The mission of the Construction Workforce Diversity Alliance (CWDA) is to work together to increase and improve access, recruitment, training and retention of women and minorities in construction trade careers through state-approved apprenticeship programs. Beginning in September 2003, a consortium of representatives from industry, labor, education, community organizations and government began mee
ting to address the inequity in the numbers of women and minorities working within construction apprenticeships. As a result, the Construction Workforce Diversity Alliance of South Central Wisconsin was formed. Subcommittees were established and the full alliance met annually. Some of the accomplishments of the CWDA include the creation of universal documents on apprenticeship and apprenticeship preparatory programs as well as conducting regular apprenticeship overview sessions at the Dane County Job Center. From its inception, the CWDA has been staffed by volunteers from participating organizations. In December of 2010 at a meeting of the CWDA Coordination Committee, attendees discussed the possibility of Construction Training, Inc making the CWDA a program under its umbrella and working to obtain funding to administer the program. At the December meeting of the Construction Training, Inc Board of Directors the membership voted to take on the CWDA as a program, along with START, under their organization. Madison College’s Apprenticeship Office will also be working with CTI to provide support for the CWDA. In September 2016, CTI began the process of merging with the Urban League of Greater Madison. In January of 2017, the Urban League took over full operation of CTI programming, including CWDA, the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Training (START), Construction Employment Initiative, and other CTI programs and initiatives. The Urban League has made a strong commitment to sustain and expand the work of CWDA.
