BOSTON, MA — The Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) recently held its 4th annual Boston Pipeline Adopt-a-School event. The program, which launched in 2022, brings together 4th and 5th grade elementary school students from Boston, Massachusetts, with local construction professionals to build awareness of rewarding STEM-based career opportunities among traditionally underrepresented communities.

This year’s program had events happening simultaneously at Mattahunt Elementary School in Mattapan, Massachusetts, Umana Academy in East Boston, and Thomas A. Edison Elementary School in Brighton, Massachusetts. Students at each school will join volunteers from Massachusetts-based construction firms to participate in a Lego building project management activity, play a Sustainability Bingo game, read a children’s book about construction ("Celeste Tunnels Underground") and discuss it with author Courtney Kelly, and participate in roundtable discussions. The program is led by the AGC MA Committee for Diversity and Inclusion.

“Workforce development is one of the most pressing concerns facing the construction industry today,” AGC MA CEO John Ferrante said. “It’s essential that we do a good job of promoting the many different career opportunities that modern-day construction presents, and it’s also vital that we reach out to audiences that have been underrepresented within our industry. Adopt-a-School has proven to be a very rewarding annual event, and we’re very grateful for the many talented construction leaders who contribute their expertise and enthusiasm each year.”

AGC MA is a chapter of the national Associated General Contractors of America, which provides a full range of services to improve the quality of construction and protect the public interest in partnership with its chapters. AGC MA received its charter in 1924 and was incorporated in 1935. The chapter has 200 members in locations ranging from Cape Cod to the New York border.