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Bayers Seresto Collar – Buy online pet supplies

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The pesticide Imidacloprid is an active ingredient in Seresto. This article will tell you if you’ve been wondering what’s in Seresto. You’ll uncover whether or not this system remains safe and secure for the dog and why it’s governed from the Environment Security Organization. Additionally it is used to management the spread of microbe bacterial infections. It is a widely used pesticide and was created by Bayer and Elanco Pet Overall health.

Imidacloprid

Bayer AG, a giant German agribusiness and prescription drug business, lately halted product sales of their dubious pesticide, Imidacloprid, in Seresto. Even though most scientific studies of the merchandise focused on individual substances, one Bayer review found that imidacloprid and flumethrin have a “synergistic impact” within the charge of particular bug pests.

The active ingredient in Seresto is imidacloprid, a pesticide that eliminates grownup ticks and larvae inside your pet’s surroundings. The chemical substance works through simple contact, so that your pet doesn’t even need to bite to get killed by it. What this means is your pet will likely be protected for approximately eight months, which is sufficient time to get rid of fleas.

Seresto(r) will kill ticks in dogs and kittens and cats. Even though it doesn’t kill current ticks, it will kill the ones that remain and repels any upcoming types. In addition, it kills nibbling lice and snacks sarcoptic mange in pet dogs. It is far from the right solution for young puppies or kittens. In humans, Seresto may cause irritation and should only be used under the guidance of a veterinarian.

Imidacloprid is widely used in flea control products, but the EPA’s new findings on the effects of insecticides on endangered species are a cause for concern. Although imidacloprid and flumethrin on your own present no injury to human beings, their blend is a lot more harmful than possibly compound on your own. As well as the EPA has additionally found that Seresto poses an irrational danger to human being overall health. Seresto collars keep on to get results for eight several weeks, making them successful official bayer seresto website for managing and removing fleas for up to 8 several weeks.

Although the EPA’s memo remarks that the quantity of situations connected with the use of flumethrin in Seresto continues to be progressively increasing in the last many years, there are still some unresolved cases that haven’t been effectively looked into. The EPA suggests disposing of the collar in a household hazardous waste facility.

Imidacloprid is a topical insecticide for the treatment of flea infestations if you have an animal treated with Seresto. It may cause temporary irritation at the site of program. Can cause drooling and profuse drooling in cats, even though the drug is not toxic to fish. It is additionally safe for use as much as 5 times its suggested amount in kittens and cats. If you are using Seresto for the treating of ticks, your veterinarian will suggest the right dosage based upon your animal’s health.

Imidacloprid is a kind of pesticide

Imidacloprid is really a frequently used insecticide and is a neurotoxin, endocrine disruptor, immunosuppressant, and carcinogen. It has been linked to malignancy and it is highly prolonged inside the atmosphere. It is also a powerful pesticide and contains a high determination in normal water. Despite the fact that it has been blocked for outdoor usage within the European Union, the EPA has accepted it to be used in pet collars. Its danger to animals and humans has not been sufficiently studied.

Bayer AG, a huge German prescription drug and agribusiness company, created the Seresto pesticide. The vast majority of research currently have dedicated to personal pesticide sprays, and contains recently been learned that imidacloprid and flumethrin work together to provide a “synergistic result.” This suggests that Seresto is useful in opposition to a wide variety of insects and parasites.

Arava Flea And Tick Collar

The toxicity of imidacloprid varies based on the species. As opposed to other insecticides, imidacloprid is very toxic to quail, canaries, pigeons, and residence sparrows. Other beneficial insects are also affected by IMI, however. They experience reduced fecundity and eggshell thinning.

Because Seresto collars contain two different insecticides, researchers say that the combination of flumethrin and imidacloprid could be harmful to animals. Studies show that imidacloprid and flumethrin may have negative effects on bees and butterflies. If the combination of both chemicals is safe for dogs.

