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All-Women Construction Teams Build Habitat Homes

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- You might see a lot more ladies around town wearing hard hats and yellow vests. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is working on two homes built by all-women construction teams.

One is in St. Paul, the other in the Jordan Neighborhood in North Minneapolis. It was hard hit by a tornado two years ago. And on this job site, for the first time ever, a woman is the project manager.

The job isn't glamorous but it's incredibly important.

The Women Build construction site started with just a plot of dirt and some very capable hands.

"We started with a capped foundation so all there was were the basement walls, then we hauled walls, set up roof trusses, re-roofed," said Collette King, Habitat for Humanity Site Supervisor.

Not only do women provide the volunteer labor and funding, from framing to landscaping, they give back to the community in a way that uses all of their skills with construction.

Each project is managed, start to finish, by an experienced woman site supervisor. This time, it's King.

"We're finally about to sheet rock and really make it look like a house," she said.

Everyone here gave up a day of at their real job.

Now a single mom will be able to live in the 1,500-square-foot home. All because other women came together to make it possible.

There's another women's day build this Friday in North Minneapolis and the group will soon start a house in Frogtown in St. Paul.

You don't need constrution experience to help. They'll teach all that you need to know.

If you want more information, visit their website.

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