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NAWIC History:
The
National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) began
as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, founded on September
11, 1953 by Doris Efird and 15 other women who were looking
for a support system. These women were all actively employed
in the construction industry and had been doing business with
each other for years when they decided to finally meet face
to face. The founding members of Women in Construction of
Fort Worth were Alice Ashley, Ida Mae Bagby, Carolyn Balcomb,
Sue Bowling, Margaret Bubar, Margaret Cleveland, Era Dunn,
Doris Efird, Ronda Farrell, Hazel Floyd, Jimmie Blazier, Nina
Ruth Jenkins, Ethel McKinney, Irene Moates, Mildred Tarter
and Edna Mae Tucker. This progressive group of women had the
foresight to create an atmosphere where they could network
and support each other professionally as well as personally.
This support system gave them the confidence to reach for
and achieve their goals. When describing this group of women,
Alice Ashley said, “We were women with electricity in
our veins, cement dust on our shoes, sawdust on our minds
… busy, busy, busy, filthy things. ” In the first
year of its existence, Women in Construction raised over $2,700
to donate to the Foundation for Visually Handicapped Children.
They wanted to branch out beyond Fort Worth in search of other
women to join the organization, but they discovered the charter
was not adequate and did not have the powers to organize other
chapters. Women in Construction of Fort Worth amended their
charter to incorporate other chapters in Texas and throughout
the nation. In doing so, on May 17, 1955, they became The
National Association of Women in Construction.
Advancements were made over the
years with the inception of The NAWIC Image in 1969, the official
publication detailing Association news. In honor of the founding
members, The NAWIC Founders Scholarship Foundation (NFSF)
was created in 1961 to award scholarships to students pursuing
construction-related studies. The NAWIC Education Foundation
(NEF), founded in 1972, developed programs to enrich the minds
of children as well as adults.
As word of NAWIC spread, several
foreign countries became interested in the cause to enhance
the success of women in the construction industry. In 1996,
NAWIC signed an International Affiliation Agreement with NAWIC-Australia.
In 1998, NAWIC signed an International Affiliation Agreement
with New Zealand and another in 1999 with South African Women
in Construction (SAWiC). In September 2003, NAWIC signed an
international affiliation agreement with the United Kingdom.
NAWIC's objectives are:
- To unite for the mutual
benefit of the women who are actively engaged in the various
phases of the construction industry.
- To promote cooperation,
fellowship and a better understanding among members of the
Association.
- To promote education
and contribute to the betterment of the construction industry.
- To encourage women
to pursue and establish careers in the construction industry.
- To provide members
an awareness of the legislative process and legislation
as it relates to the construction industry.
TODAY'S NAWIC
Since its founding, NAWIC, an international
non-profit organization, has grown to a membership of 5,500
women with more than 179 chapters. In its 51 years of service
to its members, NAWIC has advanced the causes of all women in
construction whose careers range from business ownership to
the skilled trades. With almost 900,000 women working in construction
today, the industry is becoming more accepting of their non-traditional
roles.
Over the years, the cause of
NAWIC has stayed the same: To enhance the success of women
in the construction industry. NAWIC has many education opportunities:
For children - to explore and open their minds to the possibilities
construction offers as a career choice; For Adults - to further
their careers with certification courses. For more than 30
years, NEF has offered creative and educational programs for
students from grade school to high school and adult certification
programs. The Foundation’s award-winning Block-Kids program,
Building Design Program and the CAD/Design/Drafting Scholarship
Awards competitions introduce students to careers and opportunities
in construction. NEF’s adult certification programs include:
Certified Construction Associate (CCA), Construction Document
Specialist (CDS) and Construction Industry Technician (CIT),
which are administered through Clemson University. Since its
founding, the NAWIC Founders’ Scholarship Foundation
(NFSF) and NAWIC chapters nationwide have awarded more than
$4 million in scholarships to students pursuing construction-related
studies.
NAWIC has developed nationally
recognized awards programs to celebrate the achievements of
women in the industry, as well as supporters of women in the
industry. This year marks the 12th annual Crystal Vision and
Crystal Achievement Awards. The national campaign for Women
in Construction Week is held the first full week of March
each year and provides opportunities to celebrate women in
construction and to educate the public of their cause. The
NAWIC Image, the award winning national bi-monthly magazine
showcases the efforts, causes and issues of NAWIC members
and the construction industry. It has been the voice of today’s
woman in construction for more than 35 years. NAWIC provides
education, networking, legislative awareness, industry and
community involvement, personal growth and development and
lasting friendships. NAWIC is the voice of women in construction.
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