PICO Y PALA

Insights, Innovation & Advocacy for Hispanic Construction

Step into Pico y Pala, the National Hispanic Construction Alliance (NHCA) blog where we break ground on critical conversations and innovative ideas shaping the construction industry. Named after the pick and shovel that start every project, our blog is dedicated to cultivating a space for growth, empowerment, and advocacy. Here, we share unique perspectives, practical insights, and connect our diverse community – from every laborer to every engineer – committed to advancing Hispanic representation and success in construction.

Building Momentum in Fresno: NHCA Launches Central Valley Chapter

There are moments in an organization’s journey that feel bigger than a single event, they signal a movement gaining real traction. Our recent launch event in Fresno, officially bringing the NHCA Central Valley chapter online, was exactly that kind of moment. From the energy in the room to the conversations that followed, one message came […]

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Breaking the Silence: Mental Health in Our Construction Community

Last week I came across an article that honestly stopped me in my tracks. It was about a new partnership between North America’s Building Trades Unions, CPWR, a construction safety research organization, and Hard Hat Courage, a program run by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. On the surface it sounds like a policy announcement, […]

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Housing, Workforce, and Immigration: A Defining Moment on Capitol Hill

Last week in Washington, D.C., leaders from the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) each brought a focused message to Capitol Hill: housing policy and immigration policy can no longer be addressed in isolation. While their engagements were separate, the messages delivered were undeniably aligned—and deeply […]

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Where Housing Policy Meets Construction Power

As the NAHREP Homeownership and Housing Policy Conference gets closer, we want to take a moment to remind you why this event matters, and why, if you’re in construction, you really need to be there with us. Here’s the deal: NHCA was built through a direct alliance with NAHREP, the nation’s largest Latino business association. […]

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Momentum Builds: Expanding Leadership, Partnerships, and National Impact

The past several weeks have marked an exciting period of growth and momentum for our organization as we continue expanding our leadership network, strengthening national partnerships, and building the foundation for greater impact across the construction industry. One of our most exciting milestones was the successful launch event for our new board in Dallas, a […]

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Who Builds Icons?

The Workforce Behind Landmark Projects When Foster + Partners unveiled the redesign of Two World Trade Center for American Express, the headlines centered on architecture, corporate commitment, and the next evolution of Lower Manhattan’s skyline.But landmark announcements invite a more grounded question:WHO BUILDS THESE ICONS?Towers of this magnitude are not just feats of design. They […]

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