Malcolm A. Rolling
Malcolm is a multifaceted American Artist, born in Newark, NJ and hails from East Orange. Rolling obtained his Bachelors of Arts in Studio Art from Elizabeth City State University. The artist specializes in the conceptualization and production of studio, public, and educational arts. Rolling's style can be described as raw and unfiltered Urban Contemporary Afro Impressionism. The artist relies heavily on industrial tools and mediums frequently used on the streets such as aerosol, ink, acrylic, airless sprayers, repurposed discarded materials, and countless more. Amidst those raw qualities, Rolling possesses a refined touch due to his background in studio and mural production. Assisting artists such as TMNK, Asher Levine, Sterling Brown, and Rodney Gilbert, has greatly influenced his creative process.
Currently, Rolling is the Chief Operating Officer of the uniquely prestigious YENDOR, an artist owned and operated production house/ cohort, founded by the late Rodney Gilbert. Along with his two supporting partners, Kareem Willis and Andrew Binger, Rolling has successfully transitioned the mission and vision of YENDOR, ushering in the next generation of visual and performing artist within the city of Newark. Malcolm A. Rolling’ inspiration derives from the legacy of American hardship and the triumphant resistance of oppressed people. Sometimes we love, scratch, smile, rebel, laugh, educate, and organize our way out of positions of loss. Rolling tells those stories in condensed symbolisms, iconographies, and expressions through vibrantly figurative textured pieces.
Kareem Willis
Kareem is a strategic and innovative nonprofit, philanthropy and public management scholar and practitioner. He boasts extensive experience with conceptualizing, planning, evaluating and executing large-scale programs and events and administration of on-going programmatic initiatives that meet individual and community needs. Kareem is well versed in leading diverse teams to achieve results, building strategic alliances and capacity building within the nonprofit sector. He is passionate about diversity and inclusion, social change, justice, equity and empowering others.
He currently serves as the Chief Administrative Director of YENDOR, a Newark based arts organization founded by the late Rodney Gilbert. As an immigrant and member of the LGBTQ+ Community, Kareem became motivated and empowered to join in the fight to break social, economic and racial barriers. He aspires to help improve the plight of LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations that serve that community through research and academia. In his spare time, Kareem serves as a cohost of the Fish Fish Tea Podcast where he leads discussions centred around LGBTQ+ politics, pop culture, and growing up in the Caribbean.
Andrew Binger
Producer, Director & Actor, Binger leads as the Artistic Director of Yendor Theatre Company (YTC) after having co-founded the organization with his mentor and Founding Artistic Director, Rodney Gilbert, in 2016. YTC is dedicated to developing and producing works by underserved writers, defined as: Black and Brown writers, women writers and writers from the LGBTQ community. As artistic director, Andrew implemented YTC’s Summer Theatre Initiative, designed to bring free, high-quality theatre programming directly into the neighborhoods of Newark, NJ.
A trained actor, Andrew has performed at prestigious theatre venues, such as Two River Theatre, Passage Theatre, and the North Carolina Black Repertory. He won the award for Best Breakthrough Performance at the 2017 Newark International Film Festival for his role in the film series, Conversations Centered Around Black Bodies. Andrew teaches history at the Newark Boys Chorus School and has served as a theatre teaching artist throughout NJ area. He delivered his first workshop on mentorship, Helping Black Boys Achieve, at the Schools that Can National Forum, in 2019. Andrew is a member of Newark’s Global Shapers Community hub (an initiative of the World Economic Forum), served as Associate Director of the award-winning Special Ensemble, is a graduate of Leadership Newark (2018) and the Victoria Emerging Leaders Program (VELP) through the Rutgers Institute for Ethical Leadership (2019).
Nicolette Lynch
Nicolette Lynch is a first-generation Jamaican-American actor and director who currently serves as the Managing Director of Yendor Theatre Company (YTC). Born in Newark, NJ with strong roots that extend to St. Ann, Jamaica, she proudly refers to herself as a "Jersey Girl by way of the Islands." Under the guidance of her mentor and Yendor’s founder, Rodney Gilbert, Nicolette found the courage and fortitude to pursue her professional artistry full-time. Nicolette’s performance credits include theatre, film, and television. Her on-camera work has been featured on networks such as Amazon Prime, Investigation Discovery, BRIC TV, and more. Theatrically, Nicolette has been seen breathing life into characters on stages in NYC & Regionally. She spent two years on the high seas as an Entertainment Host/Performer with Disney Cruise Line. During that time she performed live for approximately 2,500 guests on a weekly basis. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre (with a minor in Creative Writing) from Drew University.
As YTC’s Managing Director, Nicolette works in partnership with the Artistic Director to develop, produce and celebrate works by historically resilient black and brown writers, women writers and writers from the LGBTQ community. The duo focuses on work that explores challenging themes such as police brutality, mental illness, and racism, while also celebrating beautiful ones like forbidden love, community building & faith. Nicolette also incorporates her performance experience and training to mentor and train youth performers through Yendor’s many arts education/career readiness programs.
Nicolette's motto is "NEVER give up; just find another way!" In addition to acting and her role at YTC, Nicolette is also a Teaching Artist and Writer. To learn more about Nicolette and to keep up with all of her adventures, follow her on Instagram: @_NicoletteLynch or visit her website at www.nicolettelynch.com.