CUMU Conference 2019

Penn has engaged with the design, construction, and local communities through a multitude of economic inclusion efforts for the past 25+ years. Activities have included: early project reviews with City representatives; design and construction participation goals listed in requests for proposals and contracts and used as evaluation factors; reviewing bid lists and bid opportunities in advance; pre-bid project notification meetings with diversity vendors; third-party tracking and reporting of contracted and workforce participation; a consistent and engaging bi-monthly forum for challenging construction contractors to maximize diversity contracting and workforce opportunities and performance against goals meeting with contractors and trade unions when projects are not achieving goals; apprenticeship programs that build increase workforce diversity; involvement in programs that encourage high school interest in architecture, engineering and construction; and workshops that help construction related businesses entering the already established construction culture. Come hear about the programs that Penn has established and the challenges we have overcome and those that we still face.