NAHB's Newest HBCU Cohort Learns Career Development Skills

Cultivating, educating and inspiring the next generation of building professionals is a key priority for the industry. As part of those efforts, NAHB's second annual Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Student Leadership program held a three-day learning, networking and development meeting last month in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the event, 20 students learned key lessons from industry professionals and NAHB staff, including how to develop an actionable career plan, how to use social media as a career development tool, and how to network.

"I feel like this is a great experience so I can get a feel for residential construction, because I'm still deciding whether I want to pursue a career in residential or commercial construction," said Radjae Reid, a student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

The program was established in 2023 to equip diverse, young adults with the skills, knowledge and connections needed to thrive in the residential construction industry. It comprises a growing number of students from HBCUs including: Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, Lawson State Community College, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View A&M, St. Phillip's College, Tuskegee and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

During the D.C. event, the students also took a trip to visit a residential construction site in nearby Bethesda, Md., explored the African American History Smithsonian Museum and learned about the International Builders' Show (IBS), which will be held Feb. 25-27 in Las Vegas.

Junie Saint Juste, a Florida A&M University student, was encouraged to sign up for the HBCU Student Leadership program by an alumni from its inaugural session. Saint Juste was impressed with the presentations and grateful to get some additional insights about the upcoming Student Competition at IBS.

"I knew I needed to be in this cohort so I can learn some more about the construction industry and bring back the knowledge to my group for the competition," Saint Juste said.

Learn more about what the program accomplished in its first year and see what an alumni of the program said regarding the importance of supporting the next generation of builders.

Learn more about the Student Competition, set to take place Feb. 24-26, 2025.