Podcast #355: 

HOW TO FIGHT FOR WHAT MATTERS WITH VIRGINIA WALDEN FORD

In this episode of The Confidence Podcast we’re talking with special guest Virginia Walden Ford about:

• How to fight for what matters, especially against all odds
• How to have confidence for public speaking
• How to take action, even in the face of crippling fear – and how to deal with the pressure you feel when you are fighting for something that matters tremendously 
• Learning experience from Virginia Walden Ford

SPONSORSHIP NOTE:

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REVIEW OF THE WEEK: 

It’s dks skandhssbsmxn – Love love love, 5-Stars!

Just started my first podcast episode yesterday and it truly was eye-opening for me! I personally struggle with being too self-critical when it comes to my goals. I saw a new light in how I should approach and set goals as well as learning that it’s okay to have breaks or off days! It gives me peace of mind that I’m not the only one who struggles with this. I love the positive mindset you have and how you are helping others! Keep it up girl! <3 your new fav fan!!! 

ABOUT VIRGINIA WALDEN FORD

“Being a part of this fight for educational excellence was hard — certainly something I had never thought I’d be involved in — but when I looked at my children and my neighbors’ children, I felt compelled to continue. It was scary sometimes, but I believed then and I believe now that it was the right thing to do… for all of our kids.” — Virginia Walden Ford

MISS VIRGINIA is inspired by the story of Virginia Walden Ford, a struggling single mother from a low-income neighborhood in Washington, DC. Affectionately called “Miss Virginia” and “the Education Lady” by neighborhood children, Virginia fought to create a scholarship program for her at-risk son and children like him.

And she won.

Virginia grew up in the deep South. Her world changed when the Supreme Court decided the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, which famously concluded that “separate educational facilities” for white and black children were “inherently unequal.”

Three years after the decision, in 1957, the “Little Rock Nine” enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. There was so much resistance that the National Guard had to be called out to escort them into the school. But many others followed their example — including Virginia. In 1966, Virginia and her twin sister joined about one hundred other black teens at Little Rock Central. There, she was verbally abused nearly every day, and not just by the students.

Virginia begged her father to let her return to her all-black school, but he insisted she stay. Despite the racism and daily struggle, Little Rock Central offered a better education; plus, she was paving the way for future students of color.

As Virginia puts it, “Those days definitely firmed my backbone.”

When Virginia became a parent, she learned that the civil rights battle she had fought wasn’t over. Her son was stuck in a school that didn’t meet his needs and couldn’t even keep him safe. But she didn’t have the resources to put him in a different school. His entire future was on the line. Virginia was convinced—and still is—that if she didn’t get him into a better school, he would wind up in jail, on drugs, or dead.

Virginia’s fight for her son and other at-risk kids forced her to become a warrior. She had to overcome deep inner doubts about whether she could actually do what she had set out to do — and almostcrippling fear that she would let down the parents and kids whose hopes and dreams depended on her.

Nothing about this came easily to Virginia. She was even afraid of public speaking! But at marches, rallies, press conferences, and even congressional hearings, she overcame her fear. She never stopped talking. And her voice reached the roughest corners of the inner city and the highest levels of government.

Virginia Walden Ford did it all at great personal risk. She received death threats,and even feared for her son’s safety. Yet she continued to rally parents, community leaders, and politicians on behalf of thousands of underserved, neglected, and forgotten children.

In 2004, after years of activism, Virginia secured legislation that gave thousands of impoverished, largely minority children access to safe, high-quality schools. Many have since gone on to college and rewarding careers, an outcome that would have been unimaginable without the educational boost Virginia’s law provided.

Now, MISS VIRGINIA captures Virginia’s indomitable spirit on screen. The film will inspire audiences to do their utmost to secure their children’s essential civil right—the right to an education.

ABOUT MISS VIRGINIA, THE MOVIE

Based on a true story, MISS VIRGINIA stars Emmy® winner Uzo Aduba as a struggling single mother who is losing her fifteen-year-old son to the rough streets of Washington, DC. Unwilling to see him drop out and deal drugs, she places him in a private school. But when she can’t afford tuition, she launches a movement to change the system that is destroying him and thousands like him. Attacked and threatened by those who don’t want change—from corrupt politicians to the local drug lord—Virginia must discover depths of strength she never knew she had.

