Purpose of the Building Bridges Project
The three purposes of the Building Bridges Project are:
- To broaden access for women and minorities into the unionized building and construction trades;
- To increase awareness of the benefits of union jobs in minority communities;
- And to support the use of union construction in minority communities.
The Building Bridges Project is a part of the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker issues, and has been operating in Chicago since 2000. Up until now, The Building Bridges Project training included 3 hour sessions, one night per week, for 14 weeks, located in churches though out the Chicago land area. Starting January 2008, new classes will be offered that are funded by the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). These classes will be offered through a partnership between the Chicago Interfaith Committee on worker issues, the University of Illinois and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.