Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/16/2019
10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location
USC’s Galen Center

Categories


 

Construction workers with Councilman Curren Price at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art construction site. Photo by Dedee Verdin

Next construction job fair is Sept. 16—open to the public

LA City Councilmember Curren Price of Council District 9 today announced that 76 percent of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s construction workers live in L.A. County, more than double the project’s local hire goals. Since breaking ground on the museum’s 11-acre campus in Exposition Park in March 2018, the privately-funded project has employed 1,477 construction workers throughout various phases of construction. In addition to hiring local workers, the Lucas Museum has shown commitment to increasing the pipeline of small businesses and businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans for consideration at various levels of construction and professional services.

To reach these ambitious goals, the museum and contractor Hathaway Dinwiddie have hosted and participated in community construction outreach events in partnership with Councilmember Price’s Office. Interested workers and businesses are invited to attend the next construction job fair on Monday, Sept. 16, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at USC’s Galen Center.

“I applaud the Lucas Museum’s investment in our community and their creation of opportunities for local workers and businesses to be part of this project,” said Councilman Price, whose Ninth District includes the Lucas Museum. “My Office works to make sure new projects in Council District 9 include meaningful investments in the community, including local hiring. Not only do these major projects provide job growth, but they have a tremendous economic development impact within the District. This project is a model not just for Los Angeles, but for the country.”

“We are committed to ensuring construction opportunities are accessible to qualified businesses that have historically been underrepresented in the construction field—from women to minorities and veterans,” said Germonique Ulmer, managing director of external affairs at the Lucas Museum. “Consistent with the values of the museum and our founders, the Lucas Museum seeks to inspire positive change in how institutions engage and partner in communities starting with construction and throughout the establishment of the museum.”

“This is an excellent beginning to what will be one of the most significant projects in L.A. history,” said Ron Miller, executive secretary at the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council.

Outreach Efforts to Date

The Lucas Museum, Hathaway Dinwiddie, and Councilmember Price’s Office have engaged in robust community outreach efforts to expand the pool of local and diverse candidates and businesses. The project has participated in numerous community events and has hosted four outreach events which were attended by local businesses and more than 1,000 job-seekers, many of whom were new to construction or not yet part of a union. The project has partnered on recruitment efforts with community partners including Slate Z, L.A. Trade-Tech, the City of L.A., local unions, and other workforce development nonprofits.

“We attended the Lucas Museum’s outreach event last year,” said Jennifer Wiltz, president of SMS Transportation Services, a South L.A. transportation subcontractor. “It’s incredible to be working on this major project in our backyard. We’ve had eight staff working for the museum construction site for more than 6,000 hours over the past year and a half and can’t wait to bring our team and their families to the museum when it opens.”

Councilman Curren Price (left) shakes hands with community worker. (Courtesy Photo)

Sept. 16 Construction Job Fair

On Sept. 16 from 10 – 11:30 a.m., Councilmember Curren Price along with the Lucas Museum and Hathaway Dinwiddie will host their next public job fair at USC’s Galen Center (3400 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90089). In addition to booths from the project’s general contractor and subcontractors, the event will feature a presentation by museum staff and a presentation by union representatives on how to access union jobs. Job-seekers will have the opportunity after the presentations to talk with museum staff, representatives from Hathaway Dinwiddie, and subcontractors. This event is free and open to all those interested in a career in construction. For additional information and to RSVP, click here: https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/lucas-museum-of-narrative-art-local-worker-hire-meeting-2-tickets-64988927632


Tags: Exposition Park, Germonique Ulmer, Hathaway Dinwiddie, Jennifer Wiltz, Job Fair, L.A. Trade-Tech, LA City Councilmember Curren Price, local unions, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Ron Miller, Slate Z, South L.A., the City of L.A.