Successful Mother-Daughter Duo Linked by Faith

When it comes to walking by faith and having endurance to conquer insurmountable odds,  Bianca Ward Washington has learned a lot from her mother, Dr. Cherie Ward, director of the Jim Vance Media Program at Archbishop Carroll High School in Northeast, D.C. While life hasn’t always been easy for the mother and daughter, the two are living examples of the power of prayer and perseverance.

On Thursday, May 23, when members of the Class of 2024, graduate from Carroll, Bianca will be salutatorian of her class, achieving the second highest grade point average. However the family celebrations don’t end there. Next month, Ward will receive the Veteran Teacher of Year at the school’s annual Kennedy Center Gala. 

As the two relish in these achievements, they noted life was much different in the fall of 2021.

“It was during the Christmas season, and I prayed to ask God to spare my mother’s life and send her home for Christmas,” said Bianca in an interview. “I never gave up because I knew my mother would have wanted me to continue to excel and I believed God would answer me.  She went to the hospital on December 6 and she came home on [December] 22.  He answered my prayer and I was grateful.”

While Ward only had a 20% chance of survival from neurosurgery for a life-threatening aneurysm, she said she wasn’t worried. 

“I have had my last rights read to me five times and yet I am still here to talk about it. I knew that as long as I relinquished my actions and humbled my thoughts to that part of the process I knew that I could achieve anything,” she said.

The mother and educator said Bianca’s worries were compounded by the fact that Ward’s mom died from the very same condition.

“The 27^th Psalm, ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear,’ is the prayer my mother gave me to say daily during my young adulthood,” Ward said. “And when she passed away unexpectedly the morning of my graduation from Howard University, I knew that whatever God had in store for me was going to take the strength and endurance that was being asked of me at that time.”

Ward is the former poet laureate for the D.C. City Council’s Black History programs and Miss District of Columbia. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia and director of Communications for the Whole Genome Science Foundation. She has earned her Master of Arts and PhD in Communications, Culture, and Media Studies from Howard University.

Ward is also co-founder of TEDxHowardUniversity, TEDxLeDroitPark, and TEDxBrookland, author of her book, “By the Rubric of Rhythm, They’ll Read,” and producer of her upcoming children’s educational television program, “Lumumba’s Playground.”

While Bianca is a fairly private person, she earned the respect of other pupils at Carroll as the president of Peer Ministry, a group of students who help facilitate activities that promote faith and service within the school community.

Through all the trials and tribulations, this mother and daughter have endured, they are both optimistic about the future. Ward said,  

“All things are possible through Christ who strengthens us,” said Bianca, who will be attending Jefferson University in Philadelphia and plans to major in Architecture. Reflecting on her journey, She said, “sometimes you have to just let go and let God.” 

 But Ward concluded the interview  with a poem she wrote called: “Jesus as a Hiding Place.”

When all others have forsaken thee, and to you

The world has covered its face,

Just know, there’s a hiding place.

Somewhere, and someone to whom you can turn

Whenever it seems you’re alone,

Without a friend and family to comfort you

And it seems no place is home.

There’s shelter, a pavilion, that’s been reserved for vagabonds like you

No matter the baggage or trials that are challenging,

His goodness and mercy shine through—

The darkest hour, and remotest abyss

From which one can’t find their course,

A path has been paved to mountains on high

Inner strength is now gained from a higher source.

Sometimes daily existence is overwhelming.

Just can’t seem to keep pace,

Someone has already died for your sins

In Jesus, there’s a hiding place.

He’s the answer and solution 

To problems that trouble you so,

Open honesty and an earnest heart

Is all’s needed, when on bended knee you go.

Prayer to him changes things

No matter how rough the road may be,

Regardless the weight of your burdens

Relying on him is the key—

To locked doors, new beginnings and horizons seemingly beyond reach

Lift thy head to the son of God,

For his help and wisdom, you beseech.

All one has to do is ask

And thou shalt conquer any race,

Seek sanctuary in his tabernacle

To find in Jesus, there’s a hiding place.