Twenty-one women last week graduated from the first Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) all-female construction “boot camp” as part of the Women Build Metro Los Angeles program.

The program included six weeks of training at Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) in downtown. The boot camp trained participants on heavy lifting, shoveling and wheelbarrow use, among other activities.

“This is an excellent and unique opportunity for women to enter the predominantly male world of construction with support, training and encouragement from Metro,” said Metro board member Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker. “Metro meets its goal of hiring women for our construction projects. And women gain a secure, well-paid job that is career oriented.”

In early 2012, the Metro Board of Directors approved the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and Construction Career Policy (CCP). Both policies were designed to help more people get jobs on Metro construction projects.

Metro’s program also requires contractors to comply with mandatory goals of 6.9 percent female participation in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. Female participation is now 3.2 percent.

“More and more women are being introduced to a world they may not have seen as a real possibility,” said Metro CEO Phil Washington. “This is only one example of what Metro can accomplish when building major transit construction projects. We’re providing women with training and support that move beyond traditional careers.”

Metro created a task force to recruit qualified women candidates for apprenticeship and placement with all trades on Metro construction projects. Next, the graduates will advance to the next steps, which include an interview and placement process.

Metro will track the progress of participants for one year after the graduation ceremony to determine the success of the effort and to plan future endeavors. For information, call Miriam Long at (213)922-7249 or email longm@metro.net.