Honoring Black History Month: Dr. Rolanda Schmidt

​“I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history. We cannot just limit black history to 30 days of a month. Black history, American history, is everyday of the year.” – Dr. Rolanda Schmidt
 
Today we feature Dr. Rolanda Schmidt, an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author and podcaster who lives in Minnesota and is a friend to Moms on the Run. Schmidt has long sought truth, justice and the desire to strengthen minority families. Her story began after surviving kidnapping and abuse at the young age of 12. 

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Schmidt is definitely a mover and a shaker. She most recently launched a nonprofit organization called No More C.R.A.P. (Children Ripped Apart from Parents), with the mission to strengthen minority families by preventing suicide, child abuse and kidnapping — all painful areas Schmidt has unfortunately dealt with. 
 
In October 2019, Schmidt's 18-year-old son Giovanni took his life after a relationship break-up. This tragic event led to expanding the mission to include preventing suicide within diverse families. No More C.R.A.P. gained official non-profit status just a few days shy of Giovanni's first anniversary in heaven.
 
Schmidt shares life and wisdom on her podcast, Uncovering Truth with Grace. On a recent episode, Schmidt converses with an amazing young man, 8-year-old prodigy Master Derrick Henry Jr. (aka D.J.), who also happens to be her cousin. D.J. gives an oral rescitation of a poem his mom wrote called “The ABC’s of Black History,” which starts at 7:22. This is a short 15-minute podcast that will leave you feeling inspired by all the people who made Black history American history. Listen in!

For more information about Schmidt, you can read her full bio here.