On a quiet street in southeast Houston, U.S. Army veteran Francine Roberson lives in a modest 1960s rambler that she’s called home for the better part of 30 years. Roberson inherited the house from her mother in 1990, and over time—as with all homes of a certain age—it began to show signs of wear and tear.
Enter Rebuilding Together Houston, which, as the largest and oldest affiliate of the national Rebuilding Together network, has provided hundreds of families, low-income elderly individuals, homeowners with disabilities and U.S. military veterans with much-needed home repairs on an annual basis. During this year’s national Women in Construction Week from March 6-12, the organization partnered with Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Houston’s LOGIC (Ladies Operating for Growth in Construction) committee on a day of community service dedicated to making repairs on Roberson’s home.
A LOGIC-al Partnership
Created just three years ago, ABC Greater Houston’s LOGIC committee aims to assist women who are presently in the construction industry through continuing education, community outreach and networking programs, and to provide a channel for women to enter the construction workforce. Each year, the committee’s more than 140 members have the opportunity to participate in two community service events. When the opportunity presented itself to partner with Rebuilding Together Houston on a female veteran’s home repairs, the “yes” was a no-brainer.
“Knowing that Rebuilding Together Houston was celebrating its 40th anniversary with an ambitious project schedule this year, we were interested in helping them out,” says Noraliz Casanova, logistics manager for Karsten Interiors and co-chair of the LOGIC committee. “When we learned of Francine’s story, we knew it was the perfect fit for our committee. What better way to celebrate Women in Construction Week than with a group of women in the construction industry volunteering time to repair a female veteran’s home?”
On the morning of Saturday, March 12—a rodeo day in Houston, where the sport reigns supreme and generally commands the attention of the city—a group of nearly 40 women, representing 15 construction companies and ranging from seasoned construction professionals to entry-level workers, met up at Roberson’s home. Although their day-to-day roles differ—some office managers and accountants, some superintendents and project engineers—the group worked together to complete repairs that included renovations to siding, caulking and replacing windows.
“It was really incredible to see this group of women come together and just learn from one another,” Casanova says. “Some of us had never picked up a power tool, and those who had that hands-on construction experience stepped in and showed us the ropes.”
Domino Effect
If the LOGIC committee’s mission boils down to one thing, it’s to empower women—a mission they work toward each and every day through a mix of networking events, leadership development opportunities and charitable outreach.
“I think that women’s success is just contagious. As a woman, you see other go-getter women and you start thinking, ‘Why am I not doing this thing?’” Casanova says. “If I could pass along one piece of advice to the incoming women in this industry, it’s to encourage yourself and those around you to just get involved. Coming off the high of a successful Women in Construction Week like we have here [in Houston], you know there are going to be people who are excited to do it again—and that momentum is like a domino. If you can inject that sense of purpose and drive into just one other person, then little by little, you can start something really big.”
