HOLIDAY ISSUE 2021
WINTER SKIN PRODUCTS
FIRED UP Rachel I.
MENTAL HEALTH AND THE HOLIDAYS
THE STATE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING: An Interview with Ald. Walter Burnett
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t c e n n o c d n a d n y a t r i b c r e u h o t r e v o l l Build y a s e i t i n u m m o c h wit
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Editorial Note As I write this final editorial for 2021, I am reminded of an excerpt I read by Thomas Moore. “When we decide not to move through life, when we know our instincts are telling us to move, we are betraying our soul. Our individuality comes from our soul and not from our head.” We must allow life to live through us, and as we wrap up 2021 and look to 2022, let’s commit to living a more authentic life, even if it means moving outside of our comfort zone. I stepped out of my comfort zone when my team convinced me to do the cover shoot. Initially, the creative in me loved the idea. But as we got closer to the date, my mind became overwhelmed with an ocean of ideas, without enough time to execute. Not only did I have to appear in front of the camera, but I also had to write a cover story. Needless to say, we got it done. Speaking of getting it done, this issue’s B/ACE Boss is doing big things as the new Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at ALL Construction. She is no stranger to the construction industry, and we are excited to share her story with our readers. If you don’t already know her, she is definitely someone you need to know. You also don’t want to miss our article on mental health. Life can be hard. But when you add the stress of the holidays, it can seem unbearable. Our article, Mental Health and the Holidays, shares one tradeswoman’s story and tips on how to get through the season.
We hope to inspire you to let go of your fears of failure and live your best life! Find comfort in the fact that we are right here rooting for you and are excited about moving into 2022 with you.
Our hope here at B/ACE is that you will be encouraged, engaged, and enlightened with each issue we produce. We hope to inspire you to let go of your fears of failure and live your best life! Find comfort in the fact that we are right here rooting for you and are excited about moving into 2022 with you. So, on behalf of B/ACE Magazine, we are wishing you and your family the happiest of holidays!
Rachel Ivy Editor-In-Chief
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COVER STORY
Contents Editor’s Picks
08
Know Your Neighborhood - Chinatown
10
Elle’s Last Tango
12
The State of Affordable Housing
14
Winter Skin Product Picks
18
Project on the Horizon
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Cover Story - Rachel Ivy
22
“I wonder how much of what weighs me down is not mine to carry.” - Aditi
Nothing gets me more fired up to write than reading a quote that sets my soul on fire! I think I have a touch of attention deficit disorder. One doctor suggested I am just high-functioning. This could be why I love reading quotes and aphorisms - concise, terse, iconic, or memorable expressions of a general truth or principle. Typically passed from generation to generation, these sentences
Completed Project
28
are small but mighty. And they can impact how we feel, think, and
Mental Health and the Holidays
30
B/ACE Boss
32
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approach life.
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14
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10
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EDITOR’S
PICKS UGG SCUFF LOGO I love these slippers for men! All you need is a silk robe and a glass of Scotch.
MAMMOTH NATURAL PECAN HALVES Pecans have recently become my go-to snack. And when I think back, they have always reminded me of the holidays. My grandparents would always put a couple of whole pecans and walnuts in our little Christmas bags. There were a ton of grandkids, so our gift from them was always a huge apple, orange, and a sprinkle of nuts in a brown paper bag. Pete’s Raw pecans are my favorite, but I also like Louisiana’s version of fried pecans.
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CRICUT® MAKER This is the perfect gift for crafters, DIYers, entrepreneurs, and artists in general.
GODDESS GREENS I have recently started making smoothies for a meal replacement, and I love, love these microgreens by Goddess Greens! Not only are they good for you, but they are also a local brand by a cutie garden
F**KING BRILLIANT JOURNAL I can never have too many journals and cool writing utensils. And this combo is definitely on my holiday wish list! Who knew journals could be so ratchet?
