by Manny Apostol, King County Sheriff’s Office

Patti Cole-Tindall, interim King County Sheriff, recently spoke to the graduating class of TRAC, which stands for Trades Related Apprenticeship Coaching. This program is a 16-week state-registered pre-apprentice opportunity that prepares incarcerated women for entry into an apprenticeship with the building trades industry.

Students shared heartfelt stories of their struggles and inspirations during the virtual graduation. One recent graduate told the audience as to why the program was so important to her:  “If you want something you’ve never had before, you need to do something you’ve never done before.”

Sheriff Cole-Tindall offered words of advice to those who completed the program: “You have accomplished a great deal by being part of the TRAC program. You have an opportunity to be successful and make a difference in the world. Dream big. Never stop trying and learning. Embrace your failures, and know you can make different choices.”

As TRAC has many successful graduates working and thriving in our communities, this program illustrates the importance of partnership in enhancing public safety by positively impacting the lives of those incarcerated.