Meade employees were invited to attend a press conference by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to announce a federal grant that was awarded to the Illinois Department of Labor. The $1.35 million grant will be used to advocate and encourage the entry of more women into the infrastructure and construction fields.
Jennifer Hughes and Taylor Rees, both members of Meade’s Infrastructure Division, attended the press conference. They took part in a Round Table discussion with Gov. Pritzker, U.S. Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, the Chicago Women in Trades, and many women currently working in the trades to discuss challenges they currently face. The Round Table discussion focused on the training, obstacles, successes, and sustainability that women have faced in these careers. Ideas and processes were discussed to promote and guide women to join and succeed in the construction field.
The Chicago Women in Trade will use the grant awarded to help design a program and best practices to construction companies, unions, and other stakeholders to promote workforce equity on infrastructure projects in Illinois.
Link here for the CBS News article.