Imidacloprid is an insecticide approved for use in many countries, the Midwest Center has recommended that consumers use Seresto only. It will be the most popular neonicotinoid and it is used on a lot more than 140 varieties of plants and flowers. In contrast to other insecticides, imidacloprid has tiny toxicity to humans. It really is specifically successful towards grow-feeders like aphids and is used to combat ticks and fleas on animals.

Imidacloprid is a wide spread insecticide and has an effect on the neurological system of pests. Which means that it is going to spread throughout the plant and become assimilated by bugs that take in the vegetation treated with it. In the end, imidacloprid can cause the bugs to die. Which means that imidacloprid is highly effective in killing fleas and ticks.

Imidacloprid is in Seresto

Imidacloprid and flumethrin are two pesticides widely used in america. The 2 compounds have already been linked to enormous endangerment of bugs like butterflies and bees. Both of these ingredients will be in Seresto and they are listed as offering 8 weeks of protection for cats and dogs. Are safe for pets.

In addition to these side effects, Seresto is also linked to more animal deaths and harm incidents than any other pesticide used on pets, although these products can cause severe side effects in people. The EPA is currently looking at inorganic pesticides for authorization, without any timeline continues to be provided. In the meantime, buyers should look at the brand to prevent using pesticides. For the time being, Seresto continues to be generating income for Bayer for more than $300 zillion per year.

Seresto is really a prescribed medication registered for use in animals only. It kills fleas on your pet within 24 hours of application and kills flea larvae before they lay eggs. Seresto also decreases the quantity of flea eggs in your pet’s environment. You must follow the directions of your veterinarian, though the medication is safe for use in cats and dogs. Seresto should not be utilized in animals with recognized hypersensitivity to the component, expecting a baby or nurses animals, or puppies and kittens less than 10 several weeks aged.

Seresto includes two insecticides: flumethrin and imidacloprid. Those two ingredients are synergistic and job efficiently to kill adult ticks and their larvae. The energetic substances in Seresto destroy both fleas and the larvae in your pet’s atmosphere. Simply comes into contact with the skin.

Imidacloprid is among the most widely used pesticides in the United States, although the active ingredient is imidacloprid, which is not absorbed by fleas. The insecticide is one of the group of pesticides referred to as neonicotinoid, and it has been connected to the decline of pollinator communities. Imidacloprid is used in Seresto brand flea collars. Thiamethoxam and clothianidin are mainly found in insecticides and are sprayed on vegetables and fruits.

Imidacloprid is a topical ointment treatment used to treat fleas in kittens and cats. It could also be utilized for controlling parasitic organisms in pet dogs and ferrets. It is considered an ‘off-label’ medicine and therefore used cautiously, however. This means the active ingredient of Seresto continues to be in the collar without being laundered away by drinking water. Some animals may be sensitive to this drug.

Seresto Collars are odorless, easy to use, and proven to kill ticks and repel ticks for as much as 8 several weeks. There is absolutely no need to worry regarding your canine ingesting damaging chemicals from the spray jar. This collar is effective for both indoor and outdoor use. To make use of the collar, you have to initially use it to your dog’s throat. After, it is possible to get rid of it.

A Seresto collar is made from a polymer matrix that lets out controlled levels of flumethrin and imidacloprid in to the dog’s epidermis during a period of eight weeks. The collar is odourless and remains effective for this period of time. The productive ingredients in the collar are held in the collar so they tend not to wash off with normal water. They have not studied their track record, although the cons and pros of using this collar are listed below.

The EPA claims that Seresto collars have been approved for use in the United States since 1999. There have been records of men and women becoming injured or even wiped out by the insecticides used in the collars. Even though the EPA is looking at the Seresto collars, it might take yrs just before it discovers the main cause of these harmful effects.

Whilst the maker, Elanco, has mentioned that Seresto collars are safe, pet owners have brought up worries regarding the substance and the usage of it. Some Seresto collar proprietors have posted grievances on the internet, starting from throwing up to skin breakouts, seizures to even dying. Those who have experienced side effects to Seresto collars have called in the EPA to in the short term recall these items.

