What You Gain When You Join Women Build

Guest blog by Dawn Puroway, 
Twin Cities Habitat volunteer and Women Build Committee Member 

This year marks the 10th year that I have gathered my friends and family together for a day of working on the Women Build house.  Every year, the team of women with varying levels of construction experience starts their Women Build day with the site supervisor introducing the day’s work.  Every year, many women learn a completely new skill, from installing sheet rock to using various saws to laying laminate flooring.  After instructions from the site supervisor, AmeriCorps member, or crew leader, the women begin working on their task and dive into a new experience - starting slowly, asking questions, making mistakes, asking more questions, and making progress. 

Every year, I see my friends and family gain confidence in their new skill.  Every year, by late morning, I watch as the women talk with their teammates to solve problems and make important decisions.  They still go to the site supervisor with questions, but usually after they have discussed among themselves how to solve the problem.

Every year, by the end of the day, many of my team members wish they were able to return the next day and continue the work - with the confidence and experience gained that day.