JESCO Team Members Help Lead Hands-On Training at the Inaugural FORGE Northeast Mississippi Girls Construction Camp 

JESCO is proud to have supported the inaugural Northeast Mississippi (NEMS) FORGE Girls Construction Camp. As a charter member of FORGE, JESCO continues to champion the organization’s mission of building a stronger, more diverse construction workforce across the region. Several JESCO employees volunteered their time this year to teach and mentor campers firsthand. 

Thirteen girls, ages 12 to 14, took part in the week-long camp, which introduces young women to careers in the skilled trades. Campers rotated through hands-on stations covering framing, concrete work, electrical wiring, plumbing, sheetrock installation, interior painting, and equipment operation, building a small structure with two walls and a floor from the ground up. Campers also partnered with 6 Days for the Troops to build wheelchair accessibility ramps for local veterans, pairing their new skills with a hands-on community service project. 

“Volunteering at the camp felt like managing a real jobsite, complete with PPE checks and site supervision,” said Alex Paige, a JESCO employee who volunteered at this year’s camp. “It was an incredible experience where our leadership team learned right alongside the girls. JESCO partners with FORGE to inspire the next generation of builders by raising awareness for the opportunities in construction and the trades.” 

The week built to a hands-on drilling competition on the final day, and when one camper hesitated to join in, JESCO’s team, her fellow campers, and their families rallied around her. “She left smiling, empowered by the realization that with the right team behind her, she can accomplish anything,” Alex Paige said. 

Alex Paige hopes other young women will follow the campers’ lead. “To any young woman considering a career in construction or the trades, take the leap,” she said. “It is challenging, but if you want a career that expands your knowledge, offers endless opportunities for growth, and helps you make a real impact, it is worth it 100 percent of the time.” 

As a charter member of FORGE, JESCO remains committed to investing in the Northeast Mississippi community and developing the next generation of skilled tradespeople. When more young women see a future for themselves in construction, the entire industry grows stronger.