Imidacloprid for Seresta Collars includes a pesticide known as pyrethroid. This insecticide is a neonicotinoid, which is harmful to water microorganisms. It really is banned for outdoor usage within the Western Union. In addition, it is additionally proven to cause nerve symptoms and faintness. Although this pesticide is popular, it must not be applied on the skin of the dog except if you are sure that you may be unable to prevent connection with it.

In a recent study, imidacloprid for Seresto Collards proven effective against Ehrlichia canis. The collar was applied to eight pet dogs in a single review center. One more team received no collars. The dogs had been tested at 14-time time periods. A placebo collar was utilized as being a control team. In all these trial offers, the strength of the Seresto collar was assessed towards a placebo collar.

The actual existence of imidacloprid and flumethrin in the Seresto Collar was investigated. Using each insecticides in these collars has been associated with some good unwanted effects. The two kinds of insecticides may be used to kill ticks. The two chemical substances work well in opposition to ticks and fleas. They also hope that imidacloprid will change the harmful element pyrethrin.

Research indicates the Imidacloprid/flumethrin collar is useful in opposition to various ectoparasites in pet dogs. Such as Ctenocephalidescanis and felis, Ixodes ventallii, and Rhipicephalus pusillus. The collar also protects in opposition to fleas and ticks in pet cats. Additionally, it will kill ticks and it is successful against mites.

A report of flumethrin and imidacloprid in vitro shown synergistic effects in repelling ticks and fleas. An in vitro window vial effectiveness study of collars making use of imidacloprid and flumethrin also confirmed the collars’ efficacy. A single application of the Seresto Collar can last up to eight months, depending on the size of the collar and the type of active ingredient used.

Coupons For Seresto Flea And Tick Collars

A veterinary exam may be necessary to determine if imidacloprid is causing toxic effects in dogs. The veterinary clinic will ask about any symptoms your pet is displaying, as well as whether he or she has used topical cream flea remedies previously. The veterinarian will perform a thorough actual physical exam, full blood vessels matter, urine test, and biochemistry solar panel to determine regardless of whether imidacloprid toxicity is definitely the trigger. Skin irritability and extreme salivation will also be indications of imidacloprid toxicity, which should be quickly treated by way of a veterinarian.

Imidacloprid is an insecticide that works by disturbing neurotransmission. It operates by starting salt stations and causing suffered depolarization of the neuron. It has minimal effect on mammalian nAChRs, but has been registered for use in dogs. Imidacloprid can be obtained as being a individual component or as a conjunction with permethrin, a category B insecticide.

Flumethrin

There are many reasons why you should consider utilizing a flea and tick collar on your own dog. Ticks and ticks could cause severe health conditions, as well as their bites can cause painful skin illness. These parasitic organisms can send a number of transmittable diseases, such as Lyme illness, tick fever, bartonellosis, and tapeworms. Seresto Collars include 4.5Per cent flumethrin and 10% imidacloprid, and they are absorbed into your dog’s skin during the period of 8-10 weeks. It really is a convenient and effective method to safeguard your dog from outside parasites.

Buyers ought to contact the EPA and FDA about the Seresto collar. Make sure it is not too tight or loose if you have a dog that has never had a collar before. The maker suggests keeping the outside wrapping of the collar till it is employed. As this merchandise includes tiny components, it ought to be held in the product packaging up until the day time it is actually employed. Then, it may be disposed of responsibly.

The ingredients in Seresto Collars contain imidacloprid, which is dangerous to pet dogs. The pesticide can result in respiratory system dizziness and distress, along with vomiting and tremor. It’s not very clear which of these harmful components is much more dangerous fordogs and cats, and people. A recent study suggests that Seresto collars are safe for dogs and cats, and that the ingredient imidacloprid may be the culprit behind neurological symptoms and death in dogs.

Seresto Collars are considered effective against both fleas and ticks. They consist of 4.5% imidacloprid and 10Per cent flumethrin, which is effective in opposition to all four types of ectoparasites. In contrast to other goods, Seresto Collars are nontoxic and can be applied for your feline without having worrying about its effects on your cat’s wellness.

