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IN THE KNOW
"One must seek to understand what they do not know rather than assuming."
Dr. Schmidt initially struggled as a Christian mom of the first transgender athlete in D1 history, Kye Allums.
Dr. Ro decided not to make assumptions and asked numerous questions of others during an award ceremony in California honoring Kye Allums. At the event, a young man shared with Dr. Ro that his dad, a pastor, stopped speaking to him 14 years ago and threw him out of his house. The additional details were shocking and painful to hear. This led to the decision to help other Christian parents and people understand that although one may not agree, to choose agape love without compromising their values. Keelin Godsey (pictured on right)
PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS
Volunteering to help those in need, especially children and the elderly are efforts Dr. Rolanda Schmidt enjoys tremendously. She has spent more than three decades feeding the poor, going on mission trips, providing to food shelters, collecting and donating books and school supplies, engaging in motivational speaking about abuse to raise awareness, and so much more. Dr. Ro encourages everyone breathing no matter to do at least one kind thing (no matter how small or grand the effort) for others. The most rewarding and humble blessing she has experienced is being able to carry out the words of Proverbs 31:8, "speak for those who can't speak for themselves." Dr. Ro is able to do so with the organization she started No More C.R.A.P. (No More Children Ripped Apart from Parents). For 13 years, in lieu of birthday presents, she has held an annual event to raise awareness of child abuse and kidnapping; seeking to prevent children from experiencing what she did as a child.
TELEVISION APPEARANCES
Dr. Rolanda Schmidt appeared in the Emmy winning MTV and LOGO TV’s “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word”, a documentary following seven transgender youths (Kye Allums, one of the seven, is Dr. Schmidt's firstborn) and revealing their trials and triumphs.