Clayco’s Construction Career Development Initiative has been helping bridge the inequality gap in workforce development since its inception in the aftermath of the 2015 Ferguson unrest. We have since aimed to foster the next generation of industry and community transformation by giving students the skills and tools for success by assisting with everything from teaching industry basics to securing job placement. Since the organization’s establishment, we have successfully placed 140 students into full-time roles with local companies! The impact of CCDI has been witnessed and felt by underserved demographics and people across the nation, and it is incredible to have expanded our efforts from St. Louis to Chicago and Phoenix! We aim to continue the program’s growth to serve many more locations and people. Our Clayco team has done an excellent job extending our reach to instill our people-centric and inclusive values by creating customized programs that cater to each city’s unique needs.
El Anatsui is a Ghanaian sculptor who has gained international recognition for his ground-breaking work in transforming everyday materials into stunning, monumental sculptures. Born in Anyako, Ghana, in 1944, he studied at the College of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. In 1975, El began teaching at the Fine Arts Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. For more than four decades he was Professor of Sculpture and is now Departmental Head. He recently made the 2023 list of Time’s 100 “Most Influential” people, alongside noteworthy actors, politicians, and personalities. El was honored by the Nigerian art historian Chika Okeke-Agulu, who called him “one of the most impactful artists of our time.”
Shawn and I love Chicago. We have deep roots and headquarters here, and we are always looking for the next step of innovation to make our communities stronger and safer. We pledge our best effort and goodwill to Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson. The ME won a tough election and has one of the most important jobs in the United States. It’s a well-deserved nomination and offers great potential for the city of Chicago.
Being raised in Bridgeton, Missouri, on the outskirts of St. Louis, I have always felt strongly connected to the St. Louis community. Since establishing Clayco, it has been one of our main focuses to give back to the neighborhoods where we operate and ensure that our positive impact extends beyond the walls of our structures and doesn’t end once a project is completed. To continually inspire innovation and bridge the gap between underserved demographics and the resources they require to succeed, our team supports various community-centered initiatives, including Counterpublic. Counterpublic is a civic exhibition that weaves contemporary art into the Life of St. Louis for a three-month display every three years, running this year from April 15 to July 15! The exhibition aims to reimagine civic infrastructures toward generational change with a vision to facilitate conversations on the role of contemporary art and become a beacon of creative thinking and community engagement. Our Clayco team works best with talent that shares a similar philosophy as we pursue “the Art & Science of Building.” This mantra drives our love for art and, like Counterpublic, allows for more inclusive platforms and spaces that expand social, political, and civic horizons.
There's something really special and different about Mickalene Thomas’s art. An African-American contemporary artist and filmmaker from New Jersey, she studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2000, and later received her Master of Fine Arts from the Yale University School of Art in 2002. Mickalene’s work encompasses a range of mediums, including painting, photography, and video installations. She explores issues of identity, representation, and gender, and draws on popular culture and art history. She is best known for her large-scale paintings that feature complex, multi-layered compositions and include bold patterns, bright colors, and glitter.
Every year on February 28th, individuals and institutions worldwide amplify their efforts to raise awareness for Rare Disease Day. 400 million people worldwide live with a rare disease, and far more are impacted daily by them. By some estimates, rare disease affects 3.5% – 5.9% of the population, and many of those affected are lacking the support that they need. My late wife Ellen passed away after a rare disease diagnosis in 2010. Since then, I’ve done what I can to invoke sustainable change to better the lives of patients, families, and carers. The Clayco Foundation is committed to supporting meaningful research to find treatments and a cure for Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy (RVCL), a rare genetic disease, year-round.
Some of the key choices that we get to make in this life are the things we prioritize, both with our finances and with our energy and efforts.
Over the course of my life, my priorities have shifted immensely, and I now spend a large amount of my time focusing on the work that our foundation is doing, as well as being engaged in impactful community efforts. The majority of the work that we are a part of is aimed at issues directly affecting my family and the Clayco community.