National Association of Women in Construction
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) began as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, founded on September 11, 1953 by Doris Efird and 15 other women who were looking for a support system. These women were all actively employed in the construction industry and had been doing business with each other for years when they decided to finally meet face to face. This progressive group of women had the foresight to create an atmosphere where they could network and support each other professionally as well as personally. When describing this group of women, Alice Ashley said, "We were women with electricity in our veins, cement dust on our shoes, sawdust on our minds … busy, busy, busy, filthy things."
In the first year of its existence, Women in Construction raised over $2,700 to donate to the Foundation for Visually Handicapped Children. They wanted to branch out beyond Fort Worth in search of other women to join the organization, but they discovered the charter was not adequate and did not have the powers to organize other chapters. Women in Construction of Fort Worth amended their charter to incorporate other chapters in Texas and throughout the nation. In doing so, on May 17, 1955, they became The National Association of Women in Construction.
Since its founding, NAWIC, an international non-profit organization, has grown to a membership of 5,500 women with more than 179 chapters. In its 57 years of service to its members, NAWIC has advanced the causes of all women in construction whose careers range from business ownership to the skilled trades. With almost 900,000 women working in construction today, the industry is becoming more accepting of their non-traditional roles. To learn more about the history of NAWIC, click here.
Philadelphia, PA Chapter 145
Philadelphia, PA Chapter 145 of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) was chartered on July 15, 1967 by twenty-eight women who sought to enhance their knowledge of the construction industry. These women were employed in various aspects of the industry. Their immediate goals were education and networking. When they learned about NAWIC, they decided it was just what they were looking for. Since those early days, we continue to seek these same goals.
