Featuring Sergio’s take on Construction, Policies, and NHCA.
Today marks the release of our first blog. In the coming weeks, months and years, we hope to build a space where we can share our thoughts and ideas about the construction industry from our perspective. We named our blog Pico y Pala because every construction project begins with a shovel and pick breaking ground. Now, let’s do the same by laying the foundation for our mission and vision.
About five years ago, an idea was sparked in San Diego at a real estate conference hosted by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). A roundtable with a major construction supplier revealed an unmet need among participating contractors and workers. While we had hoped to attract 10-15 attendees to fill the seats, the roundtable exceeded our expectations with close to 40 participants present. Participants shared ideas on how the supplier could better support contractors and construction workers while also highlighting industry challenges beyond the discussion’s scope. Their passion was clear, but so were the barriers limiting their growth.
Following that roundtable, NAHREP had in-depth discussions to identify the unmet needs and challenges and to assess whether any organization was already addressing them on a national level.
After six months of touring expos, conferences, and meetings, it became clear—no national organization unified Hispanics in construction. While local groups did valuable work, a grassroots effort to address industry-wide challenges and opportunities was missing.
This reality became the foundation for our vision and mission. Our goal—to empower and inspire Hispanics in the construction industry gained a name: the National Hispanic Construction Alliance was born. The name is more than intentional; it is inclusive. It welcomes everyone—from laborers to engineers, ditch diggers to electricians, anyone eager to grow, work, and tackle challenges facing Hispanics in construction. Often, our board members and chapter presidents are asked, “Who is your ideal member?” The truth is, our ideal member is anyone with a desire to grow in the construction industry, as we are committed to supporting the entire ecosystem.
Now, just twelve months after formally launching our efforts, we are proud to say we have established seven chapters and represent 1,700 plus members across the country. We are growing rapidly and anticipate being active in 15 markets and surpassing 5,000 members by years end. We are excited about the initiatives we are developing and the exponential impact they will have on our members’ financial well-being.
We aim to grow in both size and impact, expanding resources, partnering with technical schools and apprenticeships, advocating for policy changes, and developing future Hispanic construction leaders. The challenges are significant, but so are the opportunities. With the right support and collective effort, we can reshape the landscape of the industry and ensure Hispanic workers and contractors thrive.
Thank you for being part of our journey!
This week, we’re in D.C. at the NAHREP Homeownership & Housing Policy Conference, presenting our first State of Hispanics in Construction report.
Stay tuned for updates next week as we continue to grow, engage, and reshape the industry!