F**KING BRILLIANT PENCILS
enthusiast. goddessgreensllc.com
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KNOW YOUR NEIGBORHOOD
Chinatown Chicago Easily accessible by the CTA’s Red line, Chicago’s Chinatown is the second-largest in the United States. Although it’s technically part of the South Loop, a trip to the neighborhood can make you feel like you’re a world away. Instagram-worthy street art, delicious food, and beautiful architecture make Chinatown a cool combination of old and new.
If you’re planning a visit, here are a few can’t-miss stops: 10 BACEMAGAZINE.COM
Nine Dragon Wall 158 W. Cermak Rd. When you get off the Red Line, be sure to take a picture at the Nine Dragon Wall, inspired by the wall in Bejing’s Beihai Park. The wall is made of glazed Chinese tile. Nine large dragons represent longevity in Chinese culture, while the smaller dragons painted around the wall in red, gold, and blue represent good fortune. Ping Tom Memorial Park 1700 S. Wentworth Located along the banks of the Chicago River, Ping Tom Memorial Park was once a railyard. Today, the nearly 20-acre space has a beautiful green space, playground, gymnasium, and pool. Sit on the patio and enjoy a view of the city’s skyline, or visit the boathouse, where you can rent a kayak in the summer months. And don’t leave without visiting the murals near the 18th Street bridge.
You can’t visit Chinatown without sampling some of the delicious food from the restaurants in the area. Here are a few of our favorites: Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings 2002 S. Wentworth Qing Xiang Yuan is known for its delicious handmade dumplings. Choose from beef, pork, seafood, or vegan fillings, or try something from their seasonal menu. And you can wash it all down with a variety of herbal teas. MingHin 2168 S. Archer MingHin has several locations in the Chicagoland area, but the Chinatown location has a menu full of traditional Cantonese dishes. Not sure what to order? Look online ahead of time at the mouth-watering pictures of each dish.
Dolo Restaurant & Bar 2222 S. Archer If you’re planning a night out, check out Dolo’s tasty offering of gourmet dim sum and live seafood. Enjoy your food at a table or watch the game at the fully-stocked bar. Hello Jasmine 2026 S. Clark For a quick bite, head to Hello Jasmine for traditional Taiwanese food and drinks. Choose from a variety of milk teas, fruit teas, and smoothies while you snack on something from the street food menu. Fried sweet corn? Yes, please!
Chinatown Square 2133 S. China Pl. Explore the shops and restaurants that fill this two-story outdoor mall. And when you’re done, enjoy the artwork all around, including statues of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac and the Chinese-in-America mural made of thousands of pieces of hand-painted Chinese glass. Chinese-American Museum of Chicago 238 W. 23rd Street No trip to Chinatown is complete without a visit to the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago. This beautifully curated display of Chinese-American culture first opened to the public in 2005 and reopened in 2010 after a fire. There are two floors of exhibits, including historic furniture, jewelry, paintings, and a collection of stories of Chinese immigration to the Midwest.
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ELLE’S LAST TANGO Elle has been looking for love for a while now, but fans of her column know she’s experienced her fair share of ups and downs. As 2021 comes to a close, she wonders if it is all worth it. Is this really her last tango, or will she give love another try? Dating in 2021 has been particularly discouraging. The way some men behave is mind-blowing. I had a guy video call me while he was in the shower and made a habit of making video calls while watching tv. I guess that was his way of spending quality time while social distancing?
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I could not believe that a man I had the biggest crush on was actually taking me out after all this time.
Why does everyone want to know how long it’s been since I’ve been intimate with someone? Just asking that question lets me know that it won’t be with you. I’ve had men get upset with me for not inviting them over to dinner when I cook, even though we hadn’t even met face to face yet. I learned many years ago that if you feed a man too soon, you will never get rid of him.
