ABOUT

AJAH FOUNDATION

We love Art & Community!

 We are a small core team, who have brought years of professional and personal experiences from the areas of Travel, Health and Service industries, to the benefit of AJAH Foundation.

We partner with a diverse mix of painters, photographers, performance artists, mixed media creators, live art exhibitors, jewelers, poets, and authors who are established and aspiring artists. We provide support and opportunities, and participate through a variety of authentic cultural expressions.  

MEET THE AJAH TEAM

Board of Directors

Every member of our board of directors is a thought leader who has made significant contributions to our society. 
Each one brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization. 

  • Annette Morris

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    • Lorna Williams
    President

    Lorna has a Passion for Travel & Art; and is an avid Jewelry artist. She has spent over 40 years working in the Travel Industry; and is currently a full-time employee with a top global travel company for the past 19 years, where corporate and social responsibility, and philanthropy are highly valued and practiced. She is a Cancer Survivor; and an active Volunteer with Meals and Wheels of South Florida and Gateway Community Outreach. Lorna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Thomas University, Miami; Certificate in Jewelry Design and Metalwork from the New School for Social Research with Parsons School of Design, New York City.

    Gregory J Dement
    Secretary/Treasurer 

    Gregory is a U.S. Airforce Vietnam era veteran; National Security Agency Intelligence Analyst and was a Veteran Affairs Representative for the Federal Government. Gregory retired from United Parcel Service Air Division in 2011. He is the owner of G & G Associates Import & Travel management. Gregory is a ‘world traveler’, a ‘Foodie’, and an avid collector of art. Gregory mentors on life-skills to young adults. He attended the University of Houston and University of District of Columbia, pursued a degree in Public Administration and Criminal Justice.

    Maria DeVito

    Born in New York City, my first employment was with the Federal Government and then in private industry Selling Advertising space in National Magazines. Owned and operated a Music Management company; Program Director of the first Satellite Cable Network, lastly Syndicated TV programing. The last two decades in Florida successfully engaged in Real Estate as a Residential and Commercial Specialist.

    Annette J Morris

     Annette is a Mentorship Consultant with the Leadership by Design (LBD) program based in Toronto, Canada. The program provides high school students from the Greater Toronto area with one-on-one mentoring, training and wide-ranging opportunities to develop and practice effective leadership. Her main focus is the mentor selection process and the monitoring and support of the mentor-mentee relationships. Annette has spent over 35 years working with a leading global provider of vehicle rental services for the premium, commercial and leisure segment of the travel industry. There she was responsible for administering, developing and facilitating various training programs and workshops for managers and various employee work groups.  

    AJAH Instructors

    Steve Golding
    Guitar 

    “Stevie G”, A professional musician, for over four decades, Steve Golding has always been a strong advocate for the rights of music creators. Since the late 60s he has been playing guitar and percussion, singing, writing, arranging and producing music with the likes of Fabulous Five, Shirley McLean, and Sophia George. He has also worked with the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) and Little Theatre Movement (LTM) Orchestras and arranged songs for several Festival Song winners and finalists such as Brent Dowe, Peter Scarlett and Chetenge (1999 winner).
     
    Stevie G has worked with Reggae icons like Peter Tosh, I Threes, Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers and Israel Vibration (the group he still currently tours with) to name a few. He has also worked with another famous and acclaimed Jamaican personality; the Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverly (Miss Lou), first Lady of Jamaican theatre.

    He is a published author of a guitar tutor; "Meet the Guitar," which forms the basis of the guitar course he teaches.

    Sonia Lewis
    Fine Art

    I am a self-taught passionate artist that's constantly being inspired by nature and aged objects touched by the hands of time.

    I have always been fascinated by the use of underpainting and glazing used to produce the vibrant colors and reflection of light in the works of Flemish Masters such as Vermeer and Jan Van Eyck’s  .....To quench my desire of how to further understand this technique - perfected by the Old Dutch Masters - I researched modern day Masters who studied and was using this technique. My research took me to France where I enrolled in an intense course in Brittany.

    The driving force behind my works is to capture moods that will take you to a place of sweet nostalgia. Reflecting on those gentler times, to open your mind and let your immigration flow without boundaries, if only for a moment.

