We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Irving and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Lisa, how do you think about risk?
Every risk is a chance to learn. Despite the fact that I am a definite introvert, I have found myself taking some big risks over the past few years. Right after earning my bachelor’s degree, I moved from Florida to DC with my now-husband. I didn’t know when or if I would find my first teaching job in the few weeks before school started, but I did. After one year in the classroom, I decided to interview for a gifted program coordinator position. I didn’t know if I would be taken seriously, but I got the job. After our wedding, I persuaded my husband to start a debt-free journey with me. Being so young with so much in front of us, committing to debt freedom was a huge change. We successfully paid off all our debt, relocated to Atlanta, and finished grad school within two years. By this time, I was going on my fifth year in the classroom, desperate for something new. I am a passionate educator who enjoys preparing lessons and teaching students, but the profession was too self-sacrificing for me. Outside of prioritizing my mental health and time with family, I wanted to exercise my writing and curriculum design skills more than I could in the classroom. So I resigned at the end of 2020 to do just that. Stepping out of the classroom to start a freelance writing business was a huge risk for me. Two years later, there still are moments when my career change feels surreal. Did I really leave? Do I really have zero papers to grade? Yes and yes. Operating as a sole-proprietorship has been anything but easy, and I am still learning every day. I would take every single risk again, because here I am working and growing in the space I risked everything to see.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
FireCopy is a provider of diversity-minded education products and services that is 100% owned and operated by a black woman. As an HBCU graduate and former English teacher, I approach every project through the lens of learning. That is, someone brand new to the content I’m working on should have, at the very least, an entry point into accessing and understanding it. What ultimately sets FireCopy apart, though, is the clear focus on diversity within every product and service. Our current Fire Four Years curriculum project intends to transform each year of the traditional “English” class into a world literature class. Diversity is not a line item we will get around to someday, it is our foundation.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve only lived in the Atlanta area for about five years, but there are some must-see places for anyone who visits. I am all about recognizing and honoring trailblazers, so I always encourage family and friends to visit the King Center and Ebenezer Baptist Church. Every tourist should take a moment to reflect on the world-changing efforts of Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, John Lewis, Ralph Abernathy, and the other civil rights pioneers who called Atlanta home. If you’re here for a few days, definitely eat at a couple of different soul food restaurants. You’ll find the ones you love and return to them every time you visit. The Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta are amazing as well. If you’re bringing children with you, those two attractions will keep them entertained for quite a while. If you’re looking to shop, get there early! One of my favorite hotspots for hanging out, shopping, and eating is Ponce City Market. They have such an eclectic mix of retail stores, yummy restaurants, and scenic chill spots.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to recognize my alma mater, my HBCU, Florida A&M University. I was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, so I grew up in arm’s reach of FAMU. Brilliance and regality radiated from every alum I met, and I wanted some of that for myself. As a first-generation college student, I could not have imagined a more nurturing environment for learning and introspection. The university’s motto of “excellence with caring” endures nearly 135 years since its founding. I still am naturally quiet and reserved as I was my first day on campus, but the Rattler in me exudes unmistakable courage and confidence. There is no place like FAMU.
Website: www.thefirecopy.com
Instagram: @firecopy
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamirving
Image Credits
Vincent Irving