About the author
Maryam Bey, a resident of Elizabeth, New Jersey, came to Newark, New Jersey in 1967. She was a broken spirit fleeing from a father who raped her at fifteen years old. She dropped out of school in the twelfth grade due to pregnancy. She married and had three more children. She obtained her General Education Diploma from Steven's Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. In 1975 she opened Creative Garden School with the help of her husband and four brothers. After ten years of operating her school, she closed Creative Garden due to a traumatic divorce. Maryam eventually earned two degrees in Urban Education & Public Policy from Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, New Jersey.
A former Newark Public Schools Board Member and Newark Public Schools Board President, Maryam was councilwoman candidate for the West Ward twice. She has received many community, municipal, and organization awards for her community activism. She is the Founder, CEO, and Host of Tell a Vision, LLC, a local cable tv show. She lectures at colleges, schools, faith-based organizations, and conducts staff trainings in reentry. She produces inspiring conferences, workshops, and symposiums. She began her career in the prison system 2006 as an Employment Counselor at The Kintock Group. In 2008 she was hired as a Senior/Program Counselor at Delaney Hall. In 2014 she was hired for the City of Newark to work with their reentry population. Throughout 2015 - 2016 she conducted job readiness trainings for inmates at the Essex County Correctional Facility. All facilities are in Newark, New Jersey. Maryam is passionate and loves working with brothers and sisters who are interested in their own personal development. To Maryam, attitude is everything and there are no excuses.