About Me

I'm a single woman who's a work in progress personally & professionally!

Njoya founded "The Harlem Knitting Circle" while recouperating from a traumatic "on the job injury" while working as a NYC teacher. While learning how to walk again, and dealing with various medical and social service bureaucracy, Njoya began to knit again. Knitting was just beginning to become fashionable and this art bought back pleasant memories of both of Njoya's Grandmother's-"Nana" and "Nanie". Both ladies crocheted and taught Njoya at an early age, but it was "Nana"-Njoya's Maternal Grandmother, who on a warm summer evening, while sitting on the porch and shelling peas, introduced her to the world of knitting. This art evoked the healing spirits of these two wonderful women! As Njoya knitted so did her mind, body, and spirit!
After reading Christopher Reeves "Still Me" and the biography of "Frida Kahlo", Njoya allowed her frustrations and anguish to fuel her creative nature! Out of her love for the arts, memories of both of her Grandmother's, educating and community organizing, the "Harlem Knitting Circle" was born!
HKC's first meeting was Dec. 06, 2003-one of NYC wickedest snowstorms to date! Njoya and her boyfriend trudged through the knee deep snow to the center, arms loaded with hot cider and cookies, and it's with that determination that HKC was born! HKC was graciously given a free room by the Pehlem Fritz-NYC Dept. of Parks, but when they requested that HKC's members purchase Parks membership Njoya moved. We were blessed with the farsight of Manny Figueroa-Head Librarian at the George Bruce Library. He'd read about Njoya and HKC in an article in the Harlem Times and granted Njoya space to hold meetings every Saturday! We've been in this beautiful spot since Jan'2004!
One of the top priorities of HKC is that there be an "open space" for anyone of any economic level to practice their craft!
"It is creating which allows one to feel whole no matter their physical and/or economic status!"-
Anntoinette Stacy Njoya Angrum
Founder/Director-The Harlem Knitting Circle