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MUCE BOARD

Committed to diversifying the artistic landscape of the Western World

Meet the Board Members of MUCE Educates (aka) MUCE. 

Our Board meets monthly to support the growth of our programs and long term strategic plan.

Meet The Team

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Ashlee Thomas

Founder & Executive Director

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Katrina Munajj

Board Member 

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Nathan Reiser

Board Member

Jose Bordes

Jose Bordes

Board Member

Bart Mervil

Bart Mervil

Board Member / Founder & CEO  [Miami Urban] 

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Naderah Munajj

Board Member 

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Wills Felin

Board Member

BOARD  BIOS

Bart Mervil

Jose Bordes 

Jose C. Bordes by trade is a registered nurse for one of the most elite medical centers in South Florida. When he is not in scrubs, he runs Bordes Media Communications, a sole proprietorship venture that encompasses all of Jose’s skill sets as a networker, creative entrepreneur, and a passion for materializing something out of nothing. Introduced into the world of entrepreneurship at the age of seventeen through the music industry as a street team marketer for independent and major record labels in 1994.


Jose quickly picked up certain ques from other Hip-Hop entrepreneurs like Steve Stoute and Chris Lighty and started his own booking agency and Spoken Word group from 1999 to 2004.  He also did a short stent with a mobile tech. startup called The Mobile Media Group, from 2004-2007. After years of hiatus from entrepreneurship, Jose linked up with MUCE and decided to partake a board position in 2016 where he currently
serves as a board member.


Favorite Hobbies: Shooting pool and reading historical non-fiction books
Favorite Quotes: “There’s only two important days in a man’s life, the day he was born,
and the day he finds out what he was born to do”- Mark Twain

 

Current Favorite Book: Outwitting the Devil

Wills Felin

A native of New York, Wills Felin moved to Miramar, FL in 1988. Felin quickly got his start as a production assistant on various films, commercials and music videos being filmed in Miami. While studying film and TV production at Miami Dade College, he landed an entry-level position as the overnight tape dubber at The Box Music Network, a fledgling music video cable channel credited for being the first interactive cable TV network. His experience at the network left an indelible impression, which influenced the director for years to come.


Felin’s strong work ethic, dedication and drive propelled him to the position of Production Manager within a few years. As Production Manager, he was responsible for a team of 12 television production professionals, consisting of writers, editors, producers, and graphic artists, while also serving as Senior Producer for Boxtalks, short form programming (4 minute segments featuring popular artists) where he produced, interviewed and edited segments featuring such diverse artist as Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., P-Diddy, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce Knowles and many more.

 

This over-achiever was flying cross-country to interview the hottest recording stars, while balancing a full course load at the University of Miami (where he transferred to from Miami Dade College) and later earned his Bachelor of Science in Communication. Felin was credited for turning the (Boxtalk) series into a major core revenue-producing segment for the cable network. After MTV’s acquisition of The Box Music Network, Felin parlayed his years of experience into running Jitterflix, a startup film/video production company. Under the Jitterflix production banner, director Wills Felin has produced and directed several short films, documentaries and video segments for major cable networks such as BET, MTV, HBO, Showtime, ESPN and more. Felin is a former Board Member at Voices United and an avid proponent of youth empowerment through the arts. He has donated his services as media instructor at various after school and summer programs at Miami’s Moore Park and Little Haiti Cultural Center.

Bart Mervil 

Father of 4 and Cofounder of The Miami Urban Contemporary Experience, Bart Mervil has been at the forefront of cultivating Miami's urban art scene in areas known as Heritage Neighborhoods. His company has produced programing, festivals, and exhibitions for organizations that include the Miami-Dade County Black Advisory Board, Jazz In The Gardens, Macy's, University Of Miami, St. Thomas University, Commissioners, and Community Redevelopment Agencies. Bart truly believes in the economic power of the arts and is very aware of the 1.1 billion dollar arts industry in South Florida. He is also aware of the lack of access to this industry by people of African descent.

