Spotlight: New Board Member Dr. Kangela Moore
Can you talk about your early involvement in WCC?
It was soon after the COVID emergency ended, and I was looking for connection. My good friend, Tanya Cruz, was involved in the Workshop Design Team and suggested I try a workshop. The name of the organization—Women Creating Change—really grabbed me. I attended a workshop on storytelling, and it really helped me to be intentional and to be my authentic self. It gave me the strength to discuss the issues that are important to me and my community.
Were you able to apply what you learned to your already extensive advocacy work?
Absolutely. The workshop really motivated me to own my voice in all aspects of my advocacy. I was active on my local community board, along with Tanya. Applying what we learned from the Civic Matters workshops to our Zoom presentations, we developed engaging presentations by incorporating music, facilitating conversations, and ensuring people felt informed and heard.
What issue did you tackle next?
My community deserves a clean, functioning green space, but our local park had been neglected. I was able to galvanize my neighbors to advocate for this park, and their voices created power and impact. Our rallying cry, “We deserve a park, not a jungle!” was incredibly effective. Two years in, the park has received considerable funding from our local elected officials, and the park has improved drastically. We’re now working with New Yorkers for Parks and other organizations for ongoing support to ensure Parks are funded. I credit the workshops for giving me the tools to amplify my impact as I advocate for issues.
What does it mean to you to join the Board and what are your plans?
It’s really a dream come true. As a Board member of WCC, I’m part of an organization full of like-minded women who share the common goal of moving women forward in society with regard to civics, equal pay, and so much more. In addition to working to support the organization to meet its goals, I plan to impart my strategies for engaging community members and bringing awareness to issues that concern women. By sharing my life experiences—taking a stand against the City of New York when people with my job title at the time were being underpaid; advocating for my local park to ensure it is green, clean and safe; stopping bodegas from selling synthetic cannabis to children; advocating for the State to institute a grading system for nursing homes—I hope to inspire other women to speak up and be part of creating positive change. We can’t sit on the sidelines—we must use our voices. I’m also excited to try something I haven’t done before because learning new things is how you grow.