RIDGEFIELD, N.J. – During Women’s History Month, the Borough of Ridgefield seeks to honor individuals who have demonstrated service to their community. On March 25, Maryam Juliet Inan was selected for her contribution in politics. She is the first elected Armenian trustee serving in the town.
Inan went to Sahakyan Nunyan Armenian school in Istanbul and graduated majoring in journalism and public relations at the Marmara University College of Communication. She reports the news and interviews various artists, musicians, and politicians for an Armenian bilingual weekly newspaper of Istanbul named Agos. She has published many articles in the Paros monthly magazine, Kinaliada Haber Bulteni and Turkish Journal.
She has been on the Women’s Guild of the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church since 2013 and volunteers at the Kirikian Armenian School of St. Thomas Armenian Church on Saturdays. She is currently on the Strategic Planning Committee at the Ridgefield Free Public Library, and she is in charge of the involvement of the Turkish and Armenian communities in the library. She has shown her commitment by her service to her community and her role as a positive influence. The mayor and Council of the Borough of Ridgefield extended their congratulations and wished her success in all her future endeavors.
After a prayer, Inan thanked many people in her speech, especially Very Rev. Father Vazken Karayan, Mayor Anthony Suarez, and Councilman James Kontolios. The ceremony started with Fr. Karayan’s prayer.
She said: “I’m pleased and honored to accept this award. It is an extremely special moment for me. I never thought I would be standing here. My journey started in Ridgefield years ago with many challenges. Migrating to the United States requires being away from your family and friends, getting ready for a cultural shock, changing your lifestyle, learning a new language and it goes on and on. My husband and I never regretted making this decision because we knew America would give us freedom, hope, acceptance, and coexistence.
“This country gave me an opportunity to be a part of education. Honestly, I could not be more grateful for the position that has been given to me by the Ridgefield residents. Thank you very much!”
