Meet State Sen. Angela V. McKnight

Interview with State Senator Angela V. McKnight

Q: How did you first hear about us? What was your introduction to Team Wilderness?

Angela: Many years ago, I heard about Team Wilderness through fellow community members and they were talking about this group who take children on hikes.

Not a lot of children In the neighborhood that I live and grew up in have ever gotten a chance to do that. It doesn’t naturally resonate with a lot of people In my community. So, when I heard that there was a group In our city work with Inner city kids, I was like ‘Wow, that’s amazing!’.

We have so many children in our inner city a part of Team Wilderness and they are hiking! You exposed it to them and they love It!

My daughter was in Girl Scouts. And so she did have to go hiking. It's team- building, right? It's self -identification, self-esteem, And it's survival, right? So it's like an extension of Girls and Boys Scout.

And for kids in our community, parents of many of them, right now, I always say that many of them, they are working day in and day out to make sure that there's food on the table. 

When you're outdoors, you want to make sure that you're not distracted. You want to capture that picture. You don't have timeto think about that situation that’s bothering you while you're here because you are doing the things that matter to you that's going to help you grow right here. 

Now, when I think of hiking it’s not just the wilderness--it’s character building, It’s self-identity, It’s building self-esteem.

Q: What motivates you in your work and in your life?

I’m very spiritual and I believe In God, and I believe that he has given me multiple assignments and the guidance to do them.

I was In the corporate world and stepped away in 2010. I then became an entrepreneur and opened up AngelaCARES.

I always want to be on the side of the village who helps seniors. I want to make sure seniors in our area have the ability to live with dignity.

I then became a state senator but that didn’t stop my work at AngelaCARES. So AngelaCARES continues to drive in the community. And as a state senator, I'm driving, I'm learning and I'm driving the community.

To sum everything up-- It’s because I genuinely care.

Q:Do you have any thoughts on the importance of empowering youth programs in urban areas?

A few things: continue to be open, accessible. Listen and meet the youth where they are. Sometimes as adults we think we have and know everything: what they have, what they need, and we don’t add them to the mix.

They need to be at the table, especially In the day and age. Include them and also take some of their Ideas and Implement them. You may need to tweak a little bit, but It will show them that they can be owners. They are making a difference, In their Idea, In the Implementation process.

Meet them where they are and have them be a part of the solution.

Q:What is one thing that people don't know about you that you wish that they did?

It hurts my core when a senior passes away, especially one that has been engaged with AngelaCARES.

It hurts your core, but you have to keep going. There were so many who passed away especially with the pandemic.

It’s a heavy toll on the heart, but I look at It as ‘At least I was able to bring a smile to his or her face and make their lives the slightest bit better’.

I want to be the kind of CEO where I can walk into a room and I know everyone.

It’s Important to never forget where you come from. I want to also pull people up while I’m also going up the ladder.

Q: What would you say is your greatest accomplishment in your life/work?

I have a few: when I first got into politics, one of my first priorities was to bring back the birth certificates to Jersey City. For a long time you had to go to Trenton to pick up your birth certificate.

I also spearheaded the effort to get PS34 named after our forever president: President Barack Obama Elementary School.

Also, a few years ago AngelaCARES now has a commercial space which I’ve very proud of. It started with just me In my living room and now we have our own commercial space.

There are 120 legislators in the state of New Jersey. And break that number down, I'm one of 40. Because there are 40 senators in the state of New Jersey. So I'm one of 40. Not many people will ever say that.

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In closing, I want to thank everyone at Team Wilderness for not giving up on the youth in our urban areas. You allow youth to grow and expand, keep doing what you’re doing.

Running my own non-profit I know it’s not easy, but we persevere!

Thank you to Team Wilderness for all that you do, and for honoring me .