Despite the fact that Elanco has claimed that Seresto Collars are secure for dogs, consumer reviews recommend or else. In reality, a recent study discovered that over a 1000 pet dogs have been injured and countless pet owners experienced severe health issues. While many Seresto users have reported about adverse reactions, most did not record these severe effects. In some cases, pet owners have posted complaints on the internet.

If you have questions about the safety of flumethrin in Seresto Collards, please read the ingredient label. It is a neonicotinoid insecticide, that is associated with huge endangerment of butterflies and bees. Recently, the EPA recommended to re-approve the product. imidacloprid and Flumethrin with each other have already been connected to a variety of unfavorable overall health results.

The researchers examined the strength of a mix of flumethrin and imidacloprid in Seresto Collars on dogs. As well as dealing with the animals with the active ingredient, the collars also effectively destroyed pre-present phases of parasitic organisms on dogs. The collars have been successful in opposition to the parasite as well as the ectoparasite attack inside 14 days.

Imidacloprid and flumethrin in Seresto Collards were evaluated in vitro and in window vial efficacy research. The active substances were released from collars on dogs and cats for as much as eight several weeks. The producing long-term efficiency of Seresto Collars was exhibited by hair samples collected from pets using the collar. The collars lasted provided that 8 months, which makes them a powerful answer for flea and check management.

The study found that flumethrin and imidacloprid made an appearance around the collars within two times and decreased to roughly half a dozen percent by day 84. The study’s authors concluded that the two energetic compounds have been properly were and tolerated not associated with any adverse effects in the cats. On the other hand, flumethrin concentrations remained comparatively continual during the study, increasing during the day 14 and then plateauing at about 2Per cent for your remainder of the time time period.

A recent record from the Midwest Centre for Investigative Reporting reveals the claimed overall health outcomes of the Seresto flea and check collar. The EPA manages most flea and tick goods, including Seresto. More than seven thousand pet owners and a dozen human fatalities have been reported since 2012.

In order to determine the efficacy of the collars, researchers conducted a study on the content of imidacloprid and flumethrin in a series of randomly chosen Seresto collars, according to the center. The productive ingredients in the collars had been assessed utilizing acetonitrile and HPLC precipitation. All writers contributed to the analysis and added considerable editorial try to the ultimate manuscript.

Best dating sites

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Many local newspapers had online personals in the mid 1990s but were bought out by these big dating sites. From some of the comments it really shows how desperate dating sites are for money that they even advertise in comment sections. You have a much better chance going to local events and you will probably spend less than what you would spend on an online dating site.

Other apps have indicated that they might actually move closer to Facebook. For example, Bumble, founded by a former Tinder executive, said they had already reached out to Facebook regarding how to collaborate. And, “One thing everyone seems to agree on is that Facebook’s effectively endorsing online dating will be a huge legitimization event for the industry,” says Jefferies Internet analyst Brent Thill. According to Amanda Bradford, chief executive of The League, an elite dating app, “Facebook is validating that dating is a high-tech industry with really interesting and hard problems to solve. Still, Facebook could face some obstacles in building enough separation between the dating service and the legacy social network; some users might not like having both activities live on one app.

After giving him some time to cope with his cat passing away, he made plans to see her again and she was thrilled. He canceled the date last minute again because he said his grandma had died. Although this seemed too tragic to be true, she gave him the benefit of the doubt that he was telling the truth. Additionally, if someone is giving you a checklist right away of all of the things they want in a future partner, this may be a red flag for some controlling behaviors. It’s one thing if they express their non-negotiables but it’s another thing entirely if they are listing required traits. If you feel like someone is already trying to change things about you to suit their needs, that’s not okay. How someone initiates a conversation with you will say a lot about how they view you as a person and how they might treat you as a partner.

Online dating users are more likely to describe their overall experience with using dating sites or apps in positive, rather than negative, terms. Some 57% of Americans who have ever used a dating site or app say their own personal experiences with these platforms have been very or somewhat positive. Still, about four-in-ten online daters (42%) describe their personal experience with dating sites or apps as at least somewhat negative. Happily, there are some dating services that are looking to overcome the vanity. For example, Hinge matches people based on personality and preferences and lets you create a more interesting and rounded profile to draw people in. One of the few dating sites designed for affairs, Ashley Madison connects users for discreet encounters.

