Mission

The mission of Puget Sound Training Center is to advance economic mobility among our most vulnerable populations – low-income communities of color, and culturally and linguistically isolated immigrants and refugees. PSTC does so through a racial equity lens that promotes access to education, credentials, digital literacy, job skills training, and comprehensive employment services through a bilingual and culturally competent model of care.

History

Puget Sound OIC dba Puget Sound Training Center became an official 501(C)3 in 2000 under the executive leadership of Mr. Joseph Drake. Mr. Drake was born and raised in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He watched his mother work very hard to care for him and his brothers growing up. As a young black man, he grew up passionate about fighting injustice and often found himself marching and protesting in the streets during the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s. His love for equality for all people did not stop there. He continued to travel various parts of the states under the leadership of Dr. Leon Sullivan, founder of Opportunities Industrialization Center of America (OIC) based in Philadelphia. Puget Sound OIC dba Puget Sound Training Center birthed its formation in Washington state in 1998 under the same mission and vision of OIC of America.

Joseph Drake- President & CEO