But believe it or not, that’s not even the wildest thing that has happened to me out here. My grammar school crush found me on Facebook. I had not seen or thought about him since 1993. While we were catching up, he asked if I was involved. I told him, no, and we made plans to go to dinner the next night. I could not believe that a man I had the biggest crush on was actually taking me out after all of this time. Your girl felt like she was winning. On the day of the date, he called to confirm the meeting and the address. I should have seen the red flag when he suggested meeting me at a tire shop. But he said it would only take about 30 minutes and that we could leave from there. We went to the liquor store while we waited. I don’t know why these dudes try to drink with me. They always fall before me. We were catching up and laughing, and he was saying all the right things. It was like he was in the room when I talked to God about what I wanted in a man. Did he have a copy of my journal? Well, he got drunk after two cups, and we never made it to dinner. He called the next morning to
apologize for the night before and ask if he could make it up to me later that day. He had to go to a dinner, and he wanted me to be his date. We planned to meet at his home at 6 pm and go from there. He knew I was on my way, but he wasn’t dressed when I pulled up. He told me he needed to run and check on his grandmother in the city and would come back and get dressed. Again, I did not see a reason not to believe him. Why did he go to the Leaf wack spot on Cicero and Gladys? Your girl was too done. This dude acted like I didn’t know where we were and that I didn’t see that leaf blunt he was trying to hide when he got back in the car. When we got back to the car, he asked me to follow him to his house. 30 minutes later, he called to ask where I was. Needless to say, I won’t be going anywhere with him again.
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THE STATE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The State of Affordable Housing:
HOW THE CITY IS WORKING TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL Access to quality affordable housing is a growing problem in cities across the country, and Chicago is no exception. According to a study by DePaul’s Institute of Housing Studies, Chicago recently lost 5.2 percent of its affordable rental units, with North Side neighborhoods losing more affordable housing than anywhere else in the city.
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The city is doing its part to support working families, with programs like the Chicago Community Land Trust (CCLT), which provides education and access to mortgage lenders and attorneys to assist them in the process of purchasing affordable housing. Additionally, the Affordable Requirements Ordinance was recently updated to increase the percentage of required affordable housing units in new developments from 10 to 20 percent. As part of our three-part series to explore the state of affordable housing in Chicago, we spoke with 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. about the
city’s efforts to make affordable housing available to more Chicago families. Do you think affordable housing in its current state is really affordable for the people who need it most? The people who actually need it most are low-income people who get taken care of with CHA. But janitors and police officers also need affordable housing because housing costs are rising. We need it everywhere, and we’re pushing to give developers the option to build affordable housing for low-income and working-class people inside their properties.
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Is the city doing any outreach to let people know that affordable housing is available? The ARO (Affordable Housing Requirement Ordinance) requires developers to build 20 percent affordable housing. And when those developers are marketing their housing, whether it’s rental or condos, they have to market the affordable part too. We also advertise available units through some of our delegate agencies, such as Neighborhood Housing Services. Do you think the answer is just building new affordable housing units, or should some resources be used to improve existing structures? We have a program that allows people to put money into a pot that helps sustain existing affordable housing. We also have programs to build new affordable housing. We don’t have enough units, so we need to continue to do both because price points on everything go up all of the time.
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Is affordable housing enough? Are the developers doing anything to improve schools, business, transportation, and other resources in the surrounding communities? It’s not enough. We need to take a holistic approach. And most of the time, when we’re encouraging developers to build affordable housing, it appears that a lot of those things are following. Once you start getting the diversity and density of incomes,
all of the other amenities will follow. The schools get better, and there will be more access to stores, restaurants, and jobs. Gentrification can be a bad thing, but it’s also a good thing. It brings a higher level of everything to everyone. So if you could mix the incomes in those gentrified areas, everyone would benefit from the improvements. Having all low-income and affordable housing in one area doesn’t help the situation. Everyone is looking for income diversity before they move. Sources: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/ depts/doh/provdrs/renters/svcs/ ami_chart.html h t t p s : // b l o c k c l u b c h i c a g o . o r g / 2 0 2 1 / 1 0 / 0 1 / a f fo rd a b l e housing-is-rapidly-disappearingin-north-side-neighborhoods-newstudy-shows/
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B/ACE’S WINTER SKIN
PRODUCT
PICKS
As the temperatures drop, the air gets dry, leaving our skin screaming for thick creams and lotions to help it maintain moisture. If you’re looking for ways to keep your skin smooth this winter, check out some of our favorite products for the face, hands, and body. The elements are no match for our winter skin picks.