Basically all a guy like you has to do is instantly grab her attention in a memorable way with both your profile and your messages, then spend the least amount of time possible convincing her to meet you in person. For those who are hesitant to enter the online dating world for reasons related to safety or awkward conversation lulls, Double aims to take the pressure off with Double dates as opposed to one-on-one.

State things that are really important to you and be done with it. Connor turned an attempt at small talk into a rant about “gold-digging whores,” and the dating app was not having it. Matt- But what about when you said you would meet me in real life and we would lose our virginity together. One Love educates young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better. If you are going somewhere that serves alcoholic beverages, most bartenders are using secret codes to help customers signal, privately, when they need help if they’re getting harassed or feeling unsafe on a bad date.

With no financial requirement, free sites will naturally attract a greater proportion of people who are not really committed to finding a genuine relationship. Memberships you gain additional features such as being able to send more messages and receiving event discounts.

One Voice Can Make a Difference

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A conversation about the impact of the film Miss Virginia

By Virginia Walden Ford

When I was approached more than a decade ago about the potential for a feature film to be made about my life, I was more than skeptical.

Why me? There were so many other people in the world with stories that were world-changing, so many people who had struggled in worse ways than me, so many people whose success was truly something to admire.

Sure, I had accomplished some difficult tasks. But I had done so with a lot of help from other like-minded parents, concerned lawmakers, and even the President of the United States. In my opinion, my work to provide greater educational opportunities for the children of Washington, DC—and beyond—had met a providential fate that connected me with the right people at the right time, giving me the courage to persevere when the going got tough.

That wasn’t movie worthy. It was pretty average.

What I’ve come to realize, though, in the years since that initial conversation about the feature film that eventually became Miss Virginia, is there is power in the everyday. When people see someone else overcome a struggle, they are often moved to action themselves.

The creative and passionate team at the Moving Picture Institute saw the potential in my story to inspire others. They knew what I would come to know during the process of making this film: true stories are a catalyst for change.

Under the direction of the brilliant R.J. Daniel Hanna, Miss Virginia was created—piece by piece. Celebrities I only knew from films and TV shows read the script, believed in its message, and signed on to star in it. I began to see the vast potential of this film and what it could mean for other “average” people, like myself, who had an important story to tell.

Since its world debut in the fall of 2019, Miss Virginia has been viewed by people either at theaters, through at-home streaming, through a cable-TV provider such as BET, or through planned viewing events. The film is available on thousands of streaming platforms and reaches hundreds of millions of people. It has been featured on many lists of important films about women, mothers, and African American people. Every day I receive messages from people all over the US and the world telling me how much the movie inspired them and moved them to their own courses of action.

Some people have a direct relationship with the subject matter of the film and are inspired to seek more choices in education in their own communities. Others are parents or grandparents who want to share their own “aha” moments when it comes to advocating for their children or their communities or themselves. Sometimes I hear from someone who has a fear of public speaking and is inspired by the scene in the movie where Uzo Aduba so beautifully portrays the moment I overcame my fear of my voice being heard.

Whatever their need or message, these people were all inspired by the story of the film—by my story. Whether it is regarding a minor detail like my frustration with my son’s principal or a major accomplishment like passing the DC Opportunity Scholarship alongside my rag-tag team of parents, the many messages I receive from viewers remind me that it is the relatable details of our stories that move people.

In addition to the anecdotal components of the film, I sat down recently and wrote down some of the tangible ways this film has truly made a difference for families all over this country and beyond. I want to share those with all of you:

Policy

The COVID-19 pandemic that started in the spring of 2020 forced the education system in the US to ask itself: Are we truly meeting the needs of our students? As issues of technology disparities, hunger, and other inequalities came under the spotlight, people across the nation were forced to face a discouraging truth: not all schools nor all methods of delivery of education are truly equal in this country.

