Encouraging young women to work in construction with 'Hammers & Hope'

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email The event highlights women in the construction industry. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Right now, it's estimated that women only fill 10% of jobs in the construction field. However, the Nevada State Contractors Board is working to change that.The board hosted an event, called "Hammers & Hope," centered on educating young women about the field and their options in it.Over and over, the keynote speaker and panel in attendance stressed the importance of being brave and not letting gender stand in the way of a successful career in construction.Female students from Reed, North Valleys, ACE, and Fernley high schools attended Hammers & Hope. That included freshman Hailey Brown."I like the idea of having other females around me instead of just, you know, people that think I can't do anything because I'm a woman," said Hailey.The Nevada State Contractors Board hosts the event yearly to inspire more women to take on tough positions and take up more space in a predominantly male field."We want to be a bridge for students or women in the community who maybe never looked upon that as a potential career," said David Behar, the Executive Officer of the board. "There's such a demand and such a need. And again, it doesn't get discussed enough. And so, we have to be at the forefront of that conversation."The five women who sat on today's panel emphasized th...