Imagine visiting Tacoma, Washington. Now imagine staying at a marvelous motel, one that also has a terrific bakery café. It’s the kind of place everyone hopes to find, with excellent management and every detail of hospitality carefully considered and provided.
That’s the motel Trenaye dreams of opening, and she is well on her way to make her dream come true. A dynamic young woman, Tenaye moved to Tacoma one and a half years ago from Sacramento. She had earned top grades in high school and her teachers urged her to consider college. Since she had a grandmother in Tacoma, she made the move north.
Through contacts at the Mockingbird Society, Trenaye discovered the Goodwill REACH center. She freely admits she had personal hurdles to overcome. But she had the willingness to get the help she needed and get going on accomplishing all she knew she was capable of. “Your background or family doesn’t need to keep you from your dreams”, she said. “The most important thing I learned was keep your integrity, work hard and go for what you want in life. Now I surround myself with positive people. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, show up and never give up. That’s me!”
Trenaye’s Pathway classes brought her more than job training and personal achievement. She also gained a community of friends and a network of professional contacts. “I always stop in to visit and go to them for help,” she says.
Now employed at the bakery at Walmart, Trenaye has Tacoma Community College and UW in her sights. And then there’s her motel and cafe. “I now know how to make coffee drinks,” she laughs. “I had a lot of friends go through the barista program at Goodwill. They’ve taught me how to make great coffee, which I love. It’s one more thing that will make my motel and café something very special.”