While the loss associated with the pandemic is insurmountable, it was a needed wake-up call when it comes to education in our country. I feel humbled and grateful that as people stayed home and had the chance to curl up on their couches and watch TV, they were able to view Miss Virginia on Netflix and other streaming platforms. During that time, some important decision makers saw the film.

Case in point:

In May of 2021, I was the guest of the nonprofit Empower Illinois, a group that supports needs-based scholarship programs so the children of their state can attend the best schools for their individual needs regardless of where their home is located. I met with wonderful leaders in the group, visited St. Patrick Catholic School in Springfield, and then had the opportunity to meet with Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Emanuel “Chris” Welch.

Once a critic of school choice programs, Speaker Welch told me that seeing the film Miss Virginia helped turn the tide of his opinion on this issue. He was able to see what choice in education could mean for a single child and a single mother—and extrapolate that to his own constituents.

Illinois Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and in May, 2021

He is now a vocal proponent of expanding educational opportunities in his state—and was a leader in extending, and expanding, the state’s current tax credit scholarship program. The film could not change education policy on its own—that required the hard work of the Empower Illinois group and their colleagues—but I am grateful that it was able to be the vehicle that changed one very influential mind.

Parent Groups

For decades, parents in educational opportunity groups across the country have advocated for more choices for their children and their neighbors’ children. My parent-led group, DC Parents for School Choice, is just one of hundreds. These groups knock on doors, hold meetings, create informative literature and websites, call and email legislators, speak to policymakers, and organize to maximize the reach of their voices. Due to the hard work of groups like these, school choice continues to expand in our country through a variety of delivery methods that include tax credit scholarships, education savings accounts, and more.

Since beginning this film journey, I have had the privilege to meet with parent-helmed groups all over the country—from Rhode Island to Indianapolis to Phoenix and beyond. I have seen the hard work these groups consistently do to improve educational outcomes for their children. Their accomplishments have a ripple effect, inspiring those in other communities to act similarly.

I have been humbled to see how effectively Miss Virginia illustrates the importance of fighting for school choice. Parents see themselves in the characters on screen—and the film provides a jumping off point as it helps people find their own courage to speak up.

In February of 2021, I was asked to be on a virtual panel of wonderful parents who shared ideas with each other, and with those listening in, on how to advocate for better educational opportunities for our children. Most of the parents on the panel have children who are school age, and they are actively fighting for more educational options for them. I was thrilled to serve in the role of mentor, sharing what worked in my own fight and listening to what is currently working for them.

Between informational, forum-style sections of the virtual event, clips from Miss Virginia were shown to introduce and reinforce the concepts being discussed. The film provided an entry point for those who were looking for a way to start their own movements.

Seeing the film used as an educational tool for other parents brings me so much joy. It is exactly what I hoped would happen when I agreed to having it made.

Moms, Dads, Grandparents and More

Sometimes the changes inspired by the film are not sweeping legislation or newsworthy on their own but, collectively, they matter.

Here is a sampling of messages I’ve received from individual viewers of the film:

“I just recently watched the film Miss Virginia, and it has inspired me to begin to advocate for an area of education equality that I personally am passionate about—homeless and transient students.” –Danielle

“I definitely believe in your fight. We as adults need to be more involved, because at the end of the day the children that we raised will shape the world that we will live in. And I believe that what you fight for plays an extremely important part of the vision that needs to be achieved.” –Richard

“I love the movie Miss Virginia. It is an inspiring story and one that got me through some hard times. Thank you for not giving up on your son.” –Jillian

“Me and my 24-year-old daughter recently watched your movie. She is going to law school. I work in the education system. How can I make a difference like you? I am so inspired and in tears with the change you’ve implemented.” –Tiffany

“After watching Miss Virginia a few months ago, you inspired me to continue seeking the best education for my children. The challenges of being low income are now forcing me to choose between homeschooling or public education. As a mother of 3 beautiful children, I’m sure you can imagine the difficulties I’m encountering as a working woman.” –Charnel

“I just finished watching the movie Miss Virginia and I am beyond inspired! A former administrator worked in DC Public Schools and confessed that school choice really caused the public school system to step up. That inspired me and I would love to know how we can do the same here in my state.” –Jeanisha

Remember that your stories matter and that you have a responsibility to tell them. There is power in what you have been through and in what you continue to accomplish. Allow the world access to that power, your power, by telling your own stories to those in your sphere of influence. You never know what difference one voice can make!

