Discography

Board Chair/President

IFE MTUME

Ife Mtume has provided critical support to advance resources and opportunities for the Maplewood and South Orange After-School Program, which was subsumed by the South Mountain YMCA. As a former YMCA staff member, Ife’s utmost mission was to promote health and wellness, self-esteem, confidence, social skills, a safe environment for school aged children to learn and grow, and reassurance to channel their wildest dreams through their art—musical, performative, written, drawn, or galactic imagination.

Ms. Mtume has a longstanding commitment to underserved communities and is proud to fulfill the mission of the Mtume Foundation to continue the legacy of her father’s discography, activism, and political acumen in support and develop of artists and arts organizations.

Board Vice Chair / Counsel

ARTHUR MARTIN

Arthur N. Martin, Jr. was born in Newark, NJ on March 4,1948 and he lived in Newark until his parents moved to East Orange in 1956 where he resided until he went to college and law school. Art is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross(1970) and Georgetown University Law Center(1973).He has been a resident of South Orange for 45 years and it was here that his son, Art III, became lifelong friends with Faulu Mtume.

Mr. Martin is on the Board of Trustees for Immaculate Conception High School and sits on the Board of the Mtume Foundation. He is dedicated to improving the condition of African-American people in all aspects of American society and has always done so.

Board Secretary/Governance

AVIVA WOOG

Aviva Woog is the Director of Engagement and Impact at WellCare of NJ. In her role she is responsible for strategic partnerships that positively impact underserved communities which includes but not limited to; the execution of the Community Connections program focusing on connecting the community to sustainable social services while supporting community-based organizations to participate in healthcare delivery.

Ms. Woog’s work also focuses on community engagement and partnership innovation; developing and implementing collaborative partnerships with external stakeholders to support the social drivers of health that impact health outcomes of communities

Board Treasurer

MARJORIE PERRY

Marjorie Perry grew up in Newark and built a corporate career before launching her consulting firm. She became CEO and sole principal of MZM Construction, a company that has seen great success over the 20 years of being in business. Ms. Perry finds great joy in making an impact on the lives and businesses of the entrepreneurs she mentors and coaches. She has since earned honors such as being selected as one of The Best 50 Women in Business and one of the top 25 entrepreneurs in New Jersey.

Archivist

Jules Allen

Jules Allen, Professor Emeritus, City University of New York, Department of Art and Design at Queensborough College, is an award-winning photographer who creates reality-based images as well as metaphorical documents of which the primary foundation is grounded in behavior, enlightenment and irony. His aesthetic vision is rooted in music, gesture and ritual which renders American culture both locally and abroad.

His photographs are in museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Smithsonian, and The National Gallery. He has been widely exhibited in the U.S. and abroad and his extensive commercial and corporate work has been seen on the covers of numerous periodicals, magazines, journals albums and compact discs.

Marketing & Fundraising

GHYLIAN BELL

Ghylian Bell is the founder and director of The Urban Yoga Foundation, a 501c non-profit with the purpose to create yoga and mindfulness programs that specifically target the needs of students of color as well as create a platform for teachers of color to teach in their community so that communities may reclaim self -love and healing practices founded in a mindful culture. The Urban Yoga Foundation serves all who are seeking a path to wellness.

Bell and UYF have piloted programs in schools throughout the New York metropolitan area, and to this day have reached over 500,000 individuals. UYF created its grassroots live workspace model creating safe spaces to share the feeling of home.

Ghylian is also certified in whole food nutrition and held the position as Chair with the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign.

SUKARI MTUME

Sukari was born and raised in the small suburb of South Orange, New Jersey. She grew up studying ballet and modern dance with NJ School of Ballet and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, California. Always carrying her passion for the arts, she received her B.A in Theater Production and Management from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. Sukari has spent many years working with youth in her community, bridging the gap between arts and social activism. More importantly, providing resources and opportunities to underserved communities through dance and theater. She has also dedicated many years volunteering at the Covenant House mentoring young teenagers Currently living in New York City, Sukari is ambitious in her journey to serve on the Mtume Foundation board and amplify the progressive mission of the Mtume Foundation.

ANGELO ELLERBEE

Angelo Ellerbee is the Founder/President of Double XXposure Media Relations. The Newark, NJ native began his stellar career working in the fashion industry–designing, styling, and hosting shows as fundraisers to combat the global issue of HIV/AIDS. Angelo soon found himself in the world of publicity and artist relations, working with the late, great James Mtume, super producer and jazz impresario. In 1985, Ellerbee founded Double XXposure Public Relations, working with artists and record labels to champion the careers of such luminaries as Dionne Warwick, Robert Kool Bell of Kool & the Gang as well as Roberta Flack and reggae giants like Shabba Ranks and Patra.. The alumni of Angelo’s artist development program includes Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys, among others.

While continuing to serve as CEO of his flagship enterprise, Ellerbee also served as Senior VP of Publicity for Island Def Jam Records, where he brought R&B supergroup Dru Hill, music legend Ronald Isley of the legendary Isley Brothers, and gospel superstar Karen Clark Sheard to prominence. Double XXposure managed such major talents as sex symbol/singer Ginuwine and rap icon DMX. Ellerbee took the helm of DMX’s career, serving as President and General Manager of rap superstar’s Bloodline Records. Angelo Ellerbee continues to build careers and champion new voices, from authors and entrepreneurs, giants in music, politics, and business. He uses his voice and his vision to mold people and projects into their best presentation so that the world can see that greatness is achievable.