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r. Steve Perry’s heart pumps passion and produces positive change. Featured in CNN's Black in America series, Dr. Perry is the most talked about innovative educator on the scene today. Perry is the founder and principal of what U.S. News and World Report has cited as one of the top schools in the country, Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut. Capital Prep has sent 100% of its predominantly low-income, minority, first generation high school graduates to four-year colleges every year since its first class graduated in 2006. books‌all before he turned 26. 9
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Born and raised in Trenton NJ. I am a graduate of Tren-
"We have no control of the hand that we are born with,
ton Central High School and Mercer County Community
the environment we are born into or the issues that come
College. I started writing as a child as a form of therapy.
along with it. Reality can be harsh and the determination to
Today I share my writings as an inspiration to others.
succeed can be overwhelming when you are trying to over-
Growing up in a family faced with poverty, drug addic-
come the odds. Childhood issues spill over into our adulthood
tion and abuse as well as becoming a mother at the age
and we are faced with the challenge to figure it all
16, the determination to succeed left me with a challenge
out." (excerpt from Beyond These Glass Walls)
to seek out the barriers that kept me bound. What hap-
"Beyond These Glass Walls" is an inspirational memoir about
15your future through the glass pens when you can see
struggles, faith, overcoming the odds and self discovery ex-
walls that conceal your truth but have no idea how to
pressed through poetry: written to Empower, Encourage and
break through?
Uplift.
going back.
Sometimes moving forward requires
Malene Tiombe
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