S3E3 Valerie McDowell

Valerie McDowell, Author, Writer, Editor, and Book Coach works with writing challenged clients helping them to get their stories told and their books published. She especially likes working with first-time authors and speakers who have a message to tell the world. Her youngest client is 11 and her oldest is in their 70’s. She has published 11 books since 2018 and has seven books in the works. She is also the author of two books herself.

Valerie McDowell is also a founding staff member and Director of Operations for a national juvenile justice organization working to reduce racial and ethnic disparities for youth around the country. Prior to helping establish CCLP, Valerie worked as the Project Manager for the Faith-Based Foster Care Initiative in Detroit, MI, working with pastors and other faith leaders to bring about change to Detroit’s foster care system.

She is the co-founder of Georgetown University’s Black Movements Dance Theatre (BMDT), now in its 36th year, and in 2017, received a Legacy Award from the company during its annual dance performance.

Valerie is a member of Crossover Church in MD and served as actor, director, and lead writer for the drama ministry from 1998-2018, writing and directing numerous plays and skits. She is an ordained deacon, new members’ teacher, and small group leader.

Finally, Valerie holds a B.S. in Marketing from Georgetown University and M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Eastern University. Originally from Harlem, NY, Valerie currently lives in the DC suburbs. She is the mother of two adult children and a grandmother (G’ma) of three. Her passions include reading, writing, dance, and traveling the world experiencing new and exciting peoples and cultures.