This is a recap of a previous Women Build event. Click here for information about new and upcoming Women Build events.
2024 Women Build: Strong Women, Strong Communities
In Honor of Rosalynn Carter
Women Build 2024 honored the late Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady and champion of volunteerism, and celebrated Women’s History Month. Throughout March, we welcomed incredible groups and individuals to our Stewart location, as well as sites in Azusa and Baldwin Park, where volunteers helped prepare walls and foundations for future homes. Participants spent their days building alongside colleagues, painting rocks, and advocating for affordable housing. The impact continued into April, with additional groups joining the effort and Foundation Sponsor East West Bank helping to wrap up this year’s Women Build.
This year’s Women Build was about more than constructing walls—it was about empowering women to create strong, supportive communities while addressing the critical need for affordable housing. Spanning over six weeks of impactful activities, the event was coordinated in memory of Rosalynn Carter, a champion of community service and affordable housing. It raised a record-breaking $220,000, directly supporting families in their journey to homeownership.
A cornerstone of this year’s Women Build was the involvement of hundreds of women and their allies, united by the shared goal of building homes and highlighting the vital role homeownership plays in achieving economic equity for women. East West Bank returned as a lead sponsor, further solidifying its commitment to community development and equity.
The event also shone a spotlight on the disproportionate challenges faced by women, particularly single mothers and women of color, in accessing decent, affordable housing. These barriers can seem insurmountable, but stable, affordable homeownership has the power to transform lives. Research consistently demonstrates that children in stable housing environments perform better in school, while families experience improved health outcomes, including fewer illnesses and reduced rates of depression. Homeownership provides low-income families with a foundation of strength, stability, and independence.
The impact of Women Build extends across the San Gabriel Valley, with families in cities such as Azusa, Glendale, Pasadena, Monterey Park, Baldwin Park, and Monrovia benefiting from the event’s efforts. Through volunteering, donations, and advocacy, Women Build continues to transform lives, proving that when women come together, they construct far more than homes—they build a legacy of hope, opportunity, and lasting change.
“Our goal is to empower women to help families build strength, stability, and independence,” says Faith Mellinger, Director of Marketing, Communications, and Engagement. “At Habitat, we have the unique ability to provide opportunities for this with hands-on learning, and, when offered the right tools, women can succeed in changing their communities.”
Building Walls, Breaking Barriers: Celebrating Women’s Strength in Construction and Community
As part of building strong, supportive communities SGV Habitat kicked off Women Build activities with a Rock Painting activity at the Duarte ReStore, hosted in collaboration with a local Girl Scout troop. Talented participants created beautifully designed rocks, which will be incorporated into future builds.
Additionally, the “Women in Construction: Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams” panel, presented by Bali Construction and IBEW Local 11, provided an inspiring platform for women to share their journeys in construction. Attendees gained valuable insights from industry leaders, including project managers, engineers, executives, and skilled tradeswomen, representing renowned companies and organizations. Together, these events celebrated the strength and contributions of women breaking barriers in building communities.
Women Build attendees thoroughly enjoyed their delicious lunch, courtesy of Panda Express, the official lunch sponsor of Women Build 2024. The generous sponsorship provided a tasty and energizing break, fueling participants as they came together to make a meaningful impact in the community.
To honor Rosalynn Carter’s devotion, leadership, and commitment to help uplift families through affordable homeownership, SGV Habitat dedicated Women Build 2024 in her memory.
Since 1984, Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, embodying her lifelong dedication to service. After leaving the White House, the Carters joined their first build with Habitat for Humanity, aligning with the organization’s mission and launching The Carter Work Project, an annual weeklong building blitz that alternates between the U.S. and international locations, providing stable homeownership to over 4,300 families. Initially hesitant to wield a hammer, Rosalynn soon joined other volunteers in construction efforts, contributing to thousands of homes over three decades while advocating for housing, mental health services, and women’s rights.
“I have become aware of the great needs of people who don’t have a home. Their values are just the same as ours. They want an opportunity to have good lives. That is what Habitat is about. It just makes you want to keep building more houses.” – Rosalynn Carter, First Lady, Humanitarian, Habitat for Humanity Advocate & Volunteer
Women Build 2024 Sponsors
