Tracy Nelson, Certified Professional in Learning and Performance through the American Society of Training and Development, is the President and Executive Director of the STREETSMART Center for Family Safety, a 501c3 nonprofit educational organization dedicated to providing safety education, training, and resources focused on the personal safety needs of women and children.
Tracy created the STREETSMART programs after being held at knifepoint in 1990. Since then, she has trained over 6000 people nationwide in crime prevention, personal safety, and self defense strategies. Tracy serves as the Wisconsin State Director for the RAD Systems national organization, and received her certifications at the Tidewater Police Academy in Poquoson, VA. She is also a nationally certified instructor for the highly acclaimed children's safety program called RAD Kids. The program includes activities based on building confidence and self-esteem in children so they truly gain the knowledge and confidence to make positive choices in their own safety.
Tracy believes that as a woman who has experienced being the target of an assault, it gives her a unique perspective as an instructor. She feels the programs offered through StreetSmart Center are unique because they are geared towards the needs of those that wish to learn effective self protection strategies and skills without investing the time required to learn a martial art. She also strongly believes that by providing personal safety education and resources, it can help women, children and families learn ways to reduce their chances of becoming targets for crime and violence, and better prepare them by increasing their options for escaping potentially threatening situations and ultimately saving lives.