Meet Benjie Wimberly | NJ Assemblyman

We had the good fortune of connecting with Benjie Wimberly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Benjie, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
It has been my honor to be a husband, father, coach and Brother of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. Each of these duties has shaped my career, passion for activism, legislation, engagement with residents and my perspective on the importance of community as a State Assemblyman.

That being said, my career in education has afforded me the opportunity to assist my community neighbors and young people alike in pivoting to opportunities that better their lives. With so many hats to wear it always feels like we’re moving on to the next thing but this year I’m challenging myself to be more present for my family who throughout my career journey have relentlessly supported me.

As my wife, Kim and I adjust to being empty-nesters; my children who are now young adults are making me so proud! I am excited to watch them play college football, inspire youth through sports and also welcome my first grandchild. Finding those moments to celebrate their success remind me that the community work I do is as important as sharing a laugh or words of wisdom with my system of support.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The road to being an NJ Assemblyman is far from easy. In Paterson alone, there are more than 150,000 residents. In District 35 we collaborate to serve about 240,000 residents. Each resident has their own interests, circumstance and vision of what would be the best for our livelihood and to be considerate of each of those contributions is quite the task. Being a good listener is my best skill because I take the time to connect with our community to represent the issues that are important to them in the State house.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love to watch a good sports game. In fact, I’m notorious to take a meeting on the field while cheering because I love to connect with people in a place that invites us to all come together. Some of the best times I’ve enjoyed on the sideline watching our youth play football, basketball, soccer, volleyball you name it. We have a ton of talent in our city and I love to watch them develop over the years and support their journey!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The success I’ve had is not built by my individual efforts. In fact, the success I have is a network of faith, family, friends, colleagues and local partners. Each has left an imprint on my ease of mind, prepped me when I felt doubt, volunteered when times were tough, stayed late nights and early mornings alike. I owe that success to my wife, Kim, my four children, my late parents, my Chief of Staff, Yvette, each of my mentors, my mentees, our District 35 residents and each of my partners throughout my career. I continue to grow, deepen and develop these relationships as foundational to not only my success but also my happiness.

Website: https://www.benjieewimberly.com

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