Video by Jeff Baur, CDCR videographer
Mother of six and former California Prison Industry Authority, or CALPIA, graduate Vera Salcedo spoke to more than 70 women at the authority’s recent graduation at the California Institution for Women.
A graduate from CALPIA’s Pre-Apprentice Carpentry and Pre-Apprentice Construction Labor programs at the institution, Salcedo wanted to share her story and be a role model. Since her release, she has been working with the Southwest Carpenters Union and is the Site Safety Officer for Guy Yocom Construction, a large construction firm in Southern California.
CALPIA’s Career Technical Education program partners with CDCR and local trade unions to train offenders with classroom and hands-on experience. After offenders graduate and are released they have the opportunity to work for the trade unions. CALPIA pays their first year of union dues and purchases a set of tools for those women entering the trades once released from prison.
CALPIA is a self-supporting, customer-focused business that reduces recidivism, increases prison safety, and enhances public safety by providing incarcerated men and women productive work and training opportunities. Learn more at https://www.calpia.ca.gov/.
See the YouTube video (may not be available to CDCR employees).
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