    I have showcased both my Fine Art and Objects de Art in various galleries and many private shows throughout Jamaica, Florida -where I now reside - and Birmingham England, and I have been commissioned by hotels to produce Objects de Art for the dining areas and guest room

    Beth Sabol
    Mixed Media

    Elizabeth Sabol is a Connecticut native and has spent most of her life living and working in New Hampshire and South Florida. In her professional career she has extensive skills and experience has a trainer, facilitator and designer and developer of learning programs for adults. 


    Her art is inspired by moments in her life and then intuitively her color choices emerge. Her passion is exploring different techniques and working in a variety of mediums. 


    As a self-taught emerging professional artist, she has studied online and in-person workshops with various artists.


    A.J. Brown

    Voice

    Internationally recognized as one of Jamaica’s most versatile performers, AJ Brown’s music spans the evolution of Jamaican culture. Melodic fusions of Ska, Reggae, Dancehall, Pop, Jazz, Country, Rock and Opera, highlights AJ’s eclectic range of talent. His excellent musicianship offers the perfect blend of Caribbean rhythms with cosmopolitan undertones; skills acquired through his musical experiences in the United States and Europe. 

    Although AJ is most famous for his amazing voice, his proficiency as a prolific songwriter is not to be taken lightly. His talent and creativity has been featured on movie sound tracks, namely “Love People” on the movie soundtrack Club Paradise (starring Robin Williams, Peter O'Toole and Jimmy Cliff) and “All Fall Down” on the movie soundtracks The Howling Part 3 and The Fourth Protocol (starring Pierce Brosnan). AJ continues to add to his growing collection of recorded albums with the addition of the CD "Voice of Love" 2009 and “For All Kinda People” 2011. "Voice Of Love" is a celebration of 10 of the world's greatest Classical love songs, including “You Raise Me Up” and “Con Te Partiro” and “For All Kinda People” is an album commemorating the celebration Jamaica’s 50th year of independence.

    Now, as the lead singer of Third World Band, AJ is the voice of one of the world’s oldest and well-respected Reggae Bands of all time. His songs continue to transcend genres, eras, and generations. AJ is hailed by international audiences because his performances exude his love of music and is evident in the high-energy, sing-along, feel-good vibe at his concerts. 

    AJ’s performance and “Double Exposure” art exhibit on the Ajala Art Show, May 2018, at the Ali Cultural Arts Center, in Pompano Beach; people could be heard commenting, “Wow, all these years I’ve enjoyed his music and had no idea he was also a Painter”! A very talented Visual and Performing Artist!

    Lesli-Ann Belnavis Elliott, , ATR

    Art Therapy & Art Journaling

    Lesli-Ann Belnavis Elliott is a Registered Art Therapist and Photographer based in Jamaica with a Master of Science Degree in Art Therapy and Bachelor of Science Degree in Studio Art from Florida State University.  

    She has conducted creative arts-based clinical assessments and art therapy sessions with clients of various ages, abilities, presenting concerns and socio-economic backgrounds.


    As an Art Therapist for the past  11 years she has worked with persons dealing with grief, trauma, hyperactivity and focus concerns, behavioral problems in school, abuse and substance abuse concerns, family dynamics, depression, and emotional support for persons and families dealing with medical conditions and/or physical disabilities.


    The settings she has worked with include:

    - Schools and a children's home for children

    and adults with various physical and

    developmental disabilities,

    - Correctional facility and place of safety for

    teenage girls,

    - Nursing home, community centers and

    projects, church groups, and private practice.


    Brian Murillo

    Voice Coach

    Brian Murillo is a musician from Pembroke Pines, Fl. who enjoys performing with his music teacher wife and two musician daughters. He has been teaching music in Broward County for over 20 years. Brian currently teaches for Academy Of Arts Inc. in west Pembroke Pines and plays with the band Amerikana. 

    Support Team

    Gina Tulloch-Adams - Event Coordinator 
    Steve Golding - Performing Arts / Music
    Meg White - Legal Advisor

    Volunteers

    Denise Young
    Anji Dennis
    Sydney Dennis
    Dina Lewis
    Sadiki Moore
    Jason Williams
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