BLING (Black Leaders in Green)
WHAT IS BLING?
BLING is a project for high-road construction careers for the black community that seeks to develop leadership and increase retention among young, black construction workers through cutting-edge popular education, ongoing mentorship, and advocacy. Young workers will deepen their understanding of a) how the economy works through a black lens; b) black workers’ experience in the building and construction trades in Los Angeles; and c) opportunities for building new black leadership in the building and construction trades, particularly in the green economy.
WHY NOW?
Unemployment is higher in the black community than in any other ethnic/racial group in Los Angeles. Poverty and incarceration figures are equally disproportionate. Construction careers are an important avenue to correct this imbalance, because they are good, union jobs that provide for supporting a family. However, there has been a long history of discrimination against African Americans in the construction trades. Young workers of color need tremendous support to survive the difficult environment of the construction industry. BLING will establish a vibrant social network among black construction workers in Los Angeles that can organize a base of activism focused on job creation, greater access to careers, and retention for workers of color in the unionized construction industry.
WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?
BLING will target youth ages 16–25 who are training in pre-apprenticeship programs for green construction careers. The BLING mentorship roundtable will consist of black construction trade leaders (members and staff) from major craft unions, including IBEW Local 11, LIUNA, Sheetmetal Workers Local 105, UA Local 250, and the Painters and Allied Trades.
HOW CAN WE MAKE IT HAPPEN?
The LA Black Worker Center is committed to:
- Partnering with black building and construction trades leaders to develop popular education curricula, mentor young workers, and support their retention through apprenticeship.
- Organizing power within the black community to advocate for equity in green construction careers and high-road, unionized job creation.
Building strategic alliances among contractors, construction workers, community, and university to develop policy outcomes that increase minority contractors’ access to work, and strengthens the workforce pipeline in the Black community.