People believe that we are here to fill a quota, not to do a job. When they see that you CAN do what you were sent here to do, they begin to respect you.

I worked until my 9th month of pregnancy -- the Goldman Sachs Embassy Suites hotel by ground zero.

We are in the 21st century and less than 10 percent of workers are women in the construction industry.

Follow our blog to hear the stories of women working in construction in New York City at every level as we ask 20 questions to women working in construction.

Construction pulled together everything for me. No cubicles, people skills a plus, and the artistry, wow, most don't think so but I see nothing but art and creation in all of its glory.

If you had told me five years ago that I, Manny Tapia, would find a job where I was earning $30 an hour, I would've called you crazy.

Monday marked the beginning of arguably the biggest trial of this century, as the U.S. Department of Justice went to court with global oil giant, BP. With money most likely on the way to states, and needs still so acute, the question is, how to invest it most effectively.

'Men are still surprised that we can do the work too.'

'I could see myself being a shop steward, a foreman, a lot of different positions, every position you gotta know everything.'

As slums, schools, and homes are designed and built in cities across the developing world, the urban poor are making use of new and innovative approaches to construction.

The first job that my union sent me to was a demolition job on the Columbia University campus. We were removing a parapet from around the roof of the law school building.

Four days after my parole I started working on a landscaping crew. I was grateful for the work, but, at minimum wage, I knew that I would never make a living this way.