The goal of the trip was to learn about the program and establish a similar one in their impoverished community in North Carolina.
Denver, Colorado (August 23, 2018) – National Women in Roofing (NWIR), a national organization focused on the empowerment of women within the roofing industry, announced that it provided funding for two members of the Women Roofers to attend a Girls Build camp this summer in Portland, Oregon.
The Women Roofers of Rutherford County, North Carolina are a local group of volunteers that works with the Rutherford Housing Partnership (RHP) and Habitat for Humanity to roof houses. The Girls Build program offers day camps for girls ages 8 – 14 to learn the basics of building, including carpentry, plumbing, electricity, concrete, sheet metal and much more. Both organizations recently gained national attention after being featured on separate episodes of Mike Rowe’s show, “Returning the Favor.”
“Members of the Women Roofers wanted to attend one of the camps, but being a volunteer organization, didn’t have the funding to travel across the country,” explained NWIR Chair Shari Carlozzi. “It just seemed like such a good fit with our recruitment pillar to support an initiative that promotes the trades as a viable career to young women. Our executive committee wholeheartedly agreed and we decided to provide scholarships to cover travel costs for two of the women to attend.”
The Women Roofers sent four members of their crew to the camp, with two covering their own costs and the other two using the funding provided by NWIR. “The goal of sending the two founders of the Women Roofers to one of the Girls Build camps is to share our roofing story and our roofing expertise with the young campers and their leaders,” said Nell Bovender of RHP. “The Women Roofers are contemplating replication of the idea in our rural, impoverished neck of the woods — maybe camps for both boys and girls — to encourage entry into construction trades, which are so desperately needed in this county.”
RHP is also hosting a field day for high school and college students on October 3 at the local community college where they will share what they have learned about the need for construction skills.
About National Women in Roofing
National Women in Roofing is a volunteer-based organization that supports and advances the careers of women roofing professionals. We provide networking, mentoring, education and recruitment opportunities from the rooftop to the boardroom, for the young professional at the start of her career to the seasoned manager in the executive suite. Through our commitment to connect and empower women in roofing, we contribute to the overall betterment and professionalism of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.nationalwomeninroofing.com
About RHP
RHP was organized in 1995 by a group of concerned citizens who recognized a growing need among low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners for urgent home repairs to alleviate threats to their health and safety. Statistics tell a sobering story of a low-wealth county in need of safe housing. Rutherford County is a large, rural county of about 67,000. www.rutherfordhousingpartnership.com.
About Girls Build
During one-week summer camps, girls 8 – 14 years old learn the basics of building, including carpentry, plumbing, electricity, concrete, sheet metal and much more! Girls have fun with other girls their age, learning the basics of many trades from skilled female instructors. Learn more at www.girlsbuild.org.