NEW HAVEN RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL MODEL CONSTRUCTION HIRING CITY

(5/6/2007) City’s Equal Opportunity Enforcement Practices Applauded

NEW HAVEN- Nichole Jefferson, Executive Director of the City’s Commission on Equal Opportunity, was invited to speak at the “Women re: Build NY” conference on April 24th to discuss New Haven’s success regarding the implementation of fair hiring practices and its enforcement of equal opportunity employment. .

New Haven was among three distinguished sites selected to guide conference participants through their methods for achieving exemplary and fair hiring practices in the construction industry. The other two sites highlighted at the conference were the City of Chicago and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.

Of the 1,061 jobs created for minorities through the school-construction program and Q. Terrace housing construction in 2006, 191 were filled by women. “This number exceeds what most others cities see. This isn’t by chance. These numbers are a result of our continuous efforts to train, attract and nurture individuals of diverse backgrounds so that we reflect our city’s diversity in its workforce,” said Jefferson. “I’m thrilled that we are leading the way for other cities and that we can help them learn how to implement fair equal opportunity policies.”

The Commission on Equal Opportunities provides workshops, career development schools and multiple programs to train individuals interested in pursuing employment in the construction industry with skills necessary to be successful. The Commission’s mission is to enforce fair housing, fair employment laws, contract compliance regulations, Career Development School, resident training and Construction Workforce Initiative 2 employment opportunities through each of its five divisions.

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Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga

Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net

Contact Phone: 203.946.7660