A true calling always finds its way to you. Valencia Caldwell is living proof.

Her father was an air-traffic controller who always encouraged his children to follow their dreams. After his death, a special flight helped lead Caldwell back to her first love — one that wouldn't be easy to reconnect with.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates there are 213,000 aircraft pilots and engineers in the country. Just 4% are African American, and organizations like Sisters of The Skies estimate there are fewer than 200 Black women professional pilots in the United States.

Undaunted, Caldwell has been accepted to the United Aviate Academy, an intensive flight school through United Airlines. On this episode, podcast host Kim Shine talks with her about the often-turbulent path she's followed back to flying and how she turned to her community to help support her dream.

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Host: Kim Shine

You can contribute to Caldwell's GoFundMe here.

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