Girls Build event empowering women in trades

GANSEVOORT, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Young women from the Capital Region showed off their woodworking skills on Friday. Students from local high schools came together to build vertical gardens as part of a Girls Build event.

Event organizers hope the workshop will help inspire more women to break into the construction field.

"I hope that it opens folks' minds to the different opportunities for their children," project planner Elizabeth Bidwell said. "So parents need to see what's available for their children, counselors knowing that college is a great opportunity but there's also opportunities in the trades for children to have successful careers working with their hands."

"It's definitely a great experience," student Arlie Rickson said. "I'm having a lot of fun. I got to interact with other girls I never met before."

The gardens that were built at the event will be sold at the upcoming Parade of Homes, which benefits the Center for Disability Services.