Donna edwards husband and children 2018

She learned to appreciate and to listen, to make true friends, and to hold close to her family. In her words, “I had to be versatile and I couldn’t be shy and wherever we went, we met wonderful people.”

Donna’s father, John Edwards, was in the Air Force and his oldest son, John, signed up, as well, at the age of 18 along with his high school friends at the height of the Vietnam “conflict.” As a pre-teen, Donna recalls vividly the tragic sight of those who died and served in Vietnam as they made their long journey home to the United States.

Through these experiences, Donna came to appreciate the sacrifices of military service and the value of friends and families.

When it was her time to graduate high school, she was offered the opportunity to join the Air Force Academy in the first class to admit women.

In the end, Donna chose to return to her birth state, North Carolina and attend Wake Forest University, where she was one of only six African Americans women in her class. Donna studied English and Spanish and dated a football player, Derek Coleman. After graduation, she and Derek married and moved to Silver Spring, Maryland.

As a young professional, Donna worked for Lockheed Corporation at Goddard Space Flight Center with the Spacelab program, helping translate into readable English the work being done by “rocket scientists” and engineers. After the devastating explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, Donna decided it was time to go back to school, and she chose Franklin Pierce Law School in New Hampshire.

At Franklin Pierce, Donna developed her love of law for the public interest. In the third year of law school, Donna and Derek had a son, Jared. Juggling two households, they settled in Fort Washington, Maryland, while Donna clerked for a D.C. Superior Court Judge.

Donna's father died when Jared was just six months old and before her graduation from law school. Donna says, “He was my heart. My Dad was so proud that I would be graduating and he was especially proud to be introduced to his only grandson.” Donna remembers that last year with her Dad as filled with some of the best conversations, games of Scrabble, and political discussions (passions he passed on to her) that the two ever had.

Donna also came to appreciate her mother even more. “She had to move six children every 18 months, and she never complained. My mother always sees the bright spot and the best in people.

I like to think that my Mom's optimism rubs off on me.” Donna says of her parents, "My parents taught me to be a person and to be a parent. I learned the importance of giving something back to your community and your country from them."

Donna came to realize that she would not be happy unless she used her law degree as a public interest advocate.

She co-founded and served as the first executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and though not a victim herself, she realized that battered women had no legal or political support. Donna received national recognition as she led in the successful fight to pass the Violence Against Women Act of , providing comprehensive funding to shelter and services for victims of domestic violence and their children.

Donna also entered the national media spotlight after the House banking scandal, as she led efforts to reform our campaign finance system and lobbying laws, first with Public Citizen and then as the executive director for the Center for a New Democracy.

She created a successful national effort to force pharmaceutical companies to open markets for generic anti-arthritic medications, and in , in her own community, she started a grassroots campaign against a multi-billion dollar development plan in order to improve the quality of life in existing neighborhoods, to protect the natural environment, and to bring quality services and jobs to the area.

Donna negotiated a deal to bring more than $ million to the community, while also safeguarding the local air, water, land and wildlife.

Since , Donna has served as the executive director for the Arca Foundation in Washington, D.C. She has gained national prominence as a strategist and creator of innovative efforts to support “living wage” campaigns, ensure the independence of the federal judiciary, end capital punishment, protect Social Security, and support labor and human rights internationally.

She has led efforts to bring millions of dollars to programs that make a difference in the lives of working families and to hold our government accountable.

As Jared recently decided on a college, Donna decided it was time to become a member of the institution whose policies she has worked so hard to change, the U.S. House of Representatives.