Dear Friends,

I know you’ve probably heard of the new movie debuting entitled Miss Virginia. It’s going to be released nationally tomorrow, October 18, and it’s based on the true story of Virginia Walden Ford, an activist who started her work with CER as a parent advocate. In the late 1990s, Virginia found her and her troubled teenage son trapped in the failing Washington, D.C. public school system. She set out to change that. The result would be the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, the 15th anniversary of which will be celebrated next week with Education Secretary DeVos, leaders in Congress and most importantly, parents and children! It’s amazing what one person can do. As Margaret Mead famously wrote, 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

I had a chance to interview Virginia on my podcast, Reality Check with Jeanne Allen, the same day I saw the movie. Virginia shared with me that one of her biggest joys through her struggle for education options was helping parents develop the confidence they needed to advocate for themselves and their children.

Then I saw the film, and like many of us battle-worn advocates, I shed a few tears as I watched and was reminded of how many doors were closed on her and countless other parents and advocates then and now who challenge the establishment, how many elitist lawmakers and organization heads snub their noses at people like Miss Virginia.

But it is people like Virginia who most deserve our respect and our admiration for having to fight alone to get what they need for their children.

Please see this movie, and get involved in making it a national treasure. Besides amazing Hollywood stars like Uzo Aduba (with an Oscar quality appearance), Matthew Modine and Niles Fitch, the story just exudes the reason for the movement that we all believe is critical to our nation’s future.

The producers at the Moving Picture Institute are happy to work with you to do private screenings, too and we’d love to help them make sure this hits movie theaters nationwide.

Looking forward to hearing what you think. And God Bless Miss Virginia!

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Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.