Detroit native Gail Ford is the assistant director of UW’s PEOPLE Program, which helps students of color get to and through the University of Wisconsin. She was also the keynote speaker at last year’s Black Women’s Leadership Conference. A member of the Delta Theta Sigma sorority, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University and a master’s degree in education with a human services concentration from UW-Platteville.
Rank your Top 5 MCs. Beyonce’ and Michael Jackson are my all time favorite artist. My top MC’s…
- Nas
- Jay Z
- Yassin Bey ( Mos Def)
- Lauryn Hill
- T.I.
Which motivates you more: doubters or supporters? I’m not a fan of doing things to prove myself to doubters. I redirect that energy to those who show a desire for what I have to offer. It’s disrespectful to those who show up and support me not to give them my all.
Why do you live in Madison? Never imagined I would end up in Madison. I came alongside my husband for a job opportunity; I stayed because I saw opportunities for myself to have a positive impact on the youth in this city and vice versa. Madison is a resource-rich city, we have work to do to make sure resources and opportunity is available to ALL, but opportunities are here.
What three leaders in Madison under 50 have impressed you the most?
- Sabrina Madison – When she says she works to uplift black women, she walks her talk daily, I respect that.
- Sagashus Levingston – The Infamous Mothers movement has the power to change the narrative around how society views black mothers, I was raised by Infamous Mothers and its time the world acknowledge the gifts and talents of these women. Sagashus is their champion.
- Michael Ford – I may be biased, but this handsome guy is changing the face and practice of the field of architecture using hip hop. I’m a fan.
What’s the biggest stumbling block in Madison to turning the corner on our racial disparities? The miseducation of those whose privilege allows them to think we don’t have a racial disparity problem. You can’t fix a problem if you do not acknowledge it exists, or seek to fully understand its impact. We need empathy, education, and systematic policy changes.
What are your top three priorities at this point in your life?
- Starting a family
- Preserving my physical and mental health and encouraging other women to do the same. It’s time women started taking care of themselves as well as they care for others.
- Creating programs that teach Wisconsin’s vulnerable populations HOW to get to and through college.
Who is Gail Ford? A black girl from the West side of Detroit, whose life was disrupted by the curses of the inner city; foster care kid, younger brother killed by the police at 16, parents victims to the crack epidemic, but I AM determined to choose my own destiny and live my best life.
Every morning I sing myself a song. I wrote the song a year ago to remind myself of who I AM and how I want to show-up in the world, here are the lyrics.
I AM Love, I AM JOY, I AM Peace today. I believe in myself, good things are coming my way, I AM Happy, I AM Health, I AM Safe today, and if I forget it I just stop and say…
I repeat the song as many times as I need to in order to get to center.
Valentine’s Day just passed. What advice do you have for other young married couples? On our wedding day, my dad told my husband, “If GG (my childhood nickname) ever gets up and says she’s leaving, you respond, ‘well baby where are WE going?’” Marriage takes work and an unyielding commitment to its success. Always remember you’re on the same team. There are no enemies in a marriage. Always approach each other with love, even when you’re upset or hurt. Your mate deserves your grace and you’ll surely need theirs too.
You work at UW-Madison’s PEOPLE program. Why is the people program important and needed at UW? The program is designed to serve students of color and low-income populations. The Race to Equity Report says Dane county has a 57.3% African American child poverty rate. The most effective way to disrupt the generational cycles of poverty is to put the next generation on a path to financial sustainability; that is more likely to happen if that generation has a college education. PEOPLE provides a resourced roadmap for the most vulnerable populations of this state to earn a college degree. An investment today in these youth is a benefit for the entire state as all Wisconsinites benefit from a more educated citizenry.
Should Beyoncé have won the Best Album of the year at the Grammys or are was Adele the right choice? Full disclosure….I’m a platinum lifetime member of the Beyhive. Beyonce’s Lemonade hands down! It was without question a better album than Adele’s 25. #SorryNotSorry
If you’re reading this and questioning why, I recommend checking out the Lemonade Syllabus created by Candace Benbow, Ph.D. student at Princeton Theological Seminary and a lecturer of women and genders studies at Rutgers University. Google it.
What three things are a must for me to see or do in Detroit?
- Motown Museum
- Detroit Riverwalk
- Eat a Coney Island and chili cheese fries from Lafayette or American Coney (they’re right next door to each other). American Coney Island turns 100 years old this year! It’s legit.
Someone asked me these two questions the other day and they made me think. So let me ask you the same questions. If you were all alone in a park and sat on a bench who would you want sitting next to you? Also, what is your life motto? My grandmother. She raised me and she passed at the age of 92 on January 30th 2016. I miss her and would love to have one last conversation.
My life motto: I AM THAT IAM
