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October 2026 |
A New Law and a Summer of Progress
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Dear Friend,
For years, tradeswomen have told us stories about their struggles on jobsites: bathrooms they couldn’t use, nowhere to pump, and complaints from co-workers for taking the time they needed to use the bathroom. But starting in January, a new Illinois jobsite law led by CWIT sets clear standards for restroom access, menstrual products and lactation accommodations, making working conditions better for all. |
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I'm hopeful that Chicago will follow Springfield’s lead. Our Chicago Workforce Equity Ordinance hasn't moved as quickly as we'd hoped, but a recent subject matter hearing at City Hall left me encouraged. After hearing from tradespeople about what really happens on jobsites, alders were in agreement that we need better oversight and accountability. Chicagoans deserve to know who’s getting hired and who isn’t.
Our training programs gave us reasons to celebrate, too. Demand for our programs has never been greater. As women's success in the trades becomes more visible and opportunities expand, more aspiring tradeswomen see the trades as viable career paths. In this issue, you'll meet graduates who are finding success in the trades and a training director who says he can count on CWIT graduates to come prepared.
During National Careers in Construction Month in October, we'll share more of these stories on social media. I hope you will follow along.
Thank you for being part of this work with us!
Jayne Vellinga, Executive Director |
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Signed Into Law:
New Protections for Women on Illinois Jobsites |
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In August, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 3465, now Public Act 104-0850. CWIT led the legislation, which was sponsored by Sen. Graciela Guzmán and Rep. Theresa Mah. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Illinois construction sites must meet new requirements for menstrual products, restroom access, and lactation accommodations. The law addresses what has long been ignored: Women and gender-diverse workers on jobsites have gone without adequate facilities, basic protections and dignity.
Read more about the new law
Educational Resources from CWIT
Chicago Women in Trades is preparing resources and hosting a series of webinars in the coming months to help employers and workers understand what PA 104-0850 means for them. The series begins on October 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. with Bathrooms, Periods and Breastfeeding While Working in Construction.
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| Register for the webinar |
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Making the Case for Equity on City Jobsites |
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If you've been following our work on the Chicago Construction Workforce Equity Ordinance, you know we anticipated a City Council vote in May. Unfortunately, the ordinance didn't move out of review by the Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity. It was disappointing, but we kept going.
On Sept. 22, we returned to the committee with our coalition partners for a subject matter hearing, and it became a passionate conversation with committee members. CWIT Director of Policy Beth Berendsen and board chair and ironworker Japlan “Jazz” Allen testified alongside retired union carpenter Kina McAfee and laborer Lavelle Alford from Revolution Workshop. Together, they described the barriers women and people of color face in getting and keeping construction jobs. Alders asked thoughtful questions about how contractors' hiring practices are monitored, and how to be more intentional about holding them accountable to their commitments to equitable practices on city-funded projects.
Chief sponsor Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez summed up why this matters: Public dollars should build “strong, equitable and protected communities for every woman and person of color in this city.” A hearing isn't a vote, but we're grateful for the chance to make our case.
We still need your support. Tell your alderperson you support the ordinance.
Read CWIT Board Chair Japlan Allen's case for the ordinance: Chicago Must Lead on Construction Workforce Equity
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TOP Graduate Amber Johnson |
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Growing up on Chicago's West Side, Amber Johnson knew what it meant to go without. Those early hardships stayed with her and made her determined to build a life where she could depend on herself. Before joining our Technical Opportunities Program (TOP), she worked in property management, recertifying tenants' leases and verifying income. She was working hard, but she wanted more for her future.
Getting to work was its own obstacle. Without a car, Amber relied on public transportation, but she knew a car would matter once she started an apprenticeship. So she made buying one a goal.
Through TOP, Amber gained skills, confidence and exposure to the construction trades. At a CWIT mock interview event, she earned a sponsorship from Black Rock that led to an apprenticeship with the Carpenters Union.
