Lisa Capizzi

A public housing resident Laborer finds her niche in construction after getting her start through the Housing Authority's Resident Employment Program.

Lisa Capizzi is a self-described tomboy. She is working in construction as a Laborer after getting her start through the Housing Authority Resident Employment Program. The Housing Authority assisted her by paying her union initiation fee so she could get her start. She began as a Laborer at Bernal Dwellings, worked at various jobs through her union, Laborers' Local 261 and was hired by Nibbi Brothers, the contractor at the Housing Authority HOPE VI site at North Beach. Working at North Beach was returning home for Lisa who grew up in the North Beach area and lived in the North Beach public housing community.

After working for 18 months at North Beach, Nibbi Brothers moved her to work as part of the construction crew at historic St. Mary's Church located at California and Grant Streets. Earlier in her career, Lisa worked at a high rise construction site helping construct a hotel. She enjoyed this work and says she is not afraid of heights. She is at home keeping the construction site clean, doing concrete work and other general laborer duties. In one job, Lisa drove a Bobcat. Lisa had concerns early in her career as a Laborer that men would try to beat her down, but she has not experienced that. If fact, she has found many male co-workers have helped her learn the tricks of the trade. A large measure of her knowledge of her job was acquired on-the-job from working at various construction sites.

Lisa attended Galileo High School but did not finish. However, one of her goals is to get her GED. She started work as a clerk-typist and can still type 90 words a minute. She attended and graduated from City College with courses in auto mechanics and carpentry. She is a single parent who is proud of her two boys, ages 11 and 14. Lisa gives back to her community as a counselor at a youth home. As an experienced Laborer, Lisa assists in training new people coming to work, letting them know what is in the soil and how to protect themselves from possible contamination before they venture onto the work site.

The Senior Project Manager for Nibbi's North Beach Construction Project said of Lisa, "She was the first resident hired and has worked out so well, she is now 'showing the ropes' to the other resident hires."

Lisa has an easy going nature and a ready smile. Her goals include getting her GED and buying a house. Lisa and her family currently live at Holly Courts. When talking about her goal to buy a house and leave public housing, Lisa said, "It's time for someone else to get into my spot."

Lisa's success can be summed up in a comment made by one of the Nibbi managers, "Several of the neighborhood hires have resulted in good, long-standing employees who have moved from project to project." Lisa made the move.

Recently, Lisa has been thinking about a career change to get back into office work. She recently completed and graduated from computer training. With her success so far, we should be watching for Lisa to make her mark in another career field soon.

We have many success stories among our residents and former residents. We hope these stories will inform and inspire the readers.
Readers with story ideas about successful residents of San Francisco Housing Authority public housing or Section 8 housing should submit those ideas to feedback@sfha.org. Please include as much information as you can.

Return to top

Contact Us•Legal•Links•Site Index