Where to begin the story of Marjy Marj? We honestly feel a little humbled writing about this Upstate visionary since she is the author of two amazing books (The Shimmigrant and Same Elephants); hosts a fantastic podcast, Humanity Chats; is a dynamic public speaker; has an MBA and now, let’s get to all of her local community involvement.
Marj is the founder of Innovation Abound – a company that gives creative ideas the opportunity and resources to flourish; she is the vice chairman of the Hub City Writers Project Board of Directors; serves as a Trustee at the Charles Lea Center Foundation, The Spartanburg Regional Foundation and Spartanburg Day School. For Spartanburg Day, she is the chairperson for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In the past, she has worked with the American Red Cross, Women Giving for Spartanburg and The National Kidney Foundation to promote the organizations' core values.
A native of Ghana, she moved to the U.S. in her early 20s and as she told the University of Baltimore alumni magazine, “I am as Ghanaian as jollof rice and as American as apple pie. Home is wherever you become part of your community.”
And here are her answers to our questions:
What are your favorite things to do on your days off?
I like to cook, dance and read fiction and self improvement books.
What is one movie you’ve watched more than five times?
Black Panther
What are three books you would bring with you to a deserted island?
Bouncing Back from Failure by Adom Appiah (editor’s note this is her son because why just have one great writer in a family)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achibe
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what album would it be?
Diana Hamilton - Adom, Grace
In your opinion, what’s the most rewarding part of working in your job?
Having a positive impact on others
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A lawyer and a talk show host
If you could be part of any sitcom family or friend-group, which would you choose?
Blackish
Tell us a funny story about you that most people don’t know?
I always thought that chemistry was the study of chemicals
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Wars
What are some of your favorite things to do in Greenville?
Catch a soccer game
Enjoy Battle of the Bands
Read Up Greenville
Sit at Falls Park and listen to the waterfall.
Enjoy ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery.
Visit River Falls Spa