Internship Component
CIWI offers its young adults a three month (12 week) paid internship position, approximately June through August, averaging 20 hours per week for a total of 240 hours over the summer months. CIWI interns work at construction job site trailers/offices and/or company corporate offices. Typically, interns provide direct assistance to company administrative, PM/CM, or job site staff and perform specific project and construction management responsibilities such as assisting in document review and control, building and maintaining databases and assisting in estimating and budgeting.
Leadership and Mentorship Component
CIWI includes a multi-faceted leadership and mentorship program to assist interns in further developing their personal, educational, and career development goals within the industry. Scheduled events include attending local government meetings (such as San Francisco's Commission on Community Investment and Infrastructure (CCII) and Planning Commission meetings), real estate professional group and civic engagement activities (such as SF Housing Action Coalition (SFHAC) and ground breaking ceremonies) and community meetings, group field trips, as well as hands-on construction experience through volunteer opportunities.
Guest Speaker Series and Workshops
CIWI has developed a comprehensive guest speaker series with industry veterans including general contractors, real estate developers, government representatives, local politicians, and architecture and engineering representatives. The workshop series is structured as small and informal team events so that interns and speakers can roll out construction drawings and review a buildings design, participate in a BIM software and design presentation, and hear first hand what it takes to engage diverse community and resident groups in order to secure community approval for a new development opportunity as well tips and strategies used by guest speakers to build their careers and achieve their personal goals.
New Program Services
In 2014, CIWI will begin the roll out of the following two components to maximize the opportunities for incoming interns as well as those that have graduated from the program.
Interview and Resume Writing Services
Based on intern and funder/partner feedback, we will be incorporating a pre- and post-internship resume and interview workshop component to make sure that all participants gain valuable experience and exposure to developing their interview and resume writing skills. As planned, this service will be provided to all potential interns seeking to be selected for the 2014 year.
CIWI Alumni Series
CIWI is working with its Advisory Committee members and key stakeholders active in youth development initiatives to develop an Alumni component to ensure that CIWI graduates can continue to follow through on their goals within the industry, continue to attend workshops and related meetings, and build their network of contacts past their particular internship year. We are beginning to work with our CIWI alumni to craft and implement a focused program,including a strong social media/engagement component, alumni assistance in undertaking CIWI outreach activities, and related CIWI program services.
What is CIWI?
CIWI is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives (a 501c(3)) and a privately funded initiative targeted to young urban adults (18 to 21 years old and enrolled in a two- to four-year college) from lower-income households, many that are first generation Bay Area college students. The program is committed to providing career development opportunities for students with an interest in Construction, Real Estate Development, Architecture and Engineering, Civic Engagement and Urban Design.
CIWI goals are to provide direct construction industry work experience, a comprehensive leadership and mentor component, personal, educational and career development opportunities for young adults which may ultimately lead to pursuing education and career opportunities within the field.
These young adults have been largely unrepresented in our industry at the professional level. CIWI’s goal is to provide assistance and promote a path to long term employment in the Construction industry.