Black & Hispanic Contractors Unite

By. Gordon Jackson, Dallas Weekly

(May 2003, Dallas, TX) -- “We can look at each other and say, ‘not this time.’ When others try to split us, we can say, ‘not this time.”’

Matthew Harden spoke in a triumph of unity, announcing an alliance where there was once division. “It’s time for togetherness,” said Harden, Chairman of the Dallas Chapter of the Black Contractors Association. “They said it couldn’t be done, but we did it.”

The BCA and The Hispanic Contractors of Dallas/Ft. Worth (HCADFW) came together in a press conference at City Hall to sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding and announce the formation of a strategic alliance between the organizations. Well more than a hundred contractors and supportive elective officials were on hand.

“This means a lot to us,” said Adam Trevino, HCADFW chairman. “Our communities had been somewhat divided, but this shows that we are no longer.”

For years, Black and Hispanic contract workers have testified of distressing clashes when individually going out to acquire contracts from major public or private construction projects. Both sides have accused prime contractors of pitting minority sub-contractors against each other or having them fight over an extremely small percentage of project dollars.

“We’re here to increase both the quality and quantity,” said Trevino. “We’re here to unite to help us create better conditions, not only for our communities but our families. We’re establishing the type of relationship that will be an example not only for other cities, but for our state and hopefully our nation.”

Under the MOU, BCA and HCA will combine their resources to train future employees, acquire capital and bonding, lobby for legislation and help contractors achieve their goals. They will also promote together to increase membership in their respective organizations and collaborate with the Black and Hispanic chambers in the metroplex to maintain synergy.

“As a result of this coalition, our two organizations will make tremendous progress in the contracting industry as we increase our participation within the metroplex,” said Harden. “We’ll also develop our companies by creating contract opportunities between the BCA and HCA members.”

The collaboration will also help members of both associations attain the best of quality in the services they provide. Minority contractors will also team up to become prime contractors of projects, not just sub-contractors. “We will not be a black best, a brown best or a white best,” said Harden. “This will be the best period.”

Major projects are now at the forefront, such as the Dallas bond package worth up to $555 million, DISD’s $1.3 billion bond package, expansion at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and the new football stadium and entertainment complex planned to be built by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. With the black and Hispanic populations in Dallas exceeding that of Anglos, it makes the city a majority minority. The two groups will advocate that they receive more of the entire contracting pie and not settle for fighting over a small slice.

“The pie is so huge, but we’ve been fighting over the crumbs,” said Eugene Walker, corporate director of diversity affairs for Austin Industries, the main contractor behind the building of the American Airlines Center. “We’ve got talented contracting individuals on both sides of the fence. Collectively, when there are issues, we can come together and speak up as a unified voice as opposed to one organization trying to get nickels and dimes.” Rodney Parson of the Enterprise Foundation coordinates a program where they introduce inner-city youths to the construction industry. “I’m making sure that we’re a part of this coalition so that we can provide across-the-board training for all ethnicities,” said Parson.

Luis Spinola, owner of Azteca Enterprises, said “By breaking those barriers between the black and Hispanic contractors, instead of being isolated, we can work together in mentoring and safety programs.” Some city officials are ready to deal with the contractors as a united front. “The city is ready to be accessible to you,” said Dallas city council member Maxine Thornton-Reese. “We’re going to make sure that it is user friendly.”

Contractors from both communities hope that the agreement serves as a model for other cities. The contractors know that there will be initial resistance from the traditional powers, but they’re ready to fight, now together instead of apart. •