NOW RECRUITING: WOMEN BUILD 2021 TEAM LEADERS
Women Build is back! This year, we’re bringing 500+ women together to help fund and build the homes with the women in our affordable homeownership program.
Women Build is a team event, and we’re now recruiting some powerhouse ladies to join us in 2021 as Team Leaders!
Each Team Leader rallies a group of nine women to join her in fundraising and building to help more women overcome the gendered hurdles to homeownership.
Read on to hear more about the experience from returning Team Leaders and learn how you can get involved this year!
Lina Chiu
How many years have you participated in Women Build?
Three years, 2021 will be my fourth.
Why did you decide to do Women Build?
Habitat is an organization that has always been important to me and is an incredible opportunity to give back to the community to build affordable homes for women-led families.
What was the most fun part about being a Team Leader?
Hands down the best part was working with my fellow women coworkers who I don’t normally work on projects with to reach a common goal… and making swag for our build day.
What was the most rewarding part about being a Team Leader?
Seeing the success and enthusiasm of each of our team members to continually inspire and support each other.
What surprised you, if anything, about your Women Build Team Leader experience?
I was unsure how successful virtual fundraising would be given all things 2020 – but we were blown away by the generosity of our donors! Witnessing the power of fundraising to raise awareness of the gendered inequity in homeownership.
Karen Hood
How many years have you participated in Women Build?
Two years.
Why did you decide to do Women Build?
Being in the real estate industry, I have always loved doing things with Habitat for Humanity. And I’m also a big believer in women supporting women, so this was the perfect avenue to connect my two favorite things – home and women supporting women!
What was the most fun part about being a Team Leader?
Coming up with an amazing team that I knew I would have a great time building with.
What was the most rewarding part about being a Team Leader?
Watching the women on my team build things that they did not think they were capable of. To see their excitement in creating a wonderful home for a deserving woman.
What surprised you, if anything, about your Women Build Team Leader experience?
Seeing how generous people are in donating to the cause. It’s so heartwarming to feel support from my donors, as well as all of the people donating to my team members.
Saba Khalid
How many years have you participated in Women Build?
I have been part of Women Build in Atlanta twice, but it was my first time in Chicago.
Why did you decide to do Women Build?
I think Women Build is an empowering experience. I have worked in the engineering field and was always craving spaces where I can intersect my engineering skillset with female dominant areas. Women Build provided that for me.
What was the most fun thing about being a Team Leader?
I loved being a Team Leader. People were listening to my every word until I had to make them realize that I was just in their shoes and here to learn. I made some fake names for tools as a joke starting out, but I guess with leadership comes responsibility. So eventually… I explained that I had no idea what the machines were called.
What was the most rewarding part about being a Team Leader?
Being the Team Leader is interesting because people think you know exactly what you’re doing and look to you for direction. I think it is more empowering to me when other women start taking charge and telling me what to do. The Team Leader role dissolves and people step in as needed.
What surprised you about your Women Build/ Team Leader experience?
The extreme validation of the final finished product and learning that truly it takes a village to build a home and that women alone can also build it. Homemaker takes on a whole new meaning when that realization sets in.
Interested in bringing the women in your life together to show off your strengths, have a blast, and invest in your fellow women by making homeownership a reality? Contact Deena at events@habitatchicago.org to learn more about being a Team Leader in 2021!
