Meet Diana Coopersmith, a fascinating and determined ironworker, who was one of the first few women to work on the Golden Gate Bridge. She’s also an educator and change maker in the metalworking and welding industry, an iron sculptor, she’s worked with the late artist, Richard Serra, she’s a photographer and she’s a mom!

Tune in to hear her stories of being uplifted and sometimes, nearly falling hundreds of feet down to her end. Take a listen to Diana's terrifying AND a hilarious stories about climbing the San Francisco city skyline!

Photo credit: Diana Coopersmith
Check out Diana's work: https://www.dianacoopersmith.com/contact

welding ironworking local 378 crucible women gender expansive

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April is National Welding Month and Thick Skin is celebrating!

Ever heard of a national, women’s iron working training program?

In this episode I take a tour at the Bay Area’s Local 378 Iron workers HQ and talk with Jeff, a leader in the iron working field and advocate for women working in the trades, especially in iron working. We talk about Local 378’s all women iron working training program, maternity leave,and the University of Iron. The program is open to women anywhere in the United States!

Jeff says it’s time for women to receive the respect they deserve!

Jeff also shares his stories about the joy of his career in iron working, the truth about reprimanding bad workplace behavior, the importance of creating a diverse workforce for the future, and the right for everyone to have access to a decent paying job.

Jeff is 100% hopeful that the incoming generation of iron workers are making the trades a more welcoming place for women and in turn, all people.

Also - Jeff recently retired- CONGRATULATIONS JEFF!! Thank you from THICK SKIN for the work you have done as an ally to all people in the iron working trade!

Be sure to visit the the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge. It “is the only bridge in the United States named for a blue collar worker. It represents the men and women of all building and construction trades.”

https://www.alzampabridge.com/

Photo Sources: Iron Workers 378 and Alicia Crawford

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT Local 378's WOMEN’S PROGRAM

https://www.universityofiron.org/womeninthetrade.html

https://ironworkers378.org/

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Meet Alex! She’s the Executive Director of WINTER (Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles).

For 18 years she and her team have worked tirelessly to prepare BIPOC women for careers working in the construction trades in the Los Angeles and Long Beach areas. (Check out Episode 2 for the full WINTER founding and origin story!)

This is not a job, it’s a career and Alex and her team have high expectations for all who enter through WINTER’s doors!

This successful per-apprenticeship program is a hardcore legit “boot-camp” to the extreme because Alex believes in women and their power to change our country’s economy!

Alex is also a supreme negotiator when it comes to working with city officials. She also won’t take no for an answer and because of WINTER’s efforts, they’re seeing an actual increase in women working in the construction trades.

Tune in to find out just how much she and her team have moved the needle for women working in construction!

“You empower yourself! - Alex

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT WINTER: https://www.winterwomen.org/
Winter’s mission is to train, educate, and prepare women and youth for transformative careers in the construction industry.

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