Today, Amber is happy with the direction her life is taking. She's working toward her first car and a stable career in the trades, and the goals that once felt far away are now within reach.
Learn more about our pre-apprenticeship programs |
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How a Welding Torch Became a Path to Engineering |
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After a layoff during the pandemic, Ashley Wilson came to our Women in Welding class in 2021 looking for stability. She found a trade she loved and a job at S&C Electric Company. Four years later, S&C created an engineering role for her, supporting several welding technologies, including laser, electron beam and robotic welding.
Ashley is finishing her associate degree with her employer's support, and her goal is to become a welding engineer. “Don't be afraid to try something new, and don't give up when challenges arise,” says Ashley.
Read Ashley's story |
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Turning a Training Center Into a School |
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When Dan Penski Jr. took over training at the Finishing Trades Institute of DC 14, he set out to run it like a school. This year, the institute earned full third-party accreditation, a rare distinction among training centers. Dan is also changing how apprentices get in, replacing a system that favored family connections with one that interviews and ranks every applicant on real criteria.
CWIT is one of only two workforce partners with a formal agreement with DC 14, and Dan says our graduates stand out. “CWIT’s students are extremely reliable, knowledgeable, and hardworking right out of the gate. About 90 percent of the women currently enrolled here came through CWIT,” says Dan.
Meet Dan Penski
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On December 4, CWIT's Equity Resource Center will host a half-day of resource sharing, peer learning, and tradeswomen engagement at our Know Your Obligations convening at Chicago Women in Trades.
This event is designed for small contractors and contractor associations to better understand federal, state and local laws against workplace harassment and discrimination and receive best practices from their peers on how to develop and implement harassment prevention and response policies and practices.
Hear from a dynamic group of tradeswomen about the challenges they’ve experienced on jobsites and the employer support that helped them successfully navigate these obstacles, discuss the roadblocks and explore the opportunities that exist for contractors as they work to create more respectful worksites, and gain a better understanding of federal, state, and local protections such as Title VII, the IL Human Rights Act, the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance, and the new Senate Bill 3465, now Public Act 104-0850.
This event will also feature practical intervention tools, including the RISE Up respectful worksites training program, CWIT’s Gold Standard Harassment Prevention Policy, and a toolkit you can use as an evergreen resource after the convening. To attend or receive more information about this event, register today. We look forward to seeing you! |
| Register for Know Your Obligations |
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Learn more about CWIT's Equity Resource Center |
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CWIT in the News |
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times |
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Construction sites will be required to be more
welcoming to women under a new Illinois law
When plumber and foreman Zahrah Hill returned to work three months after giving birth, her job site had no private place to express milk. She improvised until her superintendent began clearing out his office on her breaks and she brought in her own mini-fridge. Zahrah shared her experience with WBEZ for a Sept. 11 story on the new Illinois law that will require construction sites to provide restrooms, menstrual products and lactation accommodations for women.
"There are women on your job sites that are pregnant, will become pregnant and are mothers," she said. "We are not asking to show up to work for half the time and get the full pay. We're just asking for small accommodations to make it better for us."
Read the WBEZ story |
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Thank You to Our Funders |
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Our work is possible because of partners who invest in CWIT, and we're grateful to everyone who supports us throughout the year. Here are a few donors we'd like to recognize.
Bill Bartholomay Family Foundation provided general operating support, allowing us to strengthen core operations, including investments in our Women in Welding program and RISE Up for Equity Respectful Worksite program.
Constellation renewed its support for our training programs through its CORe Community Beneficiary Award, part of Constellation's clean energy agreement with the City of Chicago, and Constellation Energy Foundation also recently renewed training support in Chicago and Philadelphia through the Constellation Powering Change program.
Hunter Family Foundation increased its general operating support this year and has a special interest in our policy work.
Lloyd A. Fry Foundation awarded support for our Women in Welding program and policy advocacy activities.
Every donation helps us train, place and support more women in the trades. |
| Support Chicago Women in Trades |
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