MOWIT strikes deal with Construction Forum STL

Agreement includes new MOWIT office location

By SHERI GASSAWAY
Correspondent

Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women enter and succeed in careers in the building trades, has signed a one-year agreement with the Construction Forum that includes office space and support services.

Beth Barton, MOWIT president, said the goal of the 2019 Inaugural Tradeswomen Awards Gala was to raise enough money to hire a part-time staff member for the organization.

MOWIT achieved that goal by raising about $20,000. Afterward, its board began the process of determining how to go about hiring an individual to help, and then the coronavirus pandemic struck.

“That really slowed us down,” Barton said. “And at the same time, we learned the building we were in went up for sale, and it sold fast. It left us needing both a home and a staff member.”

NEW HOME
MOWIT was formerly located in the Workers Education Society (WES) Building at 2929 S. Jefferson Ave. in St. Louis. Its new office is located in the same building as the Construction Forum – the NECA Building at 3245 Hampton Ave. in St. Louis.

The Construction Forum is a non-profit organization with a goal of facilitating the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the St. Louis Region’s built environment in creating social equity, robust employment and economic growth.

SUPPORT SERVICES
In addition to providing office space, the Construction Forum will provide MOWIT with lead tracking and progress, board development, grant writing and administrative activities.

“We’re very excited to be partnering with the Forum, as we believe that our two organizations share in the power of collaborative strategy and focused mission,” Barton said. “This will enable us to get to the next level and to grow and to thrive.”

ABOUT MOWIT
Founded in 2008, MOWIT is a non-profit organization that provides tradeswomen with support group meetings, job information and referrals. Support group meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, call (636) 926-6948 or visit mowit.org.