Forum - July 2008

2000 and 2003 respectively. The city of Chicago now has a new scaled-down set-aside program addressing many of the legal questions.

However, the outcome did nothing to help the recruitment of minority workers, recalls Leitschuh. Some in the community were not pleased with the outcome, the press was bad and emotions were running high. Despite getting the ruling they were seeking, Leitschuh says the construction industry realized there was now collateral damage from the legal challenge that needed to be addressed. “We immediately sat down and started to ask, ‘What are we going to do about it?’” Leitschuh says.

BUILDING A BRIDGE

Starting out, the association attempted general education campaigns for minorities on the benefits of a construction career. But it ultimately decided that was too much of a “tiny message in big media,” according to Leitschuh, and difficult to generate or measure results. Looking for other ideas, Leitschuh reached out to Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, and secured his support.

He then reached out to other minority leaders in the community, many of whom suggested an official program to help people get started in a construction career. One of them, Eddie Read of United Services of Chicago, Inc., suggested collaborating with the CCC, which had a construction tech program at Dawson Technical Institute — part of Kennedy-King College. Read knew Wayne Watson, Ph.D., CCC chancellor, and the three of them started brainstorming a potential program to train and place minorities in the industry.

At that point, Leitschuh realized he needed to bring in the contractors since they were the ones who were going to make any program happen. Five members — top executives at some of the biggest hirers — were invited to be on an Industry Task Force to explore the program. That task force then sat down with many of the early players, including Leitschuh, Watson, Read, the Rev. Anthony Haynes, director of the Building Bridges Project, and Carl Lattimer, president of the Coalition for United Community Action — ORTC Inc.

Their initial meeting was a turning point. Because of the lawsuits and resulting animosity, “There was a lot of undercurrent, a lot of feeling out and trying to judge the sincerity of those across the table,” Leitschuh says. “Everybody was on their best behavior, but I think everyone was wondering if we all could ever get on the same page.”

That apprehension lasted only that one meeting, he says, and the end result was positive. “In hindsight, it was relatively easy [to agree on a partnership]; it wasn’t like we were sitting there re-hashing old concerns and issues. Everybody committed to a program and realized we all had a common goal.”

BUILDERS ASSOCIATION MISSION

“To be the leading prime contractor-led organization assisting members with improved profitability and productivity.” The Builders Association offers contractors access to resources that can help them solve problems and make better decisions about labor, safety, education/training, government relations, communications and more.

Harry McGraw of Dawson Technical Institute gives some final pointers to students as they head out to be interviewed during an Interview Day.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF CCOP

It was only eight months from that initial meeting until they were holding a news conference, complete with Jones and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. In November 2005, Daley — flanked by representatives of Chicago’s construction industry, minority communities and local government — announced the ground breaking partnership between the Builders Association, City Colleges, and the community organizations led by Read, Haynes and Lattimer.

The groups would collaborate on an expanded construction tech program at Dawson Tech — CCOP, which would be a pre-apprentice training program preparing largely minority students to enter the construction field. Courses would offer training in five specific trades: bricklaying, carpentry, concrete masonry, welding and plumbing/fire protection. They also would include some applicable math training, basic job skills and the ins and outs of what it’s like to get into — and work in — the construction industry.

Certificates would be awarded upon completion of a one-semester course focusing on a specific trade. The more aggressive students would complete courses in multiple trades, and could elect to take math or other courses to enhance their marketability. College credit would be awarded for those seeking a higher degree.

In addition, the Builders Association would organize several Interview Days at Dawson Tech, bringing its contractor members to campus to interview students for jobs. Members agreed to hire up to 50 candidates per year collectively, often sponsoring them into a union.