NOLA Women in Skilled Trades and Manufacturing Careers

09/26/2025

NOLA Women in Skilled Trades and Manufacturing Careers appreciates the National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues and their allies for coming together to shine a light on how close we are to losing the $5M WANTO funds that so many Tradeswomen Serving Organizations have relied on for years to prepare, support, and train women entering the trades.

09/24/2025

Call to Action post: 🚨 Please like, share, and participate with us to compel allocation of the $5million in WANTO grant funds before the end of the US Dept of Labor’s fiscal year ends on September 30th.

“She’s Not Waiting, She’s Leading - and the time for WANTO funding is now”


This week in Chicago, over 5,000 union tradeswomen and allies gathered for the TradesFutures “Tradeswomen Build Nations” conference. Their message was clear: women in the trades are not content to wait on opportunity they are stepping forward to lead, build, and demand resources that match their ambition.

Yet despite that momentum, funds promised under WANTO remain undelivered. While women are ready to train, hire, build, and grow our workforce, delayed funding means lost apprenticeships, stalled training programs, and real obstacles for communities that depend on us.

We call on the Department of Labor: release the WANTO funds before Tuesday. The tradeswomen of this country alongside their union sisters and brothers are watching, working, and expecting accountability. The field can’t wait. Because when we invest in women in trades, we invest in thriving local economies, safe infrastructure, and stronger communities. Where’s WANTO?

09/14/2025

Hello Chicago!!! I’m so excited and ai just can’t hide it! We’ve worked so hard on our annual convening! We’d love to have you join us, donate through our registration link, or follow up with us after our institute and Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference! 🎊🧰🪜

The moment you’ve been waiting for is almost here! We’ve attached the agenda of the upcoming Annual Convening for the National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues. There’s still time to register and secure your spot. We look forward to seeing everyone in a few days in Chicago!

Link to register: https://give.equalrights.org/event/tradeswomen-taskforce-2025-taskforce-institute-and-professional-development/e698751

07/10/2025

Great panel discussion happening now!

Spread the word that TODAY, Thursday, July 10 is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day!

There’s a National Social Media Storm on July 10 at 2pm ET/11am PT to raise awareness about the wage gap facing black women in the United States.

We will be raising awareness about the wage gaps that impact Black women and their families. We will highlight the fact that the wage gap for Black women compared to non-Hispanic white men is 66 cents for full time, year-round workers. The wage gap widens to 64 cents when looking at all Black women earners (including full-time, part-time and part-year workers), as compared to all working non-Hispanic white men. These wage gaps are unacceptable.

We will be demanding the Trump Administration and Congress end the attack on Black women’s economic security by protecting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, preserving federal jobs, and strengthening the workplace rights that benefit all workers.

Action alert in the comments.

11/29/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!!!🦃🍁🙌🏽

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from the Tradeswomen Taskforce! 🦃

Today, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to all the incredible tradeswomen and allies who make our community so strong. 🍂✨

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate resilience, hard work, and the support we give each other every day. Enjoy a well-deserved break, or gathered with loved ones, we see you, we appreciate you, and we thank you for everything you do to break barriers and build a more inclusive trades industry. 💪🏾👷‍♀️💛

This holiday, let's honor the diverse stories and experiences that make our trades community so powerful. Together, we’re paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future. 🛠️🌍

From our Tradeswomen Taskforce family to yours, we wish you a safe, joyful, and restful Thanksgiving. 🧡🦃🍁

✨ What are you thankful for today? Share your gratitude with us in the comments! ✨

10/16/2024

High-paying jobs in the skilled trades can be life-changing for workers and families, yet women make up just 20% of construction apprentices– a key pathway to these jobs.

We need to ensure equitable access to these opportunities.

10/06/2024

As the co-chair of the National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues I was excited for the kick-off of the National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues 2024 Tradeswomen Institute & Professional Development.

It was extra special to me this year as we were hosting the conference in my hometown, hosting our convenings at my local supportive partner organization, New Orleans Career Center. New Orleans Career Center inhabits the newly repurposed building of what used to be McDonogh #35 (the first public high school for African Americans in New Orleans), where I attended high school.

There were 3 days of large group presentations, focused activities and discussions, and smaller breakout sessions at the New Orleans Career Center.

Schedule
Thursday - Infrastructure Opportunities and Policies that Make a Difference for Tradeswomen
Friday - Mentoring and Solidarity for Career Retention
Sunday - Tradeswomen Taskforce: Building Towards Action

10/06/2024

More From National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues

2024 Tradeswomen Institute & Professional Development was 3 days of large group presentations, focused activities and discussions, and smaller breakout sessions at the New Orleans Career Center.

Schedule
Thursday - Infrastructure Opportunities and Policies that Make a Difference for Tradeswomen
Friday - Mentoring and Solidarity for Career Retention
Sunday - Tradeswomen Taskforce: Building Towards Action

✨ Sunday Focus: Building Towards Action ✨

Our Sunday session brought tradeswomen and allies together to digest the conference, discuss Taskforce involvement, and dive into policy and legislative wins across the country.

Key Highlights:

• Icebreaker & Networking: Attendees introduced themselves and shared why they joined, creating connections across trades and states.
• Taskforce Overview: Co-Chairs Janelle DeJan and Connie Ashbrook led a welcome, emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and the importance of Taskforce committees.
• Group Discussions: Participants reflected on the conference, shared takeaways, and brainstormed how to apply new knowledge in their regions.
• Committee Updates: Steering Committee members provided insights into the work and invited new members to join the cause.
• Panel on Legislative Wins: A dynamic panel shared victories and strategies for promoting tradeswomen in their states:
🔸 Allie Perez (Texas) discussed innovative use of National Apprenticeship Week.
🔸 Beth Berendsen (Illinois) highlighted legislative achievements.
🔸 Connie Ashbrook (Oregon) focused on pre-apprenticeship funding.
🔸 Meg Vasey (California) celebrated the ERiCA legislation.
🔸 Kristina Szczyrbak (New York) detailed successful EEOC efforts.

Small Group Breakouts followed, allowing attendees to explore legislative strategies and dive deeper into the successes shared by the panelists.

It was a day of connection, learning, and actionable steps for the future of tradeswomen!

10/06/2024

National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues 2024 Tradeswomen Institute & Professional Development was 3 days of large group presentations, focused activities and discussions, and smaller breakout sessions at the New Orleans Career Center.

Schedule
Thursday - Infrastructure Opportunities and Policies that Make a Difference for Tradeswomen
Friday - Mentoring and Solidarity for Career Retention
Sunday - Tradeswomen Taskforce: Building Towards Action

10/06/2024

September 26 - 29th, 2024, New Orleans La was the host city of 3 marvelous tradeswomen convenings. Please stay tuned in the next few weeks for shared posts and follow-up info from the conference experience.
National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues (TWTF - Tradeswomen Taskforce) 2024 Tradeswomen Institute & Professional Development Convening

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) - Bi-Annual Women's Conference

North America's Building Trades Unions 2024 Tradeswomen Build Nations

10/06/2024

Trying an AI generator for women in trades graphics to commemorate the tradeswomen conferences that happened in New Orleans last week. This is fun and creative to play around with.

07/22/2024

Have you registered yet??? Let the countdown begin for the National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues hosting Making a Difference: Tradeswomen and Allies Professional Development Institute in New Orleans at the New Orleans Career Center on September 26, 27, and 29th.