AMERICAN MUSLIM ADVISORY COUNCIL

Maryum, the eldest of Muhammad Ali's nine children, was instilled with a deep sense of purpose from a young age. Her father often asked her, “What is your purpose?” Her unwavering reply was, “I want to help people.” This guiding belief has shaped Maryum’s richly layered life and career. A natural creative, Maryum spent over a decade performing stand-up comedy, weaving humor with sharp social insight and moral messaging. In 1992, she released a rap album titled The Introduction under Scotti Bros. Records, using her music to spotlight social issues. As the rap industry began to emphasize violence and the objectification of women, Maryum stepped away from music, seeking a more direct path to positively influence young lives. For over 15 years, Maryum has devoted herself to youth development and gang prevention, serving as a Case Manager and Program Director at nonprofit organizations. She has worked with hundreds of families in underserved communities, offering support, resources, and hope. Her dedication to community empowerment led her to serve as a Regional Manager for the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development. Over the past decade, she has also become a sought-after public speaker, delivering impactful presentations to social and human service organizations nationwide. In 2024, Maryum marked the 20th anniversary of her inspirational children’s book, I Shook Up the World: The Incredible Life of Muhammad Ali, with a newly republished edition from Beyond Words Publishing. The book honors her father’s legacy while motivating a new generation of readers. While she treasures her meaningful work in social services, Maryum is now returning to her artistic roots with her solo performance play, FLOAT. In this powerful one-woman show, she shares pivotal moments from her life, revealing how her father’s parenting and principles profoundly shaped her identity and sense of self-worth. Through moving and often humorous autobiographical stories, she reflects on growing up as a Black, Muslim girl in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement—exploring the complexities of identity amid judgment and intolerance. FLOAT is a heartfelt gem that takes your emotions on a beautifully unexpected ride. Maryum hopes her play inspires empathy and understanding across the boundaries that too often divide us.

Dr. Suzy Ismail is the Founding Director of Cornerstone, a nonprofit, faith-based communication intervention organization with several locations around the world that focus on youth, family, marriage, identity, socioemotional wellness, and relationship rebuilding. She is the author of many books including "Modern Muslim Marriage," "9 to 5," "When Muslim Marriage Fails," and several other works. She specializes in educating and empowering women, youth, and vulnerable populations by presenting a range of workshops, lectures, programs, diversity seminars, and corporate training both nationally and internationally. As a Visiting Professor for over a decade in the Communication Departments of Rutgers University and DeVry University, Dr. Ismail has researched, written, and presented extensively on the intersectionality of education, faith, communication, and culture. She has also served for many years as a student adviser, teacher, and board member of a local private school. Dr. Ismail has been interviewed on numerous media outlets and is often featured on talk shows, radio and television broadcasts and podcasts regarding her work. She has presented on the topics of marriage, family, parenting, identity, and teens at many public and private universities around the world and at the World Meeting of Families during Pope Francis’ first visit to the US. She has traveled to the border of Syria to work with refugee women, families, and orphans and continues her work with resettlement and relief agencies providing integration intervention. For many years, Dr. Ismail has served as an executive officer and director on several nonprofit boards, commissions, and organizations. Her humanitarian work has been recognized with numerous awards including the Ambassador for Peace Award and the Visionary Muslim Award. She holds a Master of Arts in Communication, a Master of Philosophy in Human Services, and a PhD in Human Services focusing on Family Studies & Intervention Strategies.