Inside a Washington, D.C., jail, a row of chairs has been placed along the wall. The men who are sitting in them are dressed for an occasion that doesn't normally take place there.
Instead of orange jumpsuits, they wear dark suits and colorful ties, with white boutonnieres pinned to their jackets. Some of them are sitting still, while others are rocking back and forth in their seats. The room is quiet and nothing has started yet. Even so, what matters most is clear: they showed up for this moment.
Years later in Utah, many rows of chairs fill an open theater. The people sitting in them are dressed in an assortment of clothing. This time, the room is quiet for a different reason. As the lights dim, all eyes are on the big screen in front. They are about to experience Daughters, the journey of the girls who brought those men to their seats.
The woman behind this evocative story is Angela Patton, an activist and filmmaker whose work is to support Black girls as they take their journeys in life. Angela is also an ECPI University alumna. The film she presented to audiences is only one expression of a commitment she has carried for decades.
A Story That Took Eight Years to Tell
In 2004, Angela founded Camp Diva in Richmond, Virginia, a summer program aimed at empowering young Black girls. Through the program, she helped them find ways to understand their own potential through open and honest conversations.
During one of these conversations, Angela asked how daughters could develop healthy relationships with their fathers. One girl suggested a daddy-daughter dance. Despite the enthusiasm from the group, another girl shared that she wouldn’t be able to participate because her father was incarcerated. That gave Angela a different idea.
She wrote a letter to Former Richmond City Sheriff C.T. Woody and asked if the event could take place inside the jail. Shocked by how powerful the idea was, the sheriff readily agreed. That decision marked the beginning of the “Date with Dad,” a program framed around one of Angela’s core beliefs: “Because a father is locked in does not mean he should be locked out of his daughter’s life.”
A group of fathers and daughters dancing together at the end of the “Date with Dad” program
The program allows incarcerated fathers to share a dance with their daughters after completing a 10-week course. Through guided discussions, the men exchange stories, discuss fears, and offer support to one another.
The experience is deeply emotional, from their first meeting to the moment they reunite with their daughters. Beyond that, it has shown lasting impact, with participants demonstrating a very low recidivism rate after their release.
One of these dances became the foundation for Daughters. The documentary took eight years to complete, but it was a story that Angela believed needed to be told. Partnering with filmmaker Natalie Rae, she presented the documentary to audiences during the Sundance Film Festival in 2024, where it received two awards.
Soon after, Daughters became available on Netflix, where the story reached a global audience and was met with acclaim. Despite its success, however, the film only represents one part of a much larger commitment.
Directors Angela Patton & Natalie Rae and the girls from the Daughters documentary at Sundance
The Work Beyond the Film
Long before the film, and continuing beyond it, Angela has been an advocate for Black girls, elevating their voices and supporting them as they move toward adulthood. She believes that they already possess what they need within them. Her role is to provide the spaces, opportunities, and guidance for them to reach their potential.
In 2013, Camp Diva merged with Girls ForA Change (GFAC), a non-profit organization focused on leadership building, professional development, and community impact for girls. Angela stepped into the role of CEO, expanding its impact regionally and nationally. GFAC’s mission is simple and powerful: “To prepare Black girls for the world—and the world for Black girls.”
A group of girls at the Camp Diva summer program
Angela also helps young adults who are interested in pursuing creative industries, providing internship opportunities for them to get hands-on experience. Still a filmmaker, she uses the work itself as a form of mentorship. During an upcoming trip to Ghana, Angela plans to involve girls who are interested in filmmaking in the creative process.
Decades into her work, the scale has changed, but the focus has not. However, getting to this point was something that took far more than a good mission and a good heart.
Leading with Passion, Sustaining with Information
Angela’s experience with advocacy and leadership began well before she founded Camp Diva. She was initially interested in becoming a midwife, which led her to earn a CNA certification. She went on to work at a Powhatan correctional facility, helping with medical care in the infirmary.
When Angela later enrolled in a nursing program, she took a job at the YMCA, where she worked with children and distinguished herself through creative problem-solving. Her skills earned her a promotion and the attention of non-profits such as ART 180 and the Richmond AIDS Ministry. At those organizations, she demonstrated a particular talent for fundraising.
Those early experiences gave Angela a keen and practical understanding of leadership responsibilities. Soon after Angela founded Camp Diva, it expanded beyond her expectations and ability to manage. Having seen other community organizations struggle or close due to a lack of sustainability, she knew she needed to find a way to ensure its future. Her solution was to view the non-profit not only as a mission-driven effort, but as a regular business that required strategic management.
A group of girls at Girls For A Change
Determined to keep Camp Diva afloat, Angela decided to enroll in a business program. She chose ECPI University because the accelerated structure worked with her busy schedule. Through the program, she learned how to read contracts, handle accounting, and grew her management skills, all while she continued to run her organization.
In 2015, Angela completed her Bachelor of Business Administration. Her decision to pursue the degree was based on a practical philosophy: “I can lead with passion, but I can sustain with information.”
Angela’s connection to ECPI University has continued beyond her own studies as well. She has brought girls from the Camp Diva program to attend a business class at the university to support their professional development. One of her sons has also attended the university, where the community and structure matched his learning needs.
Now in her role as CEO of GFAC, Angela continues her work with the same philosophy that led her back to school. With both passion and information, that work is able to last for the people it’s designed to help.
Taking a Seat
While Daughters invited audiences to experience a story eight years in the making, it also gave them a glimpse into a decades-long effort. What unfolded on the big screen was a unique experience, but it's not a far departure from what Angela has always done. Her journey has taken many paths, but her values have remained consistent.
Along that journey, education became a vital reinforcement rather than a turning point. What drives Angela is her passion for uplifting Black girls, but ultimately, her awareness is what keeps that passion alive. As a result, the futures of the girls she has devoted her life to are stronger for it.
Whether it’s in a jail, a theater, a boardroom, or a classroom, Angela’s work has shown what it means and what it requires to take a seat.
About the Author: Sarah Campo
Sarah Campo is the Director of Alumni Engagement at ECPI University. She is passionate about sharing graduate stories, celebrating their achievements, and building meaningful connections that continue beyond graduation.