Emmy® nominee Vanessa Williams (SOUL FOOD, MY BROTHER), Emmy® nominee Aunjanue Ellis (WHEN THEY SEE US), Amirah Vann (UNDERGROUND), Emmy® nominee Adina Porter (AMERICAN HORROR STORY), Niles Fitch (THIS IS US), Nadji Jeter (WONDER), and Golden Globe nominee Matthew Modine (STRANGER THINGS, FULL METAL JACKET) round out MISS VIRGINIA’s stellar cast.

QUESTIONS FOR MAMA VIRGINIA 

Miss Virginia, you claim you don’t like public speaking, and yet, your voice has been heard at congressional hearings, in press conferences, on live television, and alongside the President of the United States. Your public speaking has reached the roughest corners of the inner city and the highest levels of government … how have you overcome your reluctance for public speaking? 

Can you give my listeners some tips on how to have more confidence as they go to the mic, whether it’s an actual mic or it’s a moment in a conversation where they need to speak up in a way in front of others that makes them feel uncomfortable? 

Your film highlights three calls-to-action very clearly. “Be brave.” “Be heard.” “Believe.” Who taught you how to do these things in your life? How did you hold onto belief as you committed to being heard? 

I have so many listeners who have a deep passion to make a difference in this world, but they are often frozen in fear and overwhelm because the cause they want to fight for feels too big.  

-How did you know that the fight for education was something you could make a difference in?

-How did you deal with the daunting emotions of facing the Goliath in front of you?

-How did you encourage yourself when you felt the pressure of leading thousands of parents in this cause, but not knowing the outcome ahead? 

-As you fought for what is right, how did you deal with your anger? I know that leaders who change the world (as you have done), leaders who stand up for what is right (as you have and continue to do) must deal with deep emotions about those who are oppressing them and who want to allow what is wrong to continue. What did this look like for you?

God has quite a calling on your life – and has given you a formidable spirit of resilience, kindness and commitment to doing the right thing and to speaking up for those who can’t. Have you ever felt like the odd-ball-out because of these gifts?  How have you overcome that feeling and pressed onward anyways? 

Finally, what advice would you give to my listeners who want to learn how to really be brave, really be heard, really believe and really fight for what matters?  

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

People sometimes ask me for what to do, how to grow and say they’re going to join me in the COC “when they’re ready.” And here’s the thing y’all, if you’re not ready now, then honestly, I don’t think you ever will be. That “not ready” attitude is simply a reflection of your belief that either my coaching doesn’t work or that you aren’t worth the investment. Sure, you might say you’re too busy, but if you were 100% sure that making time for your growth would make your life 10x better than it currently is, wouldn’t you make the time? 

You were made for more. And if you’re listening and have felt your mind and heart and life changed from my free coaching content, then you can be sure that what I offer in the COC, my paid coaching content, will blow your socks off.  Typically, I spend 10% of my creative energy on my podcasting content, and 90% of my creative energy on my paid coaching content – if that gives you some behind-the-scenes understanding of what would really be different. 

So, stop overthinking, stop waiting for the right time, stop making excuses, and just come join us, okay? Now is when you are ready – let’s get you to that next level in your life, let’s get bold, courageous, and confident > www.collegeofconfidence.com

LISTENER OF THE EPISODE:

https://www.shirleytsos.com with Shirley T

Trish!!

Not only did I get 1 but 2 new one on one clients. They are coworkers so the one girl, Ana, I had a consultation with told her about me and she was interested in meeting/training with me too and had her scheduled on the same day after her. 

OMG! AND your voice was inside me cause I almost, almost took it to laid back and had ‘my vacation’ excuse coming out that would have probably stalled it so I said ‘let’s sign up now so then you are committed and I’ll assign homework while I’m out and I want you to log your nutrition so I can keep you in check!’ They were yes we have to just pay now and move forward so we are committed. 

AlsoI knew Ana thru Bodypump class, she took it longtime ago and then her scheduled changed and she never showed any interest ofPT so this was like out of the blue and I guess like you said just keep showing up on FB, IG and in general!

Thank you Trish! You are a blessing! After our talkI felt the true inner me waking up again and it kept going feeling better each day!

I’ll share this win also on our FB group but I wanted to share it with you first. 

Loves