Women in Construction (WIC) Week, held March 1–7, 2026, celebrates the achievements, resilience and growing presence of women in the construction industry. Spearheaded by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), the annual event highlights the vital contributions women make across all areas of the field.
Over the past decade, the industry has experienced a 45 percent increase in women’s roles. Today, women make up approximately 15 percent of the construction workforce — a record high.
To show support for women currently in the industry and inspire future generations to explore careers in construction, the Kansas City Home Builders Association’s Professional Women in Building Council (KCPWB) hosted a “House That She Built” event for local Girl Scouts at Open & Shut.
Nearly 30 girls representing nine different troops attended the event, where they worked through the steps required to earn their House That She Built badge. Activities included reading the book The House That She Built, sketching their own building designs and bringing those ideas to life by constructing models using popsicle sticks and other materials.
PWB members were on hand throughout the event to assist the girls with their projects, answer questions and share insights about their roles in the homebuilding industry.
“Last night was a great reminder that our industry is strongest when everyone shows up to invest in the next generation,” said Misty Stocksdale, director sales education at Open & Shut. “When women and men work together mentoring, sharing knowledge and opening doors — we don’t just build homes, we build the future of our industry.”
By the end of the event, each participant received a copy of the book along with the badge they had earned.
Thank you to the team at Open & Shut for hosting this event!
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