JERSEY CITY, NJ —
June 19, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
From entrepreneurship to mentorship, these changemakers are making a difference in our daily lives.
It’s a Tuesday morning in Jersey City, and Djenaba Johnson-Jones is helping a local baker turn a family recipe into a real business. Down the street in Hoboken, Issa Sow is hanging a new painting at his gallery, getting ready for an evening community music night. These aren’t just tasks on a to-do list—they’re moments that shape what Hudson County feels like for the people who live here.
This week, Hoboken Girl published a list of 26 Black community leaders who are quietly—and sometimes loudly—making this corner of New Jersey a better place to live, work, and raise a family. It’s a reminder that the people who keep our neighborhoods running aren’t always the ones with official titles. They’re the ones who start things.
Who’s on the list?
The list includes entrepreneurs, nonprofit founders, artists, educators, and public servants. Some names you might recognize. Others you’ll be glad you’re learning about now.
There’s Angela McKnight, founder of AngelaCARES Inc., a nonprofit that supports senior citizens and their caregivers. There’s Celeste Williams, who runs Caring Capable Hands Inc. and mentors young people healing from trauma. She received the Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award for her work.
Denise Woodard, founder and CEO of Partake Foods, makes allergy-friendly cookies you can find in grocery stores nationwide. She partners with No Kid Hungry and HBCUs to fight food insecurity and support Black students. Djenaba Johnson-Jones runs The Hudson Kitchen in Kearny, a food entrepreneurship incubator that helps new culinary businesses learn the ropes.
Jerry Walker, a Jersey City native and former NBA player, now serves as the 31st District Assemblyman. He also founded Team Walker, a youth learning center offering STEM classes, a free farmers market, and free GED and ESL classes. Jordan Lacey started Light The Candle, a nonprofit that brings birthday joy to children in the foster care system. Jordan and Joelle Hernandez, twins and co-founders of Double Dough, make custom sugar cookies from scratch and host pop-ups throughout Hudson County.
Issa Sow runs Issyra Gallery in Hoboken’s Neumann Leather Building, where he displays his own paintings and hosts music and art events. Dileiny Baron, a Jersey City-based influencer, founded The Creators Loft, a vintage-inspired content studio for brands and creators to make content. Dr. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez is an entrepreneur, veteran, and community leader who focuses on empowering underserved and LGBTQ+ communities.
Beyond the list
The list isn’t meant to be the final word. The editors at Hoboken Girl say they’ll add names over time and invite readers to email suggestions. That’s part of what makes this feel like a living document, not a plaque on a wall.
What this means for Hudson County
When you read about a free farmers market run by Team Walker, or a local cookie company partnering with No Kid Hungry, it’s easy to see this as feel-good news. But it’s more than that. These are the organizations that fill gaps—where schools can’t provide after-school programs, where seniors need a friendly visit, where a young person needs to see that someone believes in them.
These leaders aren’t just doing their own thing. They’re weaving a network of support that touches families in every neighborhood. If you’ve ever wondered how to get involved, or where your donation might make a real difference, this list is a good place to start.
What people are saying
In their own words, these leaders describe their work in simple, human terms. Celeste Williams says she uses “passion for service to create meaningful change.” Jordan Lacey talks about bringing joy to foster kids on their birthdays. Angela McKnight calls her work “a support system for senior caregivers.”
There’s no grand theory here. Just people who saw a need and decided to act.
What comes next
You can read the full list on Hoboken Girl‘s website. If you know someone who should be included, send an email. And if you want to support these efforts—whether by volunteering, donating, or just showing up to a pop-up event—most of these organizations have websites and social media pages where you can connect.
Hudson County has always been a place where people step up for each other. This list proves that tradition is alive and well.
Source: Hoboken Girl
