the mc effect presents
B’more the B-side
B’more the B-side recognizes the changemakers, creatives, dream chasers and everyday people on Baltimore’s b-side. Through conversation and an intimate acoustic performance, this experience uplifts the stories of Baltimore and the people who call it home.
3:00 – 4:00 pm Doors open for lounge area, social hour
4:00 – 4:40 pm B-side (fireside) chat with Gabrielle Kerr, Edwin Avent and NIA JUNE
4:40 – 5:00 pm Intermission
5:00 – 5:45 pm Acoustic performance by Maimouna Youssef
6:00 – 7:00 pm Grooving to DJ Saucee, networking & mingling
Maimouna Youssef
Baltimore native Maimouna Youssef, also known as “Mumu Fresh”, is a GRAMMY nominated, Indigenous Music award winning, 3x Washington Area Music award (WAMMIE) winning and Urban World Music Video award winning artist, as well as Musical and Cultural Ambassador for the US State Department, former elected governor of the DC chapter of The Recording Academy, co-creator of the Recording Academy’s “Best Song for Social Change” award, IMAN central roster artist and an Ambassador of The Black Music Collective.
Mumu Fresh has performed on two separate NPR Tiny Desk concerts, each surpassing 1 million views. She has toured internationally as a critically acclaimed singer, Emcee, songwriter, activist, workshop facilitator and now audio engineer who’s been called a “quadruple threat” by The Roots’ Black Thought, a musical “Quasar” by Indie rap legend TechN9ne, and “groundbreaking” by Oscar-winning artist Common.
While touring six continents, Mumu Fresh has built a relationship with over 250K engaged fans who have shared and streamed her recorded music millions of times in at least 192 countries throughout the world to date. Mumu Fresh has shared the stage and/or collaborated with the likes of Dave Chappelle, Amy Schumer, The Roots, Salaam Remi, D Smoke, Sting, Lalah Hathaway, Anderson Paak, Bruno Mars, Femi Kuti, Angelique Kidjoe, Nas, Jill Scott, Ed Sheeran, Common, Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Raphael Saadiq and Tobe Nwigwe, just to name a few.
Her soul-stirring performances stole the show at the Black Girls Rock Awards 2019 and Black Music Honors 2019 and 2021. She’s rocked stages at acclaimed music festivals including the Essence Music Festival, Global Citizens, The Roots Picnic, Dubai’s Sole Fest DBX, Montreux Switzerland’s Jazz Festival, Mind Valley’s A-fest in Cartegena Columbia, The ESPYs and SXSW.
Among her most recent accomplishments is her contribution to creating and launching the Recording Academy’s historic trustee award entitled “Best Song For Social Change” which went live in 2023 at the 66th GRAMMY awards show and was presented by The First Lady, Jill Biden. The award was created by Mumu Fresh and her co-chair Wayna, assisted by NY chapter’s Carlos Chirinos, and supported by the DC Chapter and ratified by the Recording Academy’s board of Trustees to bring awareness to social justice themes that may have been under-represented or marginalized in the mainstream music scene in the past.
Most recently, Maimouna founded a non-profit organization with her mother, renowned sound healer, water pourer and culture keeper, Wapajea Walks on Water. The organization houses their family retreat and is a haven for cultural preservation and restoration of indigenous practices and connectedness to the natural world. Maimouna, a global citizen and musical healer, has a passion for activism and community service, and has donated much of her time and platform to increased awareness and education around race, gender inequity, environmental justice and independence for artists. In 2020, Mumu Fresh founded her own online music education platform called “Muniversity Studies” to teach aspiring and re-emerging artists how to reimagine the music business and thrive independently with purpose.
Edwin V. Avent
Edwin V. Avent, a graduate of Cornell University, is a devoted husband and father of two wonderful sons, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and is actively involved in the community. He serves as a founding board member of Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys. Mr. Avent is the co-founder of the Baltimore non-profit, Black Professional Men, an organization dedicated to mentoring young African American men and awarding hundreds of scholarships to many of those same young men.
Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys
Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys’ strategic initiative, “Reaching, Teaching, and Succeeding with Boys of Color,” aims to integrate research-rich practices aligned with prominent academic partnerships. Our goal is to empower the next generation of young males to succeed in all aspects of life. We recognize the opportunity and responsibility to address the evolving needs of our boys and act as a catalyst for positive change. This initiative serves as a megaphone, raising awareness in a world that may not always hear their voices. We seek to engage with current and potential donors and strategic, like-minded partners to witness the triumphs of all our boys in their chosen paths in this world. At Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys, our philosophy is centered on meeting each boy at his current level and guiding him to where he needs to be. Regardless of our students’ varied proficiency levels, we are committed to nurturing each young man to reach his full potential.
https://baltimorecollegiate.com/
NIA JUNE
NIA JUNE is a published poet, filmmaker, arts educator, dancer and author of Paper Trails of the Undying. In 2020, she was recognized by Baltimore Magazine as Best Poet of Baltimore and in 2023, Best Filmmaker of Baltimore. Her directorial debut, A Black Girl’s Country, featured in national and international film festivals and was acquired by the Baltimore Museum of Art as part of their permanent collection. JUNE’s award-winning film, The Unveiling of God, featured in multiple film festivals and exhibitions, including The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century which traveled to Baltimore, MD, St. Louis, MO and Frankfurt, Germany. Collectively, her film works have been taught in various schools and universities including Merritt College in Oakland, CA, Columbia College in Columbia, SC, and University of Baltimore and Coppin State University in Baltimore, MD. In 2022, JUNE received the Black Arts District’s Women of Impact Award for her contributions to the Baltimore art community. She is also a 2023 recipient of the Rubys Artist Grant and a 2023 Saul Zaentz fellow. NIA JUNE is a proud, Black native of Baltimore and it shows at the center of her work.
Instagram — @niajunepoetry
Gabrielle Kerr
Gabrielle Kerr, a beauty insider and fashion influencer for over a decade, has worked with some of the most iconic brands and names in the beauty and fashion industry. During her time as a host at the leading global, multi-platform retail giant QVC, Gabrielle worked alongside Bob Mackie, Isaac Mizrahi, Lori Goldstein and more. While at QVC, she was able to guide beauty and style conscious consumers to the most innovative products and trends the industry has to offer. Her hosting abilities were on full display during her weekly fashion show A.M. Style with Gabrielle on QVC. Gabrielle was also a traffic and entertainment reporter for Baltimore’s highest rated morning news program. Her expertise as a licensed esthetician can be seen on her YouTube series Busy Beauty with Gabrielle. Outside of posting fashion inspiration and beauty tips and tricks; Gabrielle is a homeschooling mom of two, avid traveler and a voracious shoe collector.
@thegabriellekerr