We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Mildred D. Muhammad, D.Hum. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Mildred D., we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Who are you learning from right now?
Right now, I’m learning how to communicate my experiences and insights more clearly and effectively, especially in ways that can inspire and empower others. I’m also learning to reflect on my journey—both the challenges and the growth, so I can share lessons that resonate and create meaningful impact.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Mildred Muhammad, an award-winning global keynote speaker on the issues of domestic anbuse annd violence, PTSD, child custody & suicide, honorary Doctor of Humanities. I’m a certified consultant with the U.S. Department of Justice/Office for Victims of Crime, a speaker for the U.S. Department of State, and a former CNN contributor.
As a domestic abuse survivor, I’ve dedicated my life to advocacy, serving as a certified domestic violence advocate and trainer/educator, and a certified professional/personal development consultant. I’m also a bestselling author and the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2023 DomesticShelters.org Purple Ribbon Lifetime Achievement Medallion Award, the 2022 Who’s Who in America Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, and a 2020 Proclamation of Appreciation for my exemplary role in the fight against domestic abuse.
In 2024, I was appointed to the Maryland State Board of Victim Services by Governor Wes Moore.
I’m the founder of My F.O.C.U.S. LLC and Mildred Muhammad Enterprises LLC, host of the podcast Rising Above It All.
My documentary, Hunted By My Husband: The Untold Story of the DC Sniper, is available on Prime, HBO Max, Apple TV, and other streaming and on-demand platforms. WROC-TV in Rochester, NY has called me ‘one of the nation’s most powerful advocates for victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment that truly shaped how I see the world was when my ex-husband, who would later become known as the D.C. sniper, did not return my children after a weekend visitation. I went from being a mother fighting for her family to a woman fighting for her life. Because help was slow in coming, I had to find my children on my own and take my safety into my own hands just to stay alive.
Living in a shelter for protection, navigating the courts, and pleading for assistance from agencies that moved too slowly taught me painful but powerful lessons about survival, faith, and determination. That experience exposed the flaws in the systems designed to protect victims and drove me to dedicate my life to supporting those who have no one to advocate for them
It shaped not just my mission, but my entire outlook on justice, resilience, and what it means to truly rise above.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power while I was living in a shelter, before I had even regained custody of my children.
In the midst of fear and uncertainty, I began training to be certified as a domestic violence advocate and taking paralegal classes to learn the law to get my divorce as well so laws about child custody. At the time, I didn’t realize it, but that experience was preparing me with the skills I would later use to help others
It was in that intense moments that I came to realize that my pain and experiences could be transformed into strength, not just for my survival, but for empowering countless survivors who had no one to advocate for them.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’ve committed myself to empowering survivors of domestic abuse and violence, no matter how long it takes. This isn’t just a career, it’s a mission God has placed on my heart that was born from my own experiences.
From rebuilding my life, regaining custody of my children, and training as a certified domestic violence advocate, to founding My F.O.C.U.S. LLC and Mildred Muhammad Enterprises LLC, I’ve devoted myself to creating programs, resources, and support systems that help survivors reclaim their voices and their power.
I believe that no matter the obstacles, every person deserves safety, justice, and the opportunity to rise above trauma, and I am committed to making that a reality for as long as it takes.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will remember me as someone who turned her pain into power and her experiences into a force for good. I want them to see that I stood alongside survivors of domestic violence when they felt unseen, unheard, or powerless. I hope they say that my work created real change, that it gave people hope and the courage to reclaim their lives.
Above all, I want them to know that I was faithful to the mission God placed on my heart and that my life was dedicated to empowering others to rise above their circumstances and live with strength, purpose, and resilience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://MildredMuhammad.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mildred-d-muhammad-d-hum-a3168422/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MildredDMuhammad/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
