ULI SF is proud to announce our partnership with the Construction Industry Workforce Initiative (CIWI) to build a diverse pipeline of talented students to the real estate development profession. As part of this partnership, ULI SF will provide complimentary memberships to CIWI’s 2021 Internship Cohort, direct $10,000 in donations from our corporate donors to fund an intern at a Local Business Enterprise (LBE), engage our EDI committee to help create content specific programming for the interns, and actively market the opportunity to host an intern at your company.

Take a look at the video below and read on for more information on CIWI and how your company can join this initiative!

What is CIWI? 

The Construction Industry and Workforce Initiative (CIWI), is a young adult workforce program targeted to first generation/students of color (aged 18-21 +/- years) enrolled in a two- to four- year college program. CIWI’s program consists of a three-month internship from June-August as well as numerous opportunities to network, gain greater understanding of the Bay Area real estate and construction industry, and make new friends and future business contacts.

CIWI’s Achievements and Impacts

Since 2012, CIWI has delivered over 100 internships, 100% to students of color with the vast majority of them being first generation college students. You can check out all of CIWI’s accomplishment through their 2020 Impact Report, and the 2014-2019 CIWI Civic Engagement/Sustainability Presentation.

CIWI’s Goals for Interns

CIWI aims to provide direct industry work experience and industry specific training to their interns. Included in the internship program is an innovative Civic Engagement/Sustainability component, which includes networking, leadership and mentor targeting personal, educational and career development for young adults with an interest in Construction, Real Estate Development, Architecture and Engineering, Civic Engagement, and Sustainability. Work experience, training, and exposure to leaders in the profession provides the interns with a greater awareness of the construction and real estate industry, which may ultimately lead to pursuing education and career opportunities within the field.

CIWI Internship Component

CIWI provides paid construction industry internship positions at construction job site trailers/offices and/or company corporate offices. Typically, interns provide direct assistance to company administrative, PM/CM, or job site staff and perform specific project and construction management responsibilities such as assisting in document review and control, PM/CM, building and maintaining databases and assisting in estimating and budgeting, and conducting due diligence/market analysis.

CIWI + ULI SF: Participation/Placement Strategies (Sponsors/Funders)

The most common ways to support CIWI include:

1. Fund an intern, placed in your office.
2. Fund an intern, placed at another firm’s office (e.g. underwriting for LBE, affordable housing developer and/or other community-based initiatives).
3. Partial funding of intern.
4. Provide funding to underwrite our Civic Engagement/Sustainability program.

CIWI + ULI SF: Timeline and Next Steps to Participate (Sponsors/Funders).

CIWI will intend to start formal Sponsor/Funder outreach in March 2021, with the internship formally starting in June 2021.

Interested? Contact CIWI. Please reach out to Monica Wilson if you would like to learn more about CIWI 2021 Internship Program and ways to participate/sponsor.

Monica Wilson, Program Director, monica.wilson.ciwi@gmail.com.

Corporate Donors