Virginia Walden-Ford

Virginia Walden-Ford is the executive director of D.C. Parents for School Choice, the political grassroots organization that successfully lobbied for voucher legislation in the nation's capital. As the former president of People of Color United (PCU), a D.C.-based group with republican funding ties, Virginia Walden Ford gave voice to the 2004 PCU political radio ads broadcast in battleground states on urban radio stations targeting an African-American demographic.

"WASHINGTON, Aug 11, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Washington, D.C. parent and activist Virginia Walden Ford has been honored with the John T. Walton Champions for School Choice Award, the highest accolade bestowed by the national nonprofit Alliance for School Choice.

"The award recognizes Ms. Walden Ford’s contributions to education reform in the District.

"As a single mother, Virginia Walden Ford took up the cause of school choice after her son received a private scholarship to escape a failing D.C. school. Since then, she has worked to mobilize thousands of District parents in support of school choice, culminating in the successful passage of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program by the U.S. Congress in 2004. She is also the author of the book Voices, Choices, and Second Chances.

"As president of the D.C. Black Alliance for Educational Options (DCBAEO) and executive director of D.C. Parents for School Choice, Ms. Walden Ford–along with her sister and advocacy partner Harrietta Fowler–was instrumental this year in mobilizing parents in support of renewed Congressional funding of the program through the 2009-2010 school year."

State Contacts for educational groups in a recent Heritage Foundation report illustrated Virginia Walden-Ford served as the Executive Director for D.C. Parents for School Choice, Inc. and for the Black Alliance for Educational Options.

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