Lean In Circles for Union Tradeswomen
Connecting and empowering women in the trades
Join Lean In’s virtual mentorship program & break new ground in the trades!
About the program
Lean In Circles are at the heart of our global community of women who come together to support each other. Now, Lean In Circles for Union Tradeswomen brings tradeswomen together in small groups online to connect, share advice, and build community. Created in partnership with North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), AFL-CIO, and Build Together, this program helps you gain practical skills for navigating bias at work and advocating for yourself and other women in the trades. Watch the video to hear directly from tradeswomen who’ve participated in Circles.
How Circles work
Virtual Support
network
We match you with a group of 8-10 tradeswomen across experience levels, trades, and locations. Enjoy a tight-knit support group, while getting connected to tradeswomen in the entire Circles network across North America.
Monthly video
meetings
Circles meet once a month for 90 minutes for guided discussion, camaraderie, and action. Each meeting covers a specific topic, such as how to respond when your abilities are questioned. At the end of each meeting, tradeswomen commit to one action they plan to take to advance their career or make their jobsite more equal.
Custom
Materials
Each meeting features content and tools created for tradeswomen, by tradeswomen. Use discussion guides and free learning material to help guide meetings and learn new skills together.
“It's important that tradeswomen have a space to talk about their experiences and to help each other. I wanted to be a part of this program so that women all over can have this support system in place with researched advice and solutions that are specific to our unique careers.”
Join a Circle
Whether you're an apprentice or a journeyman, your Circle is a safe space to connect with other tradeswomen, mentor and support each other, and build skills and confidence to overcome challenges you’re facing on your jobsite.
Want to take a leadership role in this program? Every Circle has a leader who organizes the group and guides discussions. We provide moderator training and give you everything you need to run a successful Circle, helping you hone your leadership and organizing skills in the process. If you’re interested, select the Circle Leader box in the sign-up form.
About the Partnership
Lean In Circles for Union Tradeswomen is a joint initiative from LeanIn.Org, North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), AFL-CIO (The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations), and Build Together, a workforce development program from Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU).
NABTU is a labor federation of 14 national and international union affiliates and is dedicated to the stability of employment and economic security of organized construction workers in North America.
AFL-CIO is democratic, voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working men and women.
Build Together is a workforce development program focused on the recruitment and retention of workers from underrepresented portions of the population. It is a program from Canada's Building Trades Union (CBTU).
FAQs
Will my Circle have women just from my trade or include women from other trades?
When and where will my Circle meet?
What happens if not everyone can make the meeting?
What should I do if I have a question?
Can I join if I’m not currently working?
How were these materials developed?
Do I need a computer to join this program?
What should we do if someone in our Circle shares something that is dangerous or illegal?