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.
Sponsors


Latest from NAHBNow
Jul 25, 2025
NAHB's Student Chapters Helped Give Her Confidence to Pivot CareersZhetique Gunn's early exposure to building and problem-solving has led to national recognition and a city-level impact as an urban planner in Washington, D.C.
Jul 24, 2025
Federal Court Upholds New York State Gas BanThe federal court for the Northern District of New York on July 23 upheld New York state’s “gas ban” legislation. New York’s legislation is the first statewide law that restricts natural gas use in new buildings, effectively banning gas stoves and other fossil fuel appliances in most new construction starting in 2026.
Latest Economic News
Jul 25, 2025
Market Share of 5,000+ Square Foot New Homes Started Declines in 2024In 2024, there were 24,000 homes that exceeded 5,000 square feet, equating to a 2.3% market share of all new homes started. Both the number and market share for 5,000+ square foot homes experienced declines from 2023, according to the annual data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).
Jul 24, 2025
New Home Sales Hold Steady at a Relatively Tepid LevelChallenging affordability conditions, elevated interest rates and economic uncertainty continue to act as headwinds on the housing sector as many potential buyers continue to stay on the sidelines.
Jul 23, 2025
Existing Home Sales Retreat to 9-Month LowExisting home sales fell to 9-month low in June as home prices hit another monthly record high, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Sluggish pace of sales suggest that higher mortgage rates and elevated home prices are continuing to sideline buyers, despite improved inventory conditions.