Hire a professional consultant to assist in the development and roll out of the educational strategy. Network with minority and women associations to find qualified women and people of color as candidates for employment and contract opportunities. Some progressive organizations include Black Contractors Association, National Association of Women in Construction, Black and Hispanic chambers of commerce and state commissions for minority affairs. Make diversity a criteria in all business decisions. Track and monitor your challenges and successes.
Building projects involves a lot of money.
Because the investment is so high, people tend to want to work with people they can relate to and trust. There is a natural kinship bond between people of the same race, culture and gender. In other words, men tend to be more comfortable working with other men, particularly when it involves large sums of money. In the past, women that entered the construction field worked very hard at emulating the behavior, language and customs of men, even if the language was insensitive to women. Their primary focus was to fit into the crew.