Trent heads up Family Crisis Council

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

Before Lucretia Trent became a criminal and family law attorney, she counseled domestic violence victims and developed programs for the Family Crisis Council of Rowan County.

She recently went back to her roots, taking the helm as executive director of the nonprofit agency that specializes in helping those affected by rape, incest, sexual assault and domestic violence.

Trent, a Rowan County native, took the position in March after practicing law for more than 20 years.

She found out about the agency’s search for an executive director in January and was shocked to find herself drawn to the opportunity.

“It’s not anything I ever thought of until the opportunity became available,” she said.

Trents operated a solo practice and now she manages more people, she said.

Since taking on her new role, she has been working with staff to retool some of the existing programs, like the sexual assault program.

Trent also wants to shift the focus to empowering victims, “to be able to take control of their lives and give them that guidance and support,” she said.

There is a distinct difference between rescuing a person and empowering them, Trent said.

“There’s a saying, ‘give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,’ ” she said.

She hopes to teach the people who receive services from the Family Crisis Council to gain the power to make positive changes in their lives.

“We don’t want to damage them further by taking control,” Trent said.

The organization in a sense is anonymous, she said, because when people seek help, they rely on anonymity for their safety.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” she said.

Trent would like to get the word out about the organization to those who aren’t sure what services are available.

The organization provides a variety of services, including 24/7 crisis intervention and counseling, a temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence, a rape and sexual assault program, court advocacy and support groups.

Another one of Trent’s goals is to amp up volunteer participation by encouraging local residents use their niche to lend a hand. She said there may be someone who’s interested in Web design or someone who can help organize events.

She said building a stronger relationship with law enforcement agencies is another important step.

Trent earned both her bachelor’s in psychology and master’s degree in human development from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She received her law degree from the UNC-Chapel Hill.

Trent became Salisbury’s first uniformed female police officer in 1975. She began as a dispatcher and later a patrol officer.

While working as a social worker at Nazareth Children’s Home in Rockwell, she counseled children and supervised house parents.

Trent worked as a staff attorney for the Rowan County Department of Social Services before entering private practice.

“I really like what I’m doing,” she said.

In her spare time, Trent makes jewelry, “simple beading,” she says.

She also does paper crafts such as scrapbooking and making greeting cards. She enjoys spending time with her two dogs, a Vizsla named Goofy and a basset hound named Coco. She has a Siamese cat named Lily.

Trent has also semi-adopted a mockingbird she rescued. The baby bird fell out of its nest and she created a nest of sorts in a tree so the mama bird can still have access.

The Family Crisis Council of Rowan County is a United Way agency, located at 131 W. Council St.

For more information about the Family Crisis Council, call 704-636-4718.

Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.