Have something to share? Contact Virginia Walden Ford at vwf@virginiawaldenford.com.

Click here to book Virginia Walden Ford for a virtual or in-person appearance.

How COVID-19 is Empowering Parents

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By Virginia Walden Ford

I have been an advocate for parent empowerment, particularly when it comes to the education of children, for nearly 30 years. In that time frame, I’ve met so many wonderful moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles and older siblings who want a brighter future for the children in their lives — and who recognize that education is the path to it. Often these are adults who feel powerless to fight for something better for their children and I take great joy in helping them tap into their voices and resources to enable change.

Watching the events of COVID-19 unfold, however, has given me a new perspective on parent empowerment as it relates to education. Instead of interacting with parents who are at their wit’s end due to their limited schooling options, the entire world is now full of parents who have never seen the limitations of their children’s schooling quite so clearly. 

Even with emergency “learn from home” plans, most parents were handed more responsibility for the education of their children than had ever taken place in the past. Educators have continued to provide tremendous support, even remotely, but the experience has still been eye-opening for parents. But in discomfort, there is growth. 

For some, it is the first time they’ve been tasked with literally pulling up a chair next to their kids and watching them, guiding them and helping them through their coursework. With forced remote learning, parents have been tasked with taking on that sometimes-intimidating instruction. They see firsthand what is working and what is not. They see that one-size-fits-all approaches do not work. They understand, more clearly than ever, the pressures facing both students and educators. 

As a daughter of two public school teachers, and the identical twin sister of a retired special education teacher, I have the utmost respect for teachers and believe they play an incredible role in the lives of our young people. The sudden and prolonged school closures have certainly opened the eyes of parents to all of the responsibilities teachers face and the hard work that goes into lesson planning, instructional time and even “down” time to let kids be kids. I hope that this has shown parents the true positive effect teachers have in the lives of our youth — and that this encourages parents to want to support and work alongside their children’s teachers. For those who have decided to homeschool — for the short- or long-term — I know that the responsibility of serving as both parent and educator is not one they take lightly.  

And despite the added stress that goes along with parents having to pull up that chair alongside their kids and be frontline participants in their education, I believe this has been a blessing. Since they have been forced to be so hands-on, parents are empowered — with knowledge, with new skills and with their voices.

My hope is that as children transition back to more direct instruction from teachers, their parents, relatives, grandparents and other caregivers will stick around and stay invested in the learning process.

The Movie Miss Virginia Powerfully Dramatizes the Urgent Need for School Choice (Reason)

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What’s it like to have your life story told on the big screen?

The new movie Miss Virginia is based on the unlikely story of Virginia Walden Ford, who, as a single mother in Washington, D.C., in the early 2000s, fought to create a federally-funded private school voucher program that would allow poor kids—including her son—to escape failing public schools. Against long odds and institutional hostility, she succeeded and is played with fiery passion by Orange Is the New Black‘s Uzo Aduba. Matthew Modine, known for roles in Full Metal Jacket, Weeds, and Stranger Things, co-stars as a sympathetic congressman who helps win congressional authorization for the program. READ MORE

Matthew Modine Talks “Miss Virginia” (Newsweek)

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Matthew Modine’s career has spanned more than 30 years, but it was a piece of advice he received from his father as a young man that has influenced his life, his activism and his new role in the upcoming film Miss Virginia.

“I didn’t know where to begin, it was so much mess, it was like an inch deep of horror,” Modine toldNewsweek Conversations, describing an overflown toilet he was tasked to clean at one of his father’s movie theaters. “My dad came to me, put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘I know, it’s a mess. You can get angry about it, you can find the person responsible, but it’s not going to clean it up.’ It was an important lesson because when there’s a problem in the world, you can try to find the people that are responsible, you can get angry, but you have to clean it up.”

