ALetterfrom ourChiefExecutiveOfficer
LaToyaFaustin
Dear Friends, Partners, and Community,
As I reflect on 2024, I am both humbled and energized by what we’ve accomplished together. At She Built This City, our mission is bold: to provide industry-disruptive programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to lucrative careers in the skilled tradesfor youth, women, and marginalized communities. And our vision is even bolder to dismantle barriers and stigmas in traditionally male-dominated industries through innovation and sustainability, preparing our communitiesfor thefuture of work, including jobs that don’t yet exist.
This past year, your support helped us ignite that vision in more lives than ever before.
In Charlotte, we proudly graduated 137 Pre-Apprentices through our workforce development programming, each earning industry-recognized credentials including OSHA10 and Pre-Apprentice certifications acknowledged by DOL NC Apprenticeship and the NC Community College System. In Greensboro, our newest program site, we celebrated the graduation of 36 Pre-Apprentices in our first year—proofthat our model is replicable and rooted in community need.
This growth represents a 34% increase in credentialed graduates over 2023. Our Apprenticeship program doubled in size from 5 to10 Apprentices a testament to our pipeline’s strength and the belief our employer partners are placing in our graduates.
But beyond the numbers are stories oftransformation:
137 individuals didn’t just gain certifications they gained confidence, skills, and clarity
Every graduate became more competitive in the job market, better prepared to contribute to their families and communities.
19 entrepreneurs launched or strengthened their trades-based businesses through our new Business Entrepreneur Program.
15 individuals rose to leadership roles, proving that trades work and leadership go hand in hand.
We also deepened our youth impact, serving 1,105 young people more than double the youth reached in 2023. From our seasonal trade camps to our firsteverYouth in theTrades (YITT) Club at Albemarle Road Middle School, we are planting seeds early. These programs are helping dismantle generational myths around who belongs in the trades and redefining what opportunity looks like.
Additionally, we expanded our critical home repair program, completing 189 essential repairs across 63 homes, mostlyfor seniors and low-income households These efforts indirectly supported 1,348 individuals, and in 2024, this was thefirst time SBTC reintroduced home repair as a service another step forward in holistic community support.
Still, with progresscomeschallenge.
We’ve learned that the pathway to employment isn’t always direct. Some graduatesface deeply rooted systemic barriers—unstable housing, childcare limitations, transportation, or the weight of justice involvement—that make jobhunting feel insurmountable.
We offered Care.com childcare support, but uptake was limited highlighting the complexity ofthe issue. Construction work doesn’t follow a 9-to-5 schedule, and traditional childcare often can’t meet our graduates where they are. We are actively building a better solution.
And behind every successful program is a passionate team working overtime. While passion fuels our mission, it doesn’t replace the need for fair compensation, adequate staffing, and operational support. Like many nonprofits, we grapple with the costs of doing this work at scale equipment, skilled facilitators, and the ongoing need to meet people where they are Unrestricted funding has been vital in bridging these gaps. It allows us to invest in our people and our priorities with the agility our mission demands.
Looking Ahead
In 2025, we’re not slowing down. We’re expanding our tracking systems, designing incentive programs to maintain contact with graduates, and strengthening our post-program support. Our goal is to not only train but transform lives—so that economic mobility isn’t a dream, it’s a destination. To our funders, partners, volunteers, and community champions: thank you for believing in us, for investing in equity, and for walking with us on this journey. Because of you, She Built This City isn’t just a name it’s a movement. And we’re just getting started.
In community and gratitude,
SheBuiltThisCity’smissionis toprovideindustrydisruptive programmingthatsparks interestandbuildspathways tolucrativecareersinthe skilledtradesforyouth, womenandmarginalized communities.OurVisionisto dismantlebarriersandstigmas intraditionallymaledominatedindustriesthrough innovative,sustainable practicesthatprepareusfora futureofjobsthathaveyetto becreated.
Core Values Core Values
We Give to Get
We believe in partnerships and that they are the way we begin relationships and the way we will have maximum impact on the community. When approached with opportunities ripe for potential, our first thought will be, how can we partner?
We Pivot (Blue Ocean Strategy)
We are an agile organization that stays true to our mission while meeting the needs of our community. We will swim in “blue ocean” lanes / opportunities free of competition and where services have yet to be delivered.
Seat at the Table (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
We will elevate voices of disenfranchised populations and advocate for equal seats at the table. We will advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in all spaces we enter. We will require this of our partners, donors, volunteers and team members.
We Run Together (Pace, Collaboration)
We go fast; our mission is critical and the need is great. We run as a team and will run at the pace to allow us all to win together.
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs (The End Game)
Any partnership we form, event we participate in or event we organize needs to lead to jobs either now or in the future for women in trades. All program planning and implementation should be taken through the lens of promoting pathways for jobs.
People Are Our Focus, Numbers Matter (Results Oriented)
Numbers = People = Jobs = Lives / Families Impacted
Family First
Our family and our health (physical, mental and emotional) are first priority. We need to be well and whole to be fully present and make the impact we need on the community.
T I C E S H I P
N T I C E S H I P
Pre-Apprenticeship Pre-Apprenticeship
Graduated participantsandhelped womenreceivetheirpre-apprenticeship certification.
DevelopedPartnershipswith CommunityHousingSolutions, HabitatforHumanity& Gui ols.