Jo Malone London Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub This is my once-a-month go-to for greatlooking skin all year long. Gently massage the scrub into your skin along with your favorite body wash, and then rinse. Then let the sugar and Vitamin E scrub away the dead skin cells.
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Burt’s Bees Conditioning Lip Scrub Your lips don’t have oil glands like the rest of your skin, making them more likely to become dry and damaged during the winter months. This conditioning lip scrub provides much-needed relief to dry, chapped
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
lips. Honey crystals help
Moisturizers are a big part of
scrub away dead skin
my winter skin routine, and
cells, while beeswax adds
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is
moisture.
the OG of moisturizers. After a shower, it’s my go-to for keeping my skin hydrated all day long.
Buttah Luxe Lip Balm
CeraVe is fragrance-free and
When it comes to protecting my lips
safe for sensitive skin.
from the cold, dry air, there’s nothing better than Buttah. Their Luxe Lip Balm is made with African shea butter, cocoa butter, and mango butter, which smells and feels great on my lips.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream I wash my hands a lot, which
Vaseline Illuminate Me
leaves them especially dry in
Whipped Body Butter
the winter months. That’s why
Glycerin, shea butter, and
I keep a tube of Neutrogena’s
vaseline jelly are the key
Norwegian Formula Hand
ingredients in this lush
Cream in my bag at all times.
whipped body butter made
Just a little goes a long way in
with Black women in mind. Just
making my hands feel smooth
a little keeps your skin soft all
when they need a little TLC.
day long. And the light shimmer and fragrance are like the heavenly icing on the cake.
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PROJECT ON THE HORIZON PLUMBERS LOCAL 130 UA PARKING GARAGE The Plumbers Local 130 UA Parking Garage project consists of a 272,000 square foot, seven-story parking structure that will house 502 parking stalls and ground floor retail along Randolph Street. The structure will be cast in place concrete with precast concrete and metal panels on the exterior. The project will break ground in late May of 2021, with a completion date of April 2022.
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FIRED COVER STORY
N
UP
othing gets me more fired up to write than reading a quote that sets my soul on fire! I think I have a touch of attention deficit disorder. One doctor suggested I am just high-functioning. This could be why I love reading quotes and aphorisms - concise, terse, iconic, or memorable expressions of a general truth or principle. Typically passed from generation to generation, these sentences are small but mighty. And they can impact how we feel, think, and approach life. When I sat down to write this issue’s cover story, it seemed only appropriate to incorporate some of my favorite aphorisms. These little affirmations inspire my good days and help give me the strength to pull
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through my bad days. And as you prepare for the coming new year, I hope they inspire and resonate with you as well!
Rachel Ivy 23 BACEMAGAZINE.COM
SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE YOU. DON’T FOCUS ON THOSE WHO DON’T - HODA KOTB
focus on the two negative comments you hear and forget the 200 positive ones. When I first started Communities Empowered Through Construction, so many people were waiting to see me fail. In my opinion,
“I wonder how much of what
this was happening to me, this
they were itching for a good cussing
weighs me down is not mine to
quote grounded me and helped
out. I can remember someone saying
carry.” - Aditi
me let it go.
