COVINGTON, Ky. — Holmes High School became the site on Saturday for She Builds, a program with ACI, to host She Builds Day. Senior Manager Lydia Burns said She Builds aims to get more women and people of color into the construction industry.

“She builds specifically wants to make sure all construction programs, all construction companies, are reflective of the population. Not just by bringing women into the industry, but more minorities into the industry as well,” Burns said. “Those stereotypes we’re going to break them down and we’re going to change the construction industry’s workforce and make it reflective of the population.”

This is where the outreach comes in. She Builds Day was held at the Covington school for girls to come work on putting together a table and other wooden items. There, 12-year-old Lane Flerlage said she enjoys building things, and she likes helping people. So coming to help put together a table was the perfect fit for her.

“I have a lot of fun because a lot of people are like oh she’s just a middle schooler she doesn’t know how to do this stuff and I’m like actually I do,” Flerlage said.

She said it’s also fun proving those doubters wrong.

“It’s hilarious to see their shocked faces,” she said.

It’s more than just proving people wrong. Burns said there’s a lot of attention to detail in the job—and working with your hands can appeal to anyone.

“You can get to see the work you put in that day right in front of you. There is a lot of reward to get out of that- and doing something that takes strength and endurance and know how and detail. When you see that done, it’s such a good feeling. Women deserve that feeling just as much as any man,” Burns said.

She Builds has the goal of working more in Ohio and Northern Kentucky to inspire others to break stereotypes.