Partneredwiththe NussbaumCenterfor Entrepreneurshipand securedourfirst location.
P R EA P P RE N T I C E S H I P & 1 S T A P P R E N T I C E S H I P retention in all 3 cohorts 88% 88%
Greensboroplannedfor cohort butsuccessfully conducted cohorts,graduating individuals. Alsolaunchingthefirst apprenticeshipprogramwith apprentices, incollaborationwith partnerslike and
Demographics Demographics
115 5
119 9
Businesses createdsavedor strengthened
Participants attained leadership positions in our outside of their jobs, accepted into the apprenticeship, Lineworker Program. or P R EA P P R E N T I C E S H I P P R EA P P R E N T I C E S H I P
175 participants received at least one industry recognized certification
30 30
Partnershipsor colloborations createdor expanded
IIreccommendthisprogramtoallofthe reccommendthisprogramtoallofthe peopleIhavecomeacrosswhowantto peopleIhavecomeacrosswhowantto betterthemselvesandlearnsomething betterthemselvesandlearnsomething new. I positively feel that I will be able new. I positively feel that I will be able to gain employment in a trade with a to gain employment in a trade with a company and have a
now company and have a career now iinsteadofjustworkingajob. nsteadofjustworkingajob.
6 & A P P R E N T I C E S H I P & A P P R E N T I C E S H I P
Residentswere satisfiedwith repairsand wouldreferus toafriend.
Neighborhoods Served Neighborhoods Served
P
R
I T I C A L H O M
I R C R I T I C A L H O M E R E P A I R DrywallPatching& GrabBarInstalls
11122 122 kitscompleted
1142 42 volunteers in2024
92%+ 92%+ reportbeingconfident withahammer,drill andmitersaw.
11131 131 youth and communities served
Graduating classes from A Seat at the Table Program of youth would build with SBTC again 95%+ 95%+
5 5 rec centers and summer camps Y O U T H A N D C O M M U N I T Y Y O U T H A N D C O M M U N I T Y
The Entrepreneurship Academy aims to equip participants particularly women and those facing employment barriers with the skills and tools needed to launch their own businesses in the skilled trades industry. Partnering with Stiletto Boss University, this program provides handson training in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and essential business fundamentals like finance, marketing, legal setup, and networking.
“Theenergyandenthusiasmof theparticipantswasjust contagiousandIamveryexcited abouttheirnewjourney.”
An Entrepreneurial pathway created for pre-apprentices and apprentices. Will enroll 9 women in year1; these women will create LLCs or other business entities at the completion ofthe program.
MATERNITY LEAVE? WHY
We decided to advocate for maternity leave as a key issue due to its crucial role in addressing the current labor shortage in the construction industry. While more companies are expressing openness to welcoming women into construction roles, many lack the necessary policies to support them. By advocating for maternity leave, we aim to not only attract more women to the industry but also retain them by creating a supportive and inclusive work environment. Providing maternity leave is essential for ensuring that women feel valued and supported in their careers, ultimately contributing to a more diverse and sustainable workforce in the construction industry.
COMPANIES COMPANIES MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS FOR
AnestimatedthreeoutoffourNCmothersand halfoffathershavepassedupworkand advancementopportunities,changedjobs,orquit workduetochildcareresponsibilities.
73% 73% 71% 71%
ofworkingNorthCarolinians surveyedsaidtheywouldfeelmorecommittedto theircompaniesiftheyofferedmorefamilyfriendlybenefitslikepaidleave.
ofNCemployerssurveyedbelieve family-friendlypoliciesarebeneficialtotheir companies.Mostemployersreportthatpaid familyandmedicalleavehaseither“apositive effect”or“nonoticeableeffect”onemployee productivity,profitability,turnover,andmorale.
Studiesofpaidfamilyandmedicalleaveprograms inotherstateshavefoundpositivereactionsby mostbusinessowners.Businessesreported positiveorneutralimpactsonprofitability, productivity,employeeturnover,andlaborcosts.
ASpecialThankYou ToOurSupporters
SMPS
Gresham Smith
Gilbane
American Online Giving (Benevity), U.S. Bank
$5,000 $9,999 SafGard Safety Shoe
SkilledTrades Partners-1,000 – $4,999
Morris-Berg Architects, CapTrust Community Foundation, Charities Aid Foundation Americas, True Homes Foundation, Community Investment
ApprenticeAllies - $100 – $999
New beginnings Good Buys LLC, Wells Fargo, Kim GriggsMurray, Gresham Smith, Canopy Housing Foundation, Fidelity Giving, American Online Giving (Benevity), Wells Fargo, Cardinal Rents LLC, The Horseshoe Charlotte LLC, Sidney Echevarria, Custom Ink, Marla Jordan, BlackBaud
Foundation Friends - $10 – $99
Charities Aid Foundation Americas, Mortenson, United Way of Greater Charlotte, Becka Tait, Kate Maddox, Your Cause LLC, Duke Energy, Bonita Eason, Paris Guan, Janine Lafferty, Shamilya Mitchell-Goss, Damarys Garcia, Onica Osborne, Alexia King, Kim LIndstrom, Jasmine Vincent, Yenni Maite Lobaton Falcó, Daniela Reyes Garcia, Tiaunjalae Chancley, LaToya Faustin