 

He is committed to ensuring that the Diaspora is a part of the economic engine - as generators and benefactors. With MUCE as a platform for the community, Bart will transform the artistic landscape of the western world as a cultural ambassador for arts in heritage neighborhoods.  His extensive experience in broadcast, film, and production at WPLG Channel 10, MTV, BET, and Warner Music Group, alongside his collegiate studies in film and photography, provide him the knowledge and passion to run a successful social enterprise. MUCE addresses issues Bart is most passionate about: preserving Miami's Black heritage, cultivating talent from inner cities, and providing economic opportunities to members of the community.

 

With Fervor, Mervil works tirelessly organizing art initiatives in the heritage neighborhoods of Liberty City, Little Haiti, Overtown, and Little River, and soon, in global communities that mirror these neighborhoods. His mission is found on the principle that we owe it to our community and families to commit to unwavering support and conservation of the arts while creating accessibility & economic opportunities through the arts. He lives by the ideal that, "There is no such thing as when will  'they' do it?. It is I who is responsible for my community; the question is - when will I do it?" Learn more about Bart's company MUCE @muce305.

Katrina Munajj

Katrina Munajj is a mitigation specialist with the Miami Dade County Public Defenders Office.

Naderah  Munajj

Miami native Naderah Munajj is a Grammy Award winning Performing Artist, Dancer and Singer. She is a product of New World school of the arts, where she received classical training in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and modern dance. She is a graduate of the Florida A & M university, where she received her bachelors of science in accounting and minor in dance education. Since graduating, Naderah has set her sights on being premier talent in the commercial  market and has been featured as a principal dancer in several television programs and movies to include VH1s DRUMLine a new beat, “The Quad” and “American Soul” on BET, “Alvin and the chipmunks road trip”, “star” on Fox, and Netflix’s “step sisters”, and has toured with the international production of DRUMLine live where she serves as dance captain and Principal dancer and singer. 

 

Naderah has had the pleasure of working with artists such as Doja Cat, Trina, T.I, lil Nas X, Ciara, J.cole, and was a featured dancer in the historical Coachella performance with Beyoncé. To keep up with Naderah follow her on Instagram @iam_naderah or visit her site at www.iamnaderah.com.

 

Nathan Reiser 

Nathan Reiser has called Miami home for the past 15 years and has enjoyed learning the city from his previous work engaging the city in community service & most recently as an events coordinator for Macy’s.  His past work allowed him to combine some of the things he values most, getting involved in your community & having a great experience!  Whether organizing a community day of service or fashion show (hosted by Ashlee Thomas!), Nathan has enjoyed including all things local. 

 

Regardless it be food & drink or artists, Nathan has placed an emphasis on providing opportunities for local vendors.  Currently he is a Partnerships Manager for Musae, a company that provides Virtual Reality & Streaming live performances.  Be sure to check it out @ www.musae.me.

 

Ashlee Thomas 

 

Ashlee Thomas considers herself a cultural ambassador of South Florida. A Miami Native, she attended New World School of the Arts for high school, musical theater division. Understanding the importance of business, she received her bachelor of marketing from Florida State University. Directly after undergrad, she relocated to Los Angeles where she was a member of professional dance company Contra-tiempo Urban Latin Dance Theater where she toured as a professional dancer and launched the Contra-tiempo Summer Arts Camp. Internationally, she is the co-founder and founding Festival Director  of Melbourne Australia's first web series festival.

 

After a year overseas, Ashlee  returned to Miami and completed her Masters in Public Administration at FIU. She has worked in arts administration as Manager of marketing of the African heritage Cultural Arts Center under the Miami Dade County Department  of Cultural Affairs and  as Manager of Education & Community Outreach at the Adrienne Arsht Center. As an educator, Ashlee served as the Drama Magnet teaching serving Charles R Drew K-8.   She is currently  Co-founder and president of MUCE, the Miami Urban Contemporary Experience, an arts and festival production company bringing niche heritage experiences to the world.   Follow her @muce305

Ashlee Thomas
katrina Munajj
Naderah Munajj
Nathan Reiser
Wills Felin
Jose Bordes

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