in our efforts to transform the construction industry,” said Jayne Vellinga, Executive Director of Chicago Women in Trades. “We’re excited about Power Construction’s demonstrated leadership in implementing this training, setting a new standard for inclusivity, and addressing harassment in the field. We look forward to forming similar partnerships with other leaders in the industry.”
For more information about RISE Up, contact:
Lark Jackson
Director, National Center
Chicago Women in Trades
ljackson@cwit.org
About Chicago Women in Trades
Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) was established in 1981 by tradeswomen to support and advocate for women in nontraditional occupations. CWIT works to build women’s access to and promote their advancement in the skilled trades through training programs, policy and advocacy, and technical assistance to employers and unions seeking to create inclusive workplaces.
About Power Construction
Power Construction Company is a 98-year-old family and management-owned firm that is focused primarily on the greater Chicago metro area. Their unique business model and values-based approach mean that their leaders are actively engaged, their employees build long-term careers and we foster trade partner relationships that drive customer value. Most importantly, it allows Power to fulfill a fundamental promise: to exceed expectations, every time.
About ANEW
ANEW was founded in 1980 by people dedicated to improving the access and advancement of women in non-traditional career pathways such as construction and manufacturing. As the oldest running pre-apprenticeship program in the nation, ANEW continues to focus on equity and inclusion in the construction industry for both women and people of color. RISE Up (Respect, Inclusion, Safety, and Equity) in the Construction Trades was created by Karen Dove, Executive Director of ANEW to address the need for a shift within the culture. Through industry-leading workplace consulting and training, RISE Up has been committed to aiding contractors and subcontractors in the construction management sector in establishing and sustaining an atmosphere marked by productivity, safety, and equity.
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