By Michael Solender

Jermaine Nakia Lee’s earliest memories of his childhood upbringing in Miami, Fla. unfold in his mind accompanied by a Caribbean Afro-beat.

“I’m of Bahamian descent,” said Lee, a Charlotte singer/songwriter, actor, playwright, filmmaker and community activist. “That certainly shaped my art, especially from a musical perspective. Soul, reggae and Afro-beat music were key staples in our home and a great influence on my artistic sensibilities.”

Lee’s career path as a multi-dimensional creative was cemented at a young age as he attended middle and high school at Miami’s fabled New World School of the Arts, a public magnet educational institution with a national reputation for artistic and academic excellence.

“I was able to set a course for myself very early on, and I know that helped shape and frame my ability to be a creative professional,” says Lee.

He came to Charlotte in 1999 to study music education and voice at UNC Charlotte and fell in love with the community. Though he briefly left the Queen City after getting his bachelor’s degree to perform as an entertainer for Disney and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Lee felt the tug of Charlotte’s creative draw calling for his return.

“Charlotte is experiencing a gold rush [of creative talent],” he said. “There is a tremendous amount of opportunity here and a large part of what I hope to do is help inspire, motivate and unleash that talent by providing knowledge and resources to help other artists soar.”

Mentorship & Artistic Support

It’s Lee’s own personal experience with mentorship and artistic support that sparked his fire to give back to Charlotte ALAANA creatives (those of African, Latin-a/o/x/e, Asian, Arab, and/or Native American descent). Years ago, he participated in an artist development program coordinated by the Afro-American Cultural Center (now the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture) that offered programming and mentorship on grant writing, marketing, event production and promotion.

Earlier this year Lee – inspired by those who’ve helped him grow as an artist and community activist – founded the KUUMBA Academy, an 18-month artist development program for Charlotte-area visual and performing ALAANA artists. The program focuses on skill development and resource identification surrounding the business aspects of sustaining creative work. Lee was awarded a 2022 ASC Cultural Vision Grant from to support the project. The Knight Foundation is also contributing funds in support of KUUMBA.

“I wanted to create an enriching experience for a contemporary generation of artists in Charlotte,” said Lee, who has tapped into the community to enlist the support of subject matter experts to work with and mentor artists participating in the program. Media relations, grant writing, social media, marketing, promotion, production, and collaboration are all focus areas KUUMBA fellows receive training in.

 “One of the most valuable aspects of the program for me,” said Jinna Kim, a current KUUMBA fellow and multi-disciplinary artist, “is a developmental commitment that goes beyond one year. It’s very valuable to see my own, as well as others, progress as we move through the program. It’s also valuable to engage with artists in different disciplines and at different career stages. Everyone has something to share and learn from.”  

The program began in August and currently has 13 area artists participating, with funding for an additional seven artists. They meet twice monthly at locations throughout the city and at the end of the program’s first nine months, the fellows will deliver a public presentation or performance, depending on their art form.

Kerra Don is a local actress who has been featured in dozens of television commercials and performed consistently in Charlotte-area theatrical productions.

“Jermaine and I worked together in the theater and he encouraged me to apply for the program,” said Don, who began with the initial KUUMBA cohort earlier this year. “I found the initial coaching sessions the program offered particularly valuable as they focused on goal setting and clearing our head space to help us remove internal barriers to achievement. In just a few short months, I’ve come to gain more confidence in myself and know I’ve got an entire brand with talents and skills to bring to the community. I’m excited to learn how to better tap into resources I was previously unaware of.”

For Lee, providing a roadmap to success is a gift he wants to put on rinse and repeat for all those willing to put in the work.

“What I’ve come to realize,” said Lee, “is for artists of color and artists who fall under that ‘other’ category such as low-income, LGBTQ, women or differently abled, is if they are provided with the resources and the connections, they can make things happen. That’s my conviction around KUUMBA Academy.