Maryum "May May" Ali

(Public Speaker, Social Worker, Author)

Maryum is the eldest of Muhammad Ali’s nine children. When she was a child, her father would often ask her, "What is your purpose?" and she gave him the same response, “I want to help people.” Maryum's efforts to fulfil her purpose has manifested in a myriad of ways throughout her life.

As a creative spirit, she performed as a stand-up comedian for over ten years. She also released a rap album in 1992 titled, The Introduction on Scottie Bros. Records. Most of her entertainment content included insightful observations, addressed social issues and promoted ethical values. When the rap music industry began focusing on violence and female exploitation, Maryum left the music business to embark upon a more direct way of impacting young people.

So back to school she went and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. Degree in Social Work. Maryum has fifteen years of experience in the area of juvenile delinquency prevention and youth development and has worked as a Case Manager, Program Director and Regional Manager for the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development in the City of Los Angeles. The A&E Network heard about her work in high crime communities and invited her to participate in their ground-breaking docuseries, “60 Days In,” that is currently streaming. On the show, she spent time in a real jail as an undercover inmate in order to make recommendations for reforming an Indiana jail.

Maryum is currently a Keynote Speaker, giving presentations across the country for social and human service organizations. She also gives presentations about her father and his journey with Parkinson disease.

Maryum is happy to announce that the children’s book she wrote two decades ago titled, I Shook Up the World: The Incredible Life of Muhammad Ali, is available again as a 20th Anniversary Edition in paperback. The amazing life story about Ali is beautifully illustrated by the illuminating artwork of Patrick Henry Johnson.

PAST EVENTS (Keynote Speaker)

  • Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’: The 28th Annual Conference African American Advisory Council Institute. “Fatherhood Is Essential: Relationship Building & Effective Mentoring to Promote Reunification of Families” - Normal, IL

  • PeaceTech Lab - “Road to Equal Justice” - Louisville, KY.

  • Washington Department of Health & Social Services: Children's Justice Conference - Bellevue, WA

  • Women Working in Corrections & Juvenile Justice (WWICJJ) Conference - Louisville, KY.4C for Children Leadership and Early Childhood Conference - Cincinnati, OH

  • Federal Communication Commission - Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Non-Violence - Washington DC

  • YWCA of Greater Portland, OR

  • United Way of Genesee County Fundraiser - Flint, MI 

  • Shippensburg University - Black History Month - Shippensburg, PA

  • Youth Policy Institute - (Training Facilitator) Los Angeles, CA

  • The Women's March on Washington, DC

  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme - Oxnard CA

  • One Safe Place Conference "Stop the Violence: Emerging Trends & Innovative Strategies" - Fort Worth, TX

  • United Way of Stanislaus County: Power of the Purse Fundraiser - Modesto, CA

  • Dallas Furniture Bank Charity Fundraiser- Dallas TX

  • Kentucky Association of Counties Conference: Louisville, KY

  • Brazos Valley Food Band, Inc. Fundraiser - Bryon, TX

  • Correctional Training Facility: Soledad State Prison - Soledad, CA 

  • American Jail Association (AJA) Conference - Louisville, KY

  • Kennedy King College - (Training Facilitator) Chicago, IL

  • Hackensack University Medical Center - Hackensack, NJ

  • Parkinson Alliance and Parkinson Unity Walk - New York, NY

  • World Parkinson Congress Conference -  Portland OR

  • Abbvie Pharmaceuticals: Convention - Dallas, TX

  • Adamas Pharmaceuticals: Convention - Los Angeles, CA

  • South Coast Air Quality Management District: Martin Luther King Jr, Day of Service Forum- Los Angeles, CA

  • Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference (IRS) - Toronto, Canada

  • Muslim Legal Fund of America - Dallas, TX

  • CAIR Fundraiser - Los Angeles, CA

  • MPAC Annual Gala - Los Angeles, CA

  • ISB's Change Makers Awards Gala - Atlanta, GA

  • Helping Hands for Relief & Development - San Diego, CA