Meegan Czop of Rebuilding Exchage

I think there are a lot of women (myself included) who often feel as though they are without a voice; be it in the workplace, the construction site, on the range, in social media, or during everyday life. It can be infuriatingly overwhelming to stand against the dialogue that already dictates those venues and arenas: the ideas that men are better leaders, women can’t perform as well in tough, blue-collar jobs, or even that women are better suited to clerical tasks rather than being out on the field.

Women, let’s stick together and raise our voices simultaneously to create a new discussion. We are capable. We are strong. We can swing a hammer or wield a crowbar. We can be contractors and painters and cattle ranchers and mechanics and engineers. We can do whatever job we want. We can lead, and we can do it well. WE CAN.

That brings me to Meegan Czop and the folks at Rebuilding Exchange. Many women there fill roles that are typically considered a man’s job. Meegan spends time on the ground scavenging through demolition sites for materials that can be resold through the non-profit to the public for re-use. It’s a tough job and she’s often the only woman to step foot in the work zone.

I tagged along on a trip she made to a Chicago warehouse that was ruined by fire a few months ago. With a jump in her step, she explores areas that would make most people nervous. A job that requires an adventurous spirit requires a special person. Meegan is changing the dialogue of what women are capable of with the elbow grease she puts into every day, the hard work she does to preserve and better the community, and the way she defies stereotypes with confidence and competence.

Meegan is wearing: Carhartt Women’s Force Performance Verdon Polo & Series 1889 Slim-Fit Double Front Denim Dungaree

Imani of Keep Growing Detroit

 

There is a certain feeling of empowerment and resolve that come with sticking your own two hands in the soil and growing your own food. Dusting the dirt off your clothes after a hard day of work never felt so good. To watch your labor generate new life is almost as satisfying as taking a big bite out of a your fresh produce.

Spend some time with the folks at Keep Growing Detroit and you’ll know what I’m talking about. This non-profit organization makes it possible to grow fruits and veggies in the city limits for the people of Detroit. Their focus is to help residents create a healthy relationship with food, spread knowledge about growing and farming, and cultivate a sense of community.

After a few minutes of following Imani around as she worked in the gardens, I sensed her connection with the land. With experience and dexterity, she performed each familiar task as if she were having her daily conversation with the ground. The interdependent relationship between Mother Nature and those who harvest its potential is one that should be respected and never taken for granted.

Included above are some tips to starting your own garden. Take a look at some of Imani’s Carhartt gear that helps her get the job done: Carhartt Women’s Force Equator Jacket, Carhartt Force Performance Quarter-Zip Shirt, Original-Fit Canvas Crawford Dungaree, Wellington Boot, and Soft Hands Gloves.