An Inside Look at the ConstructConnect® Team Behind AEC Cares | #ProjectBoston

In brief:

• AEC Cares brings collectively structure, engineering, and building professionals to offer again to communities via impactful renovation initiatives.
• This yr’s occasion centered on renovating the Catholic Charities Teen Middle at St. Peter’s in Boston, creating welcoming and practical areas for native teenagers.
• The AEC Cares Steering Committee managed planning, coordination, and execution, guaranteeing the undertaking’s success via teamwork and volunteerism.
• Upgrades included transformed leisure areas, a brand new music room, a weight room, a dance studio, and refreshed communal areas.
• The renovated Teen Middle provides a protected and provoking setting, fostering progress, studying, and constructive growth for native youth.

On Wednesday, June 4, greater than 100 volunteers from the structure, engineering, and building (AEC) trade gathered in Boston for an annual day of service via AEC Cares,  a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit group of which ConstructConnect® is a founding member and first organizer. AEC Cares was based in 2011 by members of the structure, engineering, and building trade who shared a imaginative and prescient of giving again to communities in want. Annually, AEC Cares engages trade professionals in a volunteer occasion coinciding with the annual AIA Convention on Structure & Design. Previous places have included Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

This yr’s volunteers participated in its 2025 Day of Service renovating the Catholic Charities Teen Middle at St. Peter’s. Though the transformation passed off in in the future, this undertaking was made doable by over a yr of planning and coordination by the AEC Cares Steering Committee, a small group of volunteer workforce members at ConstructConnect who’re accountable for all the pieces from scouting out the location of every yr’s AEC Cares undertaking, working with professional bono designers to outline the scope of the renovations, and guaranteeing every undertaking has the sponsors and volunteers it must succeed.

“AEC Cares is dedicated to altering areas and lives via community-focused renovation initiatives, due to the efforts of trade volunteers via the coordination of our Steering Committee,” stated Jennifer Johnson, President of the AEC Cares Board of Administrators and ConstructConnect Chief Product Officer. “Our story is one in every of group, dedication, and the idea that small actions can result in large adjustments, yr after yr.”

On the day of service itself, the Steering Committee dealt with prepping the location, checked in volunteers, and rolled up their sleeves to carry the imaginative and prescient to life alongside these volunteers. Their work not solely embodies ConstructConnect’s mission to energy the individuals and initiatives that construct thriving communities but additionally exhibits their dedication to service.

The 2025 award recipient, The Catholic Charities Teen Center at St. Peter’s, serves adolescents in Dorchester’s Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood, offering after-school and summer season packages that construct shallowness and develop instruments for tutorial and private progress. This yr’s renovation spanned two flooring and a number of room varieties on the Teen Middle. The doorway space and hallway on the primary flooring have been refreshed to create a extra welcoming environment. The basement stage noticed an entire redesign, together with freshly painted and refinished bogs, a completely furnished fashionable recreation area, music room, weight room, dance studio, and cafeteria area. New flooring, ceiling tiles, paint, furnishings, finishes, and lights have been added to each flooring to create a extra inviting area.

Because the mud on this undertaking settled, we spoke with members of the AEC Cares Steering Committee about their expertise and this yr’s #AECCaresProject. Preserve studying for a behind the scenes have a look at this undertaking from the individuals who deliberate it.

What number of years have you ever been concerned with AEC Cares, and what’s your function on the Steering Committee?

“I’ve been concerned with AEC Cares because the very first undertaking in New Orleans in 2011. Throughout that undertaking we renovated 5 homes after the devastation of hurricane Katrina to assist the group get again on their toes. This yr, I served as undertaking supervisor for this yr’s Steering Committee. A few of my core tasks included discovering, visiting, and recommending potential websites for AEC Cares to renovate. After touchdown on Catholic Charities Boston’s Teen Middle, I labored carefully with our professional bono design workforce and normal contractor in addition to Catholic Charities Boston to make sure we had all the pieces we would have liked to make this undertaking a hit.”

