Stephens Hosts First-Ever Midwest Tradeswomen Summit
Nearly 75 tradeswomen and advocates from across Missouri gathered at Stephens College on May 31 for the first multi-trade summit of its kind in the region. The event offered a full day of networking, learning, and empowerment for women pursuing careers in the skilled trades.
The Midwest Tradeswomen Summit was organized by Heartland Women in Trades (HWIT) in Kansas City, Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) in St. Louis, and Central Missouri Women in Trades (CMoWIT), based in Columbia and Jefferson City. The event was hosted in partnership with Stephens College and the Missouri Works Initiative.
Jenna Johnson, Executive Director of HWIT and former Program Analyst for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, served as emcee for the day.
Dr. Leslie Willey, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Stephens College, opened the summit by highlighting the need to build pathways for women in nontraditional careers. Dr. Robert Scott Taylor, Dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Studies, shared the College’s recent efforts to develop a pre-apprenticeship program. He celebrated the presence of a Stephens graduate at the summit who is now participating in that very program.
The keynote speaker, Merri Berry, Secretary-Treasurer of the Missouri AFL-CIO, discussed recent state legislation and urged attendees to stay politically engaged to support workers’ rights.
Other sessions included:
- A resilience and wellness workshop by Dr. John Gaal of the Missouri Works Initiative.
- A global “lunch and learn” led by electrician and activist Noreen Buckley, co-founder of Tradeswomen Building Bridges, which highlighted international exchanges with tradeswomen from India, London, and the Philippines.
- A bystander intervention training on workplace harassment led by Lark Jackson of the National Center for Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship & Employment.
A standout moment of the summit was the “Panel of Badasses” moderated by Wendy Chun-Hoon, President and Executive Director of the Center for Law and Social Policy and former Director of the U.S. Women’s Bureau. Panelists shared real-life experiences—the good, the bad, and the ugly—of working in the trades. Speakers included long-time carpenters, electricians, union leaders, business owners, and instructors, including Cindy Frank, a Stephens College pre-apprenticeship instructor.
Christina Barillas-McEntee of Chicago Women in Trades led a powerful session on mentorship, reminding everyone: “We are in this together.”
To close the day, Gina Walsh—trailblazer, longtime insulator, and former Missouri State Senator—was honored with HWIT’s Ultimate Sister Award for her advocacy on behalf of working families, maternity leave for tradeswomen, and her leadership in the labor movement.
Stephens College was proud to host and support this inspiring day of community, education, and empowerment.
For more information about the Workforce Development initiatives at Stephens, visit https://stephens.edu/program/workforce-development/
Pictured: Dr. Scott Taylor, Dr. Lesile Wiley, Cindy Frank, and Avery Throckmorton.
