Dallas

As a self-proclaimed "problematic inmate”, Dallas confesses that she displayed the same behavior "inside" as she did on the street. For the last five of the 15 years that she was incarcerated at Washington Women's Correctional Center (WWCC) for selling drugs and an accessory on other charges, she worked in the law library. Work assignments at WWCC were only supposed to last 18 months but she kept asking for extensions, and because there was no law librarian and she understood policy very well, exceptions were made to the rule.

Born in East Texas, Dallas is on the spectrum and didn't walk or talk until she was six years old. She learned survival methods at an early age as well as discovering her knack or maybe a gift for remembering details, intricate details of things that interest her, and solving puzzles. At first, her work in the law library allowed her to help people get out of trouble because she could find loopholes. However, one day, a woman, small in stature but mighty in personality, came into the law office looking for an attorney. After just a few minutes with Dallas, Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court and former judge of the King County Superior Court, Mary Yu, told Dallas she should think about going to law school. Dallas' response was as colorful as her personality, but that statement changed Dallas' mindset and confidence. She took responsibility for her choices and decided to enroll in an education program in prison.

"She was the only person besides Detective Kim Bogucki, co-founder of The IF Project, that thought I could be more," said Dallas, who considers her work in the law library the first time she ever did, 'in any way, good'."

As a child and teen growing up in a trailer park, she was sold for sex for six-packs of beer. With no guidance, work ethic or education, she "took control of her life" by turning to gangs. Her diagnosis of lupus and psoriatic arthritis gave her access to pain medications and opioids, which turned to more opioids and then heroin for both use and sale.

"I made every bad decision you can make," said Dallas. "Education saved me. It not only gave me a different societal world view but it gave me an understanding of my placement in society. In doing so, you start recognizing things, seeing things, realizing things. I had to question every belief I had."

Dallas credits not only education but The IF Project for saving her. She first met Detective Bogucki in 2008 but it wasn't until 2015, after she realized she had to change, that she approached her to ask the question, " is it too late for me?". Bogucki responded with a smile and a no and told her The IF Project is about second and third chances. At that moment, Dallas got involved with IF. She enrolled in The IF Project's writing workshop and made a commitment to helping herself and IF.

"The two things that saved me were education first, and the community I received through The IF Project," said Dallas. "Both give me a place to focus."

Dallas was released in 2018 and early last summer was accepted to the University of Washington's and Seattle University's law schools. Her dream was to be a Husky and enrolled full-time at the University of Washington. She received a partial scholarship and raised money through private donors to help supplement her tuition. She remains active with IF as a member of the speaker team and was a guest speaker at 2019's annual fundraiser brunch. She is thriving in school and thrilling (and challenging) her professors and classmates on a daily basis.