Latinas Welding Guild: Consuelo Poland Lockhart

Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 5 p.m.
Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center 115
L/P Credit Available
No registration required – seating is first come, first served.

Join the Department of Art & Design for this semester’s Art & Design Lecture Series! Each series is dedicated to the life and work of a different artist.

About Consuelo Poland Lockhart

Consuelo Poland Lockhart’s journey from her early days in Guatemala to becoming an advocate for marginalized communities is rooted in her upbringing in Traverse City, Michigan, where she often felt isolated due to the lack of diversity. Despite a strong education, the feeling of not fitting in planted seeds for her future mission. A pivotal moment came in 2006 when, at 17, she reunited with her biological family—an experience that profoundly influenced her vision and determination.

Armed with a BFA in Functional Art and a welding certification, Consuelo’s commitment to driving social and economic change grew from her personal story of perseverance. When she moved to Indianapolis in 2016, she led Ruckus Makerspace and soon after, in 2017, founded the Latinas Welding Guild Inc., a direct response to the discrimination and barriers she faced in male-dominated fields. This venture created the nurturing and empowering space she wished had existed for her, providing equal access and support for low to moderate-income adults and youth pursuing skilled trades and industry certifications.

By 2023, as Executive Director of Project Azul, which merged with the Guild, Consuelo spearheaded an expansion that allowed the organization to broaden its scope to include a wider range of trades. This growth amplified the Guild’s impact, enriching the community and fostering opportunities that extend beyond welding alone.

Consuelo’s story is a testament to resilience and the power of turning personal challenges into collective empowerment. Through the Latinas Welding Guild, she continues to build an inclusive environment where others find the belonging and opportunities she once sought, helping underserved communities break barriers and thrive in fields traditionally dominated by others. Her work embodies ambition, hope, and the drive to make a lasting, positive impact.

Latinas Welding Guild: https://weldingguild.com/