Spotlight: First Korean-American woman to be mayor of Cherry Hill, NJ

When you think of leaders, who comes to mind? You probably think of people like the President, or those in positions of power in the business atmosphere or the political atmosphere. Really, there are positions of leadership in every walk of life, but even in just those few examples, there is an apparent imbalance. There has never been one female President in the United States. When you think of those who run businesses, you most likely think of a man in a suit, giving his employees directives. Only recently have women started to make progress in taking leadership positions.

Women like Kamala Harris who made history in being elected as the first female and female of color as Vice President are making strides for women across the country and globe. Here in Cherry Hill, Mayor Shin Angulo is similarly, making strides of her own.

Mayor Shin Angulo is the first Korean-American woman to serve as mayor in Cherry Hill, and not only that, she is the first Korean-American woman to serve as mayor in all of New Jersey. When speaking to Mayor Shin Angulo, she said that “it is truly an honor and a privilege to be the first.”

However, being a mayor is not all that she has accomplished in her line of work. She is also the first Asian American woman to be elected as a county freeholder in New Jersey. In addition to that, she also served on the Cherry Hill Township council, making her the first Korean-American woman to hold an elected office in New Jersey. Consequently, Mayor Shin Angulo is no stranger to being the first.
Mayor Shin Angulo goes on to say “I am heartened by the fact that the vast majority of the people I have worked with in Cherry Hill especially and throughout Camden County take this issue as seriously as I do and they work hard to make sure that women are not just given a seat at the table, but they are heard and respected the same as their male counterparts.”

Mayor Shin Angulo, in this respect, has had positive experiences in her political arena, but other women are not as fortunate. According to Time Magazine, a report showed that 93% of respondents felt that females in leadership positions experienced unwanted physical contact and 94% stated that women do not get the same treatment in comparison to their male equivalent.
This all being said, women are breaking barriers in political arenas, as Kamala Harris and our very own Mayor Shin Angulo demonstrate. The women’s suffrage movement started the path towards women representation, and females continue to make strides and will continue to do so to make their voices heard. Women’s History Month is celebrated to acknowledge all women and their accomplishments. Take this time to acknowledge, appreciate and love the women in your life. However, this is also the time to encourage them to be a leader in their chosen profession!