Our employees have many different types of jobs and responsibilities in their careers at JE Dunn, yet one thing that connects us all across jobsites and offices: our deep care for the communities where we live, work, and build. When we learned that many third graders in Kansas City-area schools are not reading on grade level — especially young Black boys — we knew that we could work creatively and collaboratively to increase literacy while preparing our future workforce for careers in construction.
Third-grade reading scores aren’t just statistics; they’re predictors for those students’ future success across subjects later in their education and beyond. That’s why JE Dunn partnered with Kansas City Public Schools to create resources for students both in their schools and at home.
After 600 participating students designed spaces using various tools, including AutoCAD, JE Dunn volunteers delivered and set up materials for dedicated reading spaces. In local classrooms with construction-themed rugs, toy dump trucks, books about construction, tables and chairs, and more. Through the initiative, JE Dunn also offers construction-related books for students to take home in hopes that they can build a small library to continue building their reading skills.
Our goal is to get elementary school students reading and learning about construction, engineering, and design so as they move into middle school, they will start considering the construction industry as a viable career pathway. Then as they progress into high school, they can choose the pathway that prepares them for careers in the construction industry.
Students who participated in this initiative also wrote book reports. The writers of the 10 strongest reports received a free bicycle built by BUiLD Summit participants from all over the country. Employees from various departments joined forces to support this initiative in a variety of ways, from helping pick up the bikes, to storing and delivering completed bikes.
This project has beautifully illustrated how JE Dunn comes together to give back to our communities. As we celebrate Black History Month, I am proud that JE Dunn is committed to growing our future workforce, and I hope that these books and reading-focused spaces are illuminating the many opportunities for careers within construction for all students.
