Ep. 54 – Keep It Moving: Turning Setbacks into Leadership in Georgia (with Rep. Kim Schofield)

Описание: In this episode of The Jentry Podcast, host Jonathan Mason sits down with Kim Schofield, a Georgia State Representative whose leadership journey was forged through advocacy, illness, and relentless persistence. Rep. Schofield shares how a lupus diagnosis became the catalyst for her public service, pushing her from community advocacy into elected office. Rather than stopping when doors closed, she adopted a simple but powerful philosophy: keep it moving. From fighting for healthcare access and housing equity to showing up in rooms where she wasn’t initially invited, Kim explains how setbacks became fuel for leadership.

This conversation is about resilience, faith, and refusing to let a “no” be the end of the story. It’s a reminder that leadership doesn’t begin with a title it begins when someone decides to keep going.

Takeaways
A No Is Not the End: Kim’s journey proves that rejection isn’t final. Advocacy often starts long before elected office, and persistence is what turns resistance into results.

Pain Can Become Purpose: Her lupus diagnosis didn’t slow her down it clarified her mission. Kim shows how personal challenges can sharpen empathy and strengthen leadership.

Leadership Is Action, Not Position: Before she ever held office, Kim was already doing the work. She reminds listeners that you don’t need permission or a title to create change.

Health Is the Foundation of Everything: From healthcare access to housing stability, Kim emphasizes that policy decisions are interconnected. When people’s basic needs aren’t met, nothing else works.

Faith and Movement Matter: “Keep it moving” isn’t just a mantra it’s a strategy. Kim talks about balancing faith, fear, and forward motion when leadership feels heavy.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome and introduction
01:42 Kim’s early advocacy and community work
05:11 A lupus diagnosis that changed everything
09:04 “Keep it moving” — responding to setbacks
12:58 Turning advocacy into elected leadership
17:21 Healthcare, housing, and equity priorities
21:46 Leadership without permission
25:08 Faith, fear, and resilience
28:44 Advice for future leaders and advocates
32:10 Legacy and why the work continues
35:02 Closing reflections

Keywords
Kim Schofield, Georgia State Representative, advocacy, leadership, resilience, lupus awareness, healthcare policy, housing equity, faith-based leadership, civic engagement, public service, women in politics