that an organization would never work with me (by the way, that has
Reading this reminds me of a
I encourage you to let go of
since changed!). I can recall being in
story by Caroline Myss in which
whatever is keeping you heavy
conference rooms with people who
she counsels people who are in
and burdened down. Let go of
were coming for my neck! I walked
despair and grieving. “I would tell
that which doesn’t belong to
out of those meetings exhausted
them you had your life focused on
you. Let go of that grief, hurt,
but knowing that my little ones were
something that didn’t belong to
and the idea that somebody
waiting for me to pick them up from
you and a path that didn’t belong
else’s journey belongs to you.
school and help shift my focus.
to you,” she writes. I first read
Trust me, you’ll feel so much
this when I was having what I now
better.
realize may have been a series
a lesson. Don’t make it a life
of anxiety attacks. I was very
“So many people love you.
overwhelmed, full of tears, and it
Don’t focus on those who
took every ounce of my being to
don’t.” - Hoda Kotb
hold it together. I realized I had no control. And while I wondered why
“Let the past go. It was just sentence.” Communities Empowered Through Construction works with so many
I think it’s human nature to
returning citizens. We work hard to help them to move past their past.
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I wonder how much of what weighs me down is not mine to carry.” - Aditi 25 BACEMAGAZINE.COM
But carrying around the ghost of prison is what keeps so many stuck. While they are free from prison, they are still doing time in their mind. This is why I think so many don’t show up for their interviews, turn back to drugs, and walk away from good jobs. This was how the FACES of B/ACE feature was born. If others can read stories of redemption and see people who used to be them moving on, it may inspire them to keep pushing. And Construction Cares is the vehicle to support them as they go through the process.
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228 W. Hill St
COMPLETED PROJECT
Old Town Park, Phase 3, features 456 residential units, which will include a mix of studio - three-bedroom homes, 209 parking stalls, 3,694 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and over 65,000 square feet of commercial office space. The final phase of Old Town Park will have access to unparalleled private amenities, innovative services, and the brand new on-site park at the center of the community. These modern and stylish homes feature thoughtful floor plans, condo-level finishes, and expansive city views. Old Town Park, Phase 3 is located at 228 W. Hill St. The property is built and managed by Onni Group.
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MENTAL HEALTH AND THE HOLIDAYS
T
he holidays are a joyous time of celebration with friends and family. But if you are grieving the loss of a loved one or experiencing financial hardship, you may be filled with sadness and stress this time of year. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, 38 percent of respondents said their stress increased during the holidays, which can lead to mental and physical suffering.
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For laborer, Tawanda Washington, this
If you or someone you know is
Suggest a potluck or Secret Santa
holiday season will be difficult. After
experiencing sadness or grief this
gift exchange with friends and family
losing her father in 2019, Washington
holiday season, here are a few tips
members to keep your costs down.
lost both of her sisters to cancer
that may help make things easier.
in 2020. Washington says that her
You don’t have to be alone - You may
children, grandchildren, and church
Don’t bite off more than you can
not be with relatives during the holiday
community have helped her through
chew - A packed social calendar
season, but it doesn’t mean you have
the grieving process. But she admits
can be the source of some of your
to be alone. Coordinate a celebration
that she still has bad days. “It took a
holiday stress. Don’t commit to so
with church members, friends, or
whole lot out of me. I’m still grieving,”
many social obligations that your
coworkers and share some of your
she said.
head starts to spin. Remember, it’s
family traditions with them.
ok to say no. Washington says she has kept herself
Allow yourself to feel - If the holidays
busy with work. But she fears that
Volunteer - If you’re feeling down
bring up sad memories of a friend
when work slows down, she’ll have to
during the holidays, it can make
or relative you’ve lost, it’s ok to
confront her pain. She advises others
you feel good to help others. Find a
acknowledge your feelings. Allow
experiencing grief during this time to
cause you care about and give the
yourself the space to feel sadness or
appreciate their loved ones while they
gift of your time.
cry, if necessary. Just make sure you
can. “You never know how much time you have,” she said.
don’t spend too much time in the sad Mind your budget - Keep your
space.
holiday spending to a minimum, especially if money is tight this year.