It was that advice that influenced Modine’s performance in the new film Miss Virginia, directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna and starring Uzo Aduba as Virginia Walden Ford, a true story about a single mother raising her son in the low-income neighborhoods of Washington, D.C. Ford successfully lobbied Congress to support the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, giving her son and thousands of other children in D.C. the opportunity to attend private schools. Modine plays Congressman Cliff Williams, a character created for the film, who Miss Virginia works with to garner support for the program. READ MORE

Uzo Aduba On Her First Lead Role, Life After ‘Orange’ And Acting As A Form Of Advocacy (Forbes)

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Orange is the New Black, the acclaimed Netflix series that ended this summer after seven seasons, didn’t have one star. It had many. Still, among such a stellar cast, Uzo Aduba, who played Suzanne Warren, stood out. Perhaps it’s because she was in every season of the show, while many other characters came and went. Perhaps it’s because she was so unpredictable – her character’s nickname was “Crazy Eyes,” after all. Perhaps it’s because her backstory was particularly tragic, even among so many tragic backstories. In the final season, when she finally starts to realize that she’s mentally ill, Suzanne asks her mother if she “deserves” to be in prison. Her mother says no.

She was also perhaps the only truly sympathetic character on the show. Suzanne never meant to harm anyone, even under the most trying circumstances, and she always lifted her fellow inmates up. In turn, the other prisoners looked out for her. She was never anyone’s target.

Aduba proved to be a unique talent in every scene she performed, an actor whose dimensions were revealed slowly over the course of those seven years. She showed depth, heart, whimsy and compassion. She’s also an extraordinary singer. And yet, while Orange is the New Blackcertainly elevated Aduba’s profile, she has until now had only supporting roles. READ MORE

Miss Virginia: Uzo Adoba Brings Champion for Children to the Big Screen (The Black Wall Street Times)

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A woman scrubs the bathroom floor on her hands and knees, hair pulled back in a scarf. Another woman dressed in a business suit applies lipstick at the mirror. Both are mothers. Both are black. One is a congresswoman. The other cleans the toilets and floors in the congresswoman’s office. And soon after their meeting in the bathroom, they become fierce opponents over the right for all students, including poor ones in Washington DC, to attend a quality school.

This is a scene early in the film Miss Virginia, a true-story drama about mom-turned- education-activist Virginia Walden (Ford), who launches the grass-roots organization D.C. Parents for School Choice in 1998. The group’s goal was the establishment of a scholarship program so that low-income children could escape their local public schools and gain access to private schools. READ MORE

VIRGINIA WALDEN FORD: For the students (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

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Parents are the first and primary advocates for their kids, and choosing a school is one of the most important decisions parents make for their children.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of folks out there who believe they know best when it comes to making that decision. Worse, they believe some choices should only be available to those who can afford to pay or move to a certain part of town.

If you don’t have time to read this whole piece, let me get the good stuff out of the way upfront: All children deserve to find the schooling option that works best for them. Doesn’t matter where they live. Doesn’t matter how much money their family makes. Everyone should have a choice.

Now, there’s a misconception out there that school-choice advocates are against public schools–or that they only support charter schools or private schools or some other type of schooling. READ MORE

A Big Close Up for Educational Opportunities (Philanthropy Magazine)

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Virginia Walden Ford never expected her life to become a movie. All she wanted was to send her boy to a better school. “When I started this journey, it was to fight for my son,” she says. “Along the way it became a fight for all children.”

Ford struggled to help her William after she discovered he was skipping class at his Washington, D.C., high school. He got suspended twice, at a time when drug dealers were loitering on corners in his neighborhood, looking for recruits. If William was going to succeed, or even survive, his mother would have to find a school that inspired him to learn.

So in 1998, Ford banded together with other parents to seek more educational opportunity. They hoped for scholarships their children could use to escape their dysfunctional public schools. “We were a group of low-income and working-class parents,” she explains, possessing one tool: “Our voices.” READ MORE