Julie Peri

Photo by Lydia Gonsalez.

Diversity may not be a word that springs to mind when one thinks of construction work, but while the industry is still dominated by cisgender males, builder Julie Peri is working to change that. In 2018, Peri founded Dykes With Drills, a nonprofit organization that aims to empower people with the tools and skills to build. The San Francisco-based organization, which recently opened a location in Chicago, offers introductory and skill-building workshops, including classes in woodworking, welding, and auto mechanics. “The favorite part of my job is when someone goes home from a workshop and builds a project they have been waiting for years to complete,” says Peri, a former construction supervisor with Habitat for Humanity. The process Peri facilitates is collaborative, positive, creative, and takes place in an environment where making mistakes is something to learn from rather than be shamed by. “The most important thing for us to do is to go out into our community and make ourselves, and what we have to contribute, known,” she says. “There are still people who hide who they really are, and it’s our job to create a world where no one has to hide.” —RK

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