Angela Champagne-From graduated from Hamline University in 2013. She majored in legal studies and women’s studies and earned conflict studies and paralegal certificates.
Since the attack, Angela has started telling her story to anyone who would listen. Her speaking and message has been so well received in the community that she has started a non-profit, The Fight Back Project, to allow her to continue to share her story and promote self defense training for women. She fought for her life that spring afternoon and believes she would not be here to share her story if she had not done so. Angela considers it a privilege and an honor to share her story. Angela resides in Anoka, Minnesota with her husband, son and yellow lab. In her spare time, she enjoys working out and spending time with her family and friends. |
About AngelaAngela was born and raised in Minnesota by her loving parents, Terri and Al Jr. She has a brother, Al III and an amazingly supportive husband, Adam. She was fortunate to find her calling for the law at a very young age and began working as a legal secretary at the age of 19. She made career moves which allowed her to work as a paralegal and return to school in 2008 to obtain a college degree. She graduated in 2013 from Hamline University. Her ultimate goal is to attend law school, eventually have a family and continue to share her story to educate and empower women and children to fight back.
The IncidentVery early in Angela's recovery, she had a rule that when discussing the matter it be referred to as "the incident." It sounded less scary than stabbing and less violent that assault. Although what happened that spring afternoon was nothing less than scary and violent.
April 19, 2012 was the day that forever changed Angela's life. She woke up thinking "three weeks left of this 18 credit semester" and "final presentation for feminist theory tonight." In summary, it was just a normal day in Angela's hectic and chaotic life. She had driven in that morning and parked on the level she always did - Level D. She parked in the spot she usually parked in which was close to the elevator lobby. Nothing remarkable happened. She went on with her day. Working all day, emailing Adam, calling her mother and conversations with her partners she was presenting with that evening. Again, nothing remarkable. It was a normal day. When it was time to leave (4:00 p.m.), she went into the elevator and got off on level D. She proceeded to her car, put her backpack and dinner on the passenger seat and set her purse in the driver's seat. She was about to get in when there was a man behind her and a knife to her throat. He whispered "we're going for a ride." He wasn't expecting what happened next - Angela fought! She kicked, screamed and grabbed his testicles in an effort to fend him off. Her attacker stabbed her in the abdomen causing life-threatening injuries; however, she continued to fight. After Angela made eye contact with him and asked him what he wanted from her, he told her "you're lucky you're a fighter" and left her to bleed to death in her car as he walked to the nearby elevators. The nightmare didn't end there. As she attempted to call 911 and get help, the dispatch continuously told Angela she didn't know where she was. She did what she did best - she ran for help. She grabbed her purse and ran down 4 stories of the parking ramp exit. She got to the bottom of the ramp and had conversations with the attendant and a patron leaving. Then her world went dark. |