Mental health resources you can use Betterhelp.com - Talk with licensed professional therapists online, over the phone, or via text. Plans start at $40 per week. Financial aid is available. Crisis Text Line (Text 741741) - A free 24/7 confidential text line that will connect you with a trained crisis counselor. Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (www.beam.community) - A collection of therapists, religious leaders, psychologists, and more who are dedicated to mental health and healing of Black communities .
B/ACE BOSS
Phaedra Leslie, VP of Diversity, Workforce Development, and Community Engagement - ALL Construction Group You wouldn’t know it today, but Phaedra Leslie didn’t set out to be a workforce development executive. The South Side native earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Mass Media. “Obviously, my degrees did not lead me here,” she laughs. Instead, she credits the time she spent as the Assistant to the Executive Director at Erie House, a social services nonprofit on the city’s West Side, with creating a path for where she is today. At Erie House, Leslie served primarily as the board liaison, and later as an academic liaison, but she says her boss encouraged her to take on increasing levels of responsibility. “I got motivated just by observing her as an Executive Director of a multimillion-dollar nonprofit organization,” she says. “I did a lot, and things just kept getting added to my title.”
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During her tenure, Leslie created a program to help women earn advanced degrees, her first foray into workforce development. She also earned a master’s degree in Organizational Management. It was then that Leslie decided it was time to take her talents to the private sector. She spent ten years at Target Group, creating economic opportunity initiatives for private development projects before moving on to Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership as the inaugural Director of Business Relations and Economic Development. Her experience helped the public workforce system create diversity initiatives with public entities like CTA and Illinois Tollway. And in September of this year, Leslie
joined ALL Construction Group as the VP of Diversity, Workforce Development, and Community Engagement. In this newly created role, she will bring her vast experience in workforce development to strengthen the company’s connection with the community. As the industry changes, Leslie points out the need to help tradespeople set themselves up for success. And she has been strategizing ways to facilitate networking opportunities designed to provide a path for growth for people in the industry. “I encourage students to network with companies like ours. Even before they join the union, they should be building relationships and letting people know their interests,” she says. But Leslie believes networking should work
both ways and thinks experienced tradespeople should make an effort to create space for newcomers. “You would not be where you are if you didn’t have the skills to get there, which means someone created the space for you,” she says. One way she is creating space for the next generation of tradespeople is by cultivating her company’s internship program which allows newcomers to learn from experienced workers in their field.
“It means ALL Construction Group has a reputation in the community of not just doing great work, but being great partners.”
One of the most exciting things about Leslie’s new position is that she can make it her own. And for Leslie, a job well done means ensuring that her company is as diverse as the city of Chicago. “Success means we are leaders in developing diverse and inclusive initiatives and creating opportunities for people to become exposed to the trades,” she says.
“When I was studying radio and television, I didn’t think I would ever be excited about construction. But I like knowing that I am involved in projects that change a household or have some community economic impact. I get excited when I see a building and know that I helped people get jobs on that project,” she says.
When it comes to work-life balance, the line is blurry for this busy executive. She dedicates much of her free time to various boards. “I’m really connected to the community, so the community engagement piece of my title is very much who I am.” But when she wants to unplug, Leslie says she enjoys travel, reading, and cooking.
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You can support our efforts to help vulnerable members of the construction community.
DONATE
TODAY! Visit www.constructioncare.org to donate!
Construction Cares provides underserved members of the construction industry with the training, financial, and emotional support they need to remain actively employed in the industry.
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www.communities4construction.com
Phone: 312-989-3903 Fax: 312-989-3910 Address: 2532 W. Warren Blvd Chicago, IL 60612
The CEC is committed to the community. We believe that every community has qualified candidates who would love to be a part of the ongoing developments around them. We are constantly looking for potential candidates who are currently working in construction or have a desire to be in the industry. If you are looking to join our network, please complete our Online Application at www.communities4construction.com. 36 BACEMAGAZINE.COM
