Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT)

Thank you to Engage: Promoting Women's Economic Security for inviting the Director of our Equity Resource Center, Lark Jackson, to be a panelist at the 2026 State of the Majority Summit in Washington, D.C., this Wednesday. Engage works to advance the economic security of American women by promoting policy solutions.

The annual State of the Majority Summit connects leaders to address women's financial well-being, from caregiving to the skilled trades.

On the panel, Lark discussed ways to support women’s equitable entry and retention in the skilled trades alongside Dr. Lynn Shaw, Ariane Hegewisch, and Illiana Flores. We are also grateful to have met U.S. Rep Lauren Underwood, D-IL.

Our spring Women in Welding students have only one more week left before graduation! This week, students have been taking their final exams, practicing their t-joint welds, and working on final projects.

We're so excited to see this class graduate and take their next steps towards a thriving career in welding and manufacturing.

If you or someone you know is interested in sparking a new career in welding, please visit out website at https://cwit.org/training/

Over the weekend, TOP students spent a day covering the basics of the electrical trades at the IBEW-NECA 134 Technical Institute. They learned about material handling, pole bending, wiring a circuit board, and more!

Thank you to IBEW-NECA 134, volunteer and CWIT graduate Aisha Brundidge, and instructors who came together to make the day something students won't forget. Your continued support for your future tradespeople is special to us and much appreciated.

Field trips like this are a crucial part of our free program curriculum at CWIT. If learning through hands-on experiences like this interests you, visit our website at https://cwit.org/training/ to learn how you can get started on your own construction career journey.

June is National Safety Month, and this first week is all about "Moving Safety Forward."

One of the ways we consistently practice moving safety forward at CWIT is by providing all program students with 10-hour OSHA training. OSHA-10 trains students to recognize, avoid, abate, and prevent workplace hazards.

OSHA-10 training...
- Promotes a culture of safety amongst peers.
- Provides hands-on activities to help students understand the curriculum.
- Is tailored specifically to CWIT students, their needs, and what they'll expect on the jobsite.

Visit https://cwit.org/training/ to learn more about our curriculum, and visit https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach to read more about OSHA-10 and 30 training.

Exciting news! The Illinois General Assembly has passed SB 3465, requiring construction sites with 10 or more workers to provide private restrooms, and menstrual products and lactation accommodations for women and gender-diverse construction workers.

Led by Chicago Women in Trades and sponsored by State Senator Graciela Guzman and State Rep Theresa Mah, this legislation finally addresses what has gone unregulated for too long: a vast majority of women and gender diverse workers have gone without adequate facilities, basic protections and dignity while working on construction sites.

Please join us in urging Governor JB Pritzker to sign this bill into law and make inclusive worksites the standard in Illinois!

https://cwit.org/menstruation-and-lactation-support-on-construction-sites/ -this-bill

Happy Pride Month!

Pride Month is about real people in our community. People in the LGBTQIA+ community have helped to shape and uplift the programs, resources, and culture at CWIT. This month is all about giving back to the q***r community, not just online and not just this month, but in all things every month.

Those in the q***r community need our support, so this month we want to uplift Brave Space Alliance, a Black, trans-founded LGBTQ+ center that prioritizes caring for the most marginalized and underserved members of the trans and LGBTQ+ community.

Brave Space Alliance provides things like
- Community pantry for those in need.
- Support groups
- Workforce development and financial literacy workshops
- Temporary housing
and more

Please take a moment to check out the Pride Month events below and visit Brave Space Alliance's website if you or someone you know needs resources. You can visit them at: https://www.bravespacealliance.org/

Our spring Women in Welding class did a great job in mock interviews yesterday.

After weeks of hands-on experience and resume-building, students got to come face-to-face with real contractors and construction professionals to show off what they've learned and get real-time feedback on their interview skills.

We'd like to thank the industry professionals who came and supported these students.

Nicor Gas

Millwright & Machinery Erectors Local Union 1693

Union Pacific Railroad

S&C Electric Company

Triangle Package Machinery Company

VERO Design + Build

Constellation Energy

Akan Mechanical

Starcon

Those interested in learning about the Women in Welding program should visit our website at: https://cwit.org/training/

UPDATE!!

Great news: our bill providing bathrooms as well as menstruation and lactation support on construction worksites passed the Illinois House!
Big thanks to State Rep Theresa Mah, who led the effort, and all the legislators who came on to co-sponsor.

But we're not done yet — we're headed back to the Senate for a concurrence vote under the leadership of State Senator Graciela Guzman.

Contact your Illinois Senator today and tell them to vote yes on SB 3465 HA1: https://cwit.org/menstruation-and-lactation-support-on-construction-sites/ -this-bill

Our state bill ensuring women have access to bathrooms and to menstruation and lactation support on construction worksites is moving and will be up for a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives and then the Illinois Senate -- tell your legislator to support women in the trades and this bill!

Click here to make your voice heard: https://cwit.org/menstruation-and-lactation-support-on-construction-sites/ -this-bill

Last week, our Spring 2026 Welding Cohort toured and got hands-on training at Ralph H. Simpson Company.

While there, students did MIG & TIG welding, arc gouging, oxy-torch cutting, MAG drilling, blueprint reading & learned pipe coping. Thank you to everyone at Ralph H. Simpson who helped make their experience amazing.

Interested in learning more about our Women in Welding program? Visit our website: https://cwit.org/training/

Summer Social Open Houses start next month.

CWIT is hosting three in-person information sessions for aspiring tradeswomen to learn more about our free pre-apprenticeship programs. The first session will take place on Wednesday, June 24, from 4-6 PM.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet CWIT staff and instructors and hear about the day-to-day experiences of women working in the trades.

Location:
Chicago Women in Trades
2444 W. 16th St., Suite 3
Chicago, IL 60608

Dates:
June 24, 2026
July 29, 2026
Aug 26, 2026

To RSVP, email CWIT Program Administrator, Ca'Ron King at [email protected]. Spots for these events are limited, so act fast!