US Representative Marcia L. Fudge has dedicated her life to public service. The Ohio native earned a law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University. Representative Fudge has been serving others since leaving college life, and has extensive experience in public service, including being elected as the 21st National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Her leadership is grounded in seeking to make the world a better place by helping others to improve their physical, mental and economic well-being.

The energetic and personable representative from Ohio made time in her busy schedule to share some insights about women striving to achieve educational, career and personal goals.

WA: We realize that you are very new to the United States Congress, but you are most certainly not new to public service, governance, and politics, so what are your signature issues and goals while in the people’s house?

MLF: I would say healthcare, education, and economic development.

The area that I represent has some of the finest healthcare institutions in the world such as the Cleveland Clinic which draws patients from all over the world. I also understand the difference that access to affordable, high-quality healthcare services makes to families. At the least, every child in America should have access to preventive healthcare services, and not just emergency room service in time of catastrophic need. I think it is unconscionable that we as a nation have not been able to reach a consensus on what surely is a moral decision.

Everybody knows that a good education is important – for individuals and for society as a whole. Why then, is our education system lagging so far behind those of other nations? The longer we neglect this issue, the further behind America becomes relative to other countries. It’s not unlike our roads and bridges. The longer they go without maintenance, the greater the likelihood they will come crashing down. I’m particularly concerned that we seem to have lost the will to excel at science and technology. China and India keep churning out engineers and we keep on hiring them because we have so few home-grown engineers in the labor pool.

Lastly, economic development is absolutely crucial to the renewal of large swaths of America that have been devastated by an exodus of investment capital. I have seen firsthand the despair that can infect neighborhoods where there are no jobs, no stores, and no hope.

WA: During your formative and early adult years, who or what were the major influences on your educational goals and/or professional goals?

MLF: First and foremost – my mother. She instilled in me the importance of doing well in school. And I was afraid of her! Not really but she did make me realize that I was never going to succeed without a good education. Not doing well in school was not an option in our family.

Of course, there were other important influences. Remember, I grew up during the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. It was a tumultuous time for the nation but hard times often make for memorable leaders. Guiding us through those times and helping us keep faith were the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Barbara Jordan, and Shirley Chisholm.

WA: When you were in school, did you have any mentors or individuals who you looked up to as role models, aside from the national role models you mentioned earlier?

MLF: There were several. One of them was Stephanie Tubbs Jones – whose congressional seat I filled after her death. Another one was a woman from Florida with whom I worked for several years. She was a lawyer, owned a radio station, and ran for Congress among other things, but she always kept the common touch, always knew what was important.

WA: Do you mentor any young people?

MLF: I think I do every day. I regularly visit schools to speak about public service. That is a real passion of mine – passing on to others the desire to work towards the common good through a life in public service. Why just this morning I spent time talking to a group of students. And, I have a young staff which requires a certain level of guidance. It gives me a good bit of pleasure to help them start on a life of working towards the common good, whether in public service or not.

WA: Of the successes and “firsts” you have achieved, which ones are most memorable for you and why?

MLF: There have been quite a few. Even after all these years, being the 21st President of Delta Sigma Theta ranks right up there. That early experience helped to prepare me for many of the challenges that followed. Success in that role required executive leadership, the ability to bring together different constituencies with competing agendas, and helping people “buy-into” ideas and take ownership of them. Not so unlike the nature of leadership in business or government.

Another very important “first” for me was, while the Mayor of Warrenville Heights, bringing $500 million in development funds to the city. This required working at the grassroots level, organizing people, and working towards a common goal.

WA: What is the primary “take-away” you have learned about the role of government in America?

MLF: That I am a public servant. That is who I am and what I enjoy. I’ve learned, too, that most people who are public servants, aside from the occasional bad apple, have modest needs and desires. Let’s face it; public service is rarely a good path towards monetary wealth, so rewards of another kind have to be enough.

WA: You voted for the President’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the “Economic Stimulus Act.” What do you see in the package that is supportive of career-minded women as well as women seeking a greater level of education?

MLF: Lots of things. There is additional funding for women-owned and minority-owned businesses; there is a change for the better in how funds are accessed from the Small Business Administration, making it much easier for small business owners to access funds to grow their operations. For higher education, there is more money available for Pell Grants, and there is a $2500 tax credit for college tuition.

WA: How would you encourage women to use the unique views that they have on the issues to solve problems and make a difference in their families, communities, and the world?

MLF: I believe that women are already quite active in their families, communities, and the world. In most families, women are still the primary care givers and their views shape the views of their families. We know what the issues are. We have to be ready to take advantage of opportunities as they become available. What we, as a gender, so often do is second guess ourselves instead of just “going for it.” Sometimes things are put in our path and all we really have to do is seize it. All too often, though, we just don’t because too many of us feel that it isn’t a woman’s role. I think we have to step outside of those roles more often and do it with relish.

WA: What single inspirational message would you like to share with women who are striving to achieve their goals?

MLF: We must be the masters of our own fate and the captains of our own souls by finding what is right for us, what is our passion, and what brings us joy. It is incumbent on us to make our own way and not let anyone discourage us.