– John Royster AEC Cares Board Member and ConstructConnect Vice President, Buyer Assist & Operations

“Though I assisted with final yr’s AEC Cares undertaking in Washington D.C. after becoming a member of ConstructConnect in Might of 2024, this was my first full yr serving on the Steering Committee because the social media supervisor. I assist inform the story of the undertaking—highlighting the mission, individuals concerned, and the influence we’re making. I give attention to creating content material that shares what AEC Cares is all about, giving shoutouts to our wonderful sponsors, and exhibiting the transformation that occurs on our construct day. It’s a workforce effort, and I’m glad I get to play a component in serving to extra individuals see the nice that comes out of this work!”

– Julie Riley AEC Cares Steering Committee Member and ConstructConnect Social Media Supervisor

“I’ve been concerned in AEC Cares for 5 years and 4 initiatives. I’ve taken on much more duty within the Steering Committee this yr, going from solely dealing with the meals and drinks for volunteers to extra behind-the-scenes work. This yr I assisted with coordinating with our professional bono design groups, managing paperwork for the undertaking, and organizing the supplies and specs that got to us by the design workforce.”

– Tiffany Moehrke AEC Cares Steering Committee Member and ConstructConnect Supervisor, Buyer Operations

What impressed you to become involved with AEC Cares?

“It is one factor to plan these occasions; it’s one other to be a part of the renovation itself and to see the influence it has. I’ll always remember about these two eight-year-old boys that hopped on our volunteer bus in 2016 proper after we reworked their youth middle. Each walked down the aisle of the bus and hugged each single volunteer and thanked them for reworking their area. After that, I used to be hooked.”

– Derek Guffey AEC Cares Board Member and ConstructConnect Vice President, Gross sales

“I’ve had a comfortable spot for volunteer work since I used to be younger. It began once I used to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. I liked seeing the direct, seen influence these initiatives had on communities. It was the same sentiment that drew me to AEC Cares; the possibility to be a part of one thing hands-on, the place you may see the transformation occur proper in entrance of you. Since I’ve develop into concerned in AEC Cares, I’ve additionally been impressed by the sorts of organizations we assist. Every of the charities we’ve got helped are doing extremely significant work and actually deserve the assistance.”

– Ayzia Baros AEC Cares Steering Committee Member and ConstructConnect Senior Buyer Care Supervisor

“I actually worth that ConstructConnect helps initiatives like AEC Cares—it exhibits our dedication to giving again in an actual, hands-on means. A lot of my day is spent behind a display, and this offers me an opportunity to step away from the pc and be bodily current in the neighborhood. It’s rewarding to contribute to one thing so tangible and significant alongside others in our trade.”

– Kelsey Erhart AEC Cares Steering Committee Member and ConstructConnect On-line Content material & Group Supervisor

What’s your favourite a part of this yr’s undertaking?

“My favourite a part of this yr’s undertaking was the listening tour and brainstorming session AEC Cares had with the kids who use the area. After this occurred, I bought to listen to about what they envision for the renovated area. Getting to listen to them reimagine their areas to be extra welcoming and practical was such a particular a part of the design and made the outcomes of this undertaking much more private.”

– Blaise Bornhorst AEC Cares Steering Committee Member and ConstructConnect Engagement Senior Supervisor

“What excites me most this yr is the wide-reaching influence of the undertaking—particularly for the children. Creating an area the place they will really feel protected, study, develop, and simply be children throughout essentially the most early life of their lives is one thing I’m extremely proud to be a part of and I can’t wait to see the result of this yr’s undertaking.”

– Kate Wenzel AEC Cares Steering Committee Member and ConstructConnect Director, Model & Digital Advertising

“I am initially from Connecticut and spent a major a part of my life in Boston, so having this yr’s undertaking in Dorchester feels prefer it’s occurring proper in my previous yard. That makes this undertaking that rather more particular to me.”

– Brittani Phillips AEC Cares Steering Committee Member and ConstructConnect Senior Built-in Advertising Supervisor

“Giving children an area that’s protected, enjoyable, and works nicely for them will make a giant distinction of their lives. Seeing the distinction an act of kindness could make in somebody’s life is so significant. I wished to be a part of one thing that builds a brighter future and makes a long-lasting influence.”

– Daybreak Reiner AEC Cares Steering Committee Member and ConstructConnect Senior Occasions Supervisor

To see the outcomes of #AECCaresProejctBoston try this coverage from CBS Information.Click here if you’re serious about volunteering, donating, or sponsoring the AEC Cares Day of Service in 2026.