Jessica Fisher, Public Information Assistant, 509.625.6749
Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 9:19 a.m.
On a rainy November afternoon, I joined a Head Start to Construction Trades class. The program commonly referred to as HCT is run by the Inland NW Associated General Contractors Apprenticeship and has been training nontraditional construction workers for over a year now.
This HCT class was made up of ten Geiger Correction Center inmates. These inmates will be released soon and are working to build a productive life for themselves outside of prison. Throughout the course they’ve been receiving training in commercial and residential carpentry, plumbing, electrical, masonry, HVAC techs, welding, heavy equipment operation, ironwork and more!
On this particular day, the HCT class was doing some hands on training while helping refurbish a home in the Comstock Neighborhood. The home had sat untouched for eight years before HCT stepped in. The homeowner had moved out after becoming ill leaving the house empty. In her absence transients moved in and eventually the home was severely damaged in an arson fire in September 2017. This Geiger class is the fourth HCT class to work on this south hill home!
Programs like this HCT class give an opportunity for inmates to change not only their lives but the community around them. If you want to donate to this program and help build Spokane, visit the HCT website.
