Congratulations on a job well done to eight union carpenters who pitched in a lot of time and effort to help the Rebuilding Together Boston Program on their National Rebuilding Day. The women members, who participated through the Sisters in the Brotherhood program, worked on three sites in the city, adding experienced, skilled hands to the effort.

Rebuilding Together Boston works on an annual basis to repair and renovate the homes of economically disadvantaged homeowners (including the elderly, veterans, families with children, single parent households, the physically challenged and others in need) as well as non-profit-owned facilities (community centers, schools, worship centers, etc.) in the City of Boston. RTB provides its services at no cost to recipients due to the generous support of foundations, corporations, individuals and vendors.

This year's projects on National Rebuilding Day included: six homes in Mattapan, Dorchester and Roxbury; Pine Street Inn Veterans’ housing, a residence for formerly homeless women, and the Nazareth Residence for Mothers and Children.

Members involved in the effort included: Joan Bennett, Local 33; Theresa Haymon, Local 33; Maureen Owen-Ewings, Local 67; Marcia Williams-White, Local 33; Karen Blandino, Local 67; Judy Sullivan, Local 67; Mikey Myles, Local 67 and Liz Skidmore, Local 118.

Ayanna Pressley, an At Large candidate for the Boston City Council stopped by NERCC headquarters to drop in on a meeting of the Carpenters Women's Committee meeting last night.

Pressley has been endorsed by NERCC and Boston Local affiliates.



For more on Pressley's campaign, visit her website.

Please watch this trailer for the short documentary, "Women in the Trades", coming May 16th, 2009! In the film, eighteen Connecticut women share their stories about entering the trades during the late 1970s/early 1980s.


The documentary will be featured at an event in Connecticut called "Thirty Years and Still Building: Connecticut's Groundbreaking Women Celebrate Their lives in the Trades." It is being organized by the Connecticut State Building Trades and the Permanent Commission of the Status of Women. The event will recognize the first generation of women to work full careers in the building trades and who have retired or are about to retire.

These women came into the trades at a time when their participation challenged industry norms and required major adjustments on the part of most participants.

Among the honorees will be carpenters electricians, laborers, pipefitters, teamsters, and a number of other trades. The event is being held Saturday, May 16 at Zandri's Stillwood Inn in Wallingford, CT. Tickets are $35 each and include full dinner. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Sylvia Michetti of Carpenters Local 24 at 860-442-6655.

Check back here after the event for a look at the full documentary.