Aduba delivers a message about disadvantaged D.C. youth that must be heard. Unwilling to see him drop out and deal drugs, she places him in a private school. Set in 2003, the film follows Virginia Walden (Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black), a poor single mother whose son James (Niles Fitch) is struggling in his neighborhood school. Virginia married her college sweetheart, a marriage that ended in divorce. A struggling inner-city mother sacrifices everything to give her son a good education. It tells the story of Miss Virginia Walden Ford, a woman living in the inner-city neighborhoods of Washington, who is desperate to provide her teenage son with quality education. It's fine to do some streamlining to simplify the storyline and eliminate distracting details. Miss Virginia focuses on the real-life Virginia Walden Ford, an activist who took action against her local congress, alongside a collection of parents in her community. Contestants may compete at the local and state level more than once, but having won a state title may only compete in the national Miss America competition one time. Her second book, School Choice: A Legacy to Keep was published in 2019 and is available on Amazon. Virginia is the subject of the 2019 film “Miss Virginia” starring Uzo Aduba, Matthew Modine, Amirah Vann, Vanessa Williams and Niles Fitch. With Matthew Modine, Vanessa Williams, Adina Porter, Amirah Vann. WHERE: Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas (14111 Shoreside Way, Winter Garden, FL 34787) WHEN: Monday, December Step Up For Students, Florida Voices For Choices and The James Madison Institute, in partnership with the Dunn Foundation, would like to invite you to a FREE screening of the new film Miss Virginia. 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. He grew up on Old Dam 32 on the Ohio River at Vanceburg, Kentucky, where his father was Lockmaster. Unwilling to allow her son to stay in a dangerous school, she launches a movement that could save his future - and that of thousands like him. James is bright and artistic, but is being swallowed up in a broken school system, with only the illicit dollars of the local drug trade offering any prospect. Virginia Walden an impoverished single mother who is losing her fifteen-year-old son to the rough streets of Washington D.C. Virginia Walden Ford speaks to parents and lawmakers at a Capitol Hill rally. Matthew Modine stars as the congressman who eventually backs Virginia Walden Ford's cause - and recently told Express.co.uk how he believed the messages of the film remain important to this day. After winning several awards for her advocacy efforts, Virginia shared her advice and experiences in her book, Voices, Choices, and Second Chances. Miss Virginia is an easy enough watch and the ending will lift your spirits, but I … After an incident at school nearly gets James expelled, Virginia takes it upon herself to move Heaven and Earth to get him into a better school. MISS VIRGINIA— 4 STARS. Step Up For Students, Florida Voices For Choices, and The James Madison Institute would like to invite you to a FREE screening of the new film Miss Virginia. Starring Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) in the titular role, Niles Fitch (This is Us) as her son James, as well as Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket) and Vanessa Williams (Shaft). With publicly-funded education doing the bare-minimum, her son James (Niles Fitch) is inclined to do the same. WHERE: Tampa Theatre (711 North Franklin Street, Tampa FL Single mum Virginia Walden is hauled into the local high school attended – at least nominally – by her wayward son James (Niles Fitch). Uzo Aduba as Virginia Walden in MISS VIRGINIA from Vertical Entertainment. Miss Virginia marks director R.J. Daniel Hanna’s feature-length debut, based on Erin O’Connor’s first feature-length screenplay.It’s quite commendable that the end result is so assured. Based on a true story, Miss Virginia centers on single mother Virginia Walden (Aduba) and her 15-year-old son James (This Is Us' Niles Fitch). 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. Orange Is the New Black’s Uzo Aduba delivers a powerful performance in one of her best works yet as she takes on the role of Virginia Walden, single mother to a 15-year old boy named James who begins to lose himself to the inner-city lifestyle of Washington, D.C., street life. 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. (Courtesy of Virginia Walden Ford) Fighting for Her Community “Miss Virginia” is based on the life of Virginia Walden Ford and stars Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is the New Black”), Matthew Modine, Aunjanue Ellis (“The Help”) and Niles Fitch (“This Is Us One does not have to dig very far on an internet search to find pressing current issues in American’s public education system. Supporting cast include Matthew Modine, Niles Fitch, Amirah Vann, Adina Porter, Aunjanue Ellis and Vanessa Williams.The film is based on a true story. MISS VIRGINIA tells the real-life story of the titular character taking on the White House to secure education and support for not only her children, but for the children in her community. To compete in the Miss Virginia pageant, a contestant must first win one of many local competitions. I nspired by a true story, Miss Virginia is the saga of Virginia Walden Ford, the force behind the Washington, D.C. Miss Virginia is a 2019 film based on real events. Single-mom Virginia Walden (Uzo Aduba) has a bright but unmotivated son. Sure, it’s a “message movie” through and through, but a decently-made one, with a strong central performance by Orange Is the New Black’s Uzo Aduba. Virginia Walden Ford with Niles Fitch, who played her son James in “Miss Virginia” at the movie’s DC premiere. James Kelly Walden passed away at his home in Maysville, Kentucky on Sunday, March 9, 2014, a couple of months shy of his 84th birthday. Virginia Walden an impoverished single mother who is losing her fifteen-year-old son to the rough streets of Washington D.C. On the way home with James, Virginia passes a private school and sees the happy students filing out for the day. I wanted more depth about Walden, her main champion, Congressman Clifford Williams (Matthew Modine), and her main rival, local politician Lorraine Townsend (Aunjanue Ellis). Directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna. Back to the Principal’s office, Virginia finds out the details and talks him out of calling the police in exchange for James being suspended. Miss Virginia is an 2019 American drama film directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna and starring Uzo Aduba in a title role as a struggling inner-city mother who sacrifices everything to give her son a good education. In attendance for a Q&A at the conclusion of the film will be Virginia Walden Ford, the movie's real-life inspiration! You’ll soon be able to see Walden Ford’s story in a movie, “Miss Virginia,” in which Virginia is portrayed by Uzo Aduba, Emmy winning actress for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in … In attendance for a Q&A at the conclusion of the film will be Virginia Walden Ford, the movie's real-life inspiration! In an eye-opening and apropos way, there are so many that Education Week magazine maintains an active A-Z list to sort and track them. But when she can't afford tuition, she launches a movement to change the system that is destroying him and thousands like him. Niles Fitch James ... Uzo Aduba gives a fine performance in the otherwise flat "Miss Virginia," playing real-life education advocate Virginia Walden Ford. I nspired by a true story, Miss Virginia is the saga of Virginia Walden Ford, the force behind the Washington, D.C. He was born in Frankfort, Kentucky on May 22, 1930 the firstborn son of Woodie and Correne Barbour Walden. Miss Virginia (2019) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.