OUR
TEAM
Uzo Ngwu
Executive Director
Uzo is a Nigerian-American multidisciplinary artist whose work encompasses illustration, film, and animation. Her illustration and animation clients include Adult Swim, Hulu, MTV, VH1, and Oxfam America. In 2023, she graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in Art, Film and Visual Studies. That same year, Uzo founded ZOMA Studios, an animation studio committed to telling culturally specific stories. She's currently directing the studio's debut project, Mmanwu, an animated short film set in modern day Nigeria. Through her work, Uzo is interested in championing underrepresented voices and wielding different creative mediums to tell vibrant, compelling stories. When she’s not illustrating new pieces or working on her film, Uzo can be found singing at local open mics.
Charmaine Douglas
Head of Craft Art Programming
Charmaine (Solorah The Essence) is a Minneapolis-born jazz, soul, and R&B singer whose voice carries the weight of lived experience and the light of healing. Her artistry has graced iconic stages like First Avenue, The Dakota Jazz Club, The Green Room, and The Turf Club. Today, she fronts the group BAKKWOODDRIFT, known for their genre-blending sound, electric performances, and packed-out shows. Beyond the stage, Charmaine is also a dedicated teacher and crafter. A former early childhood music educator at School of Rock and now a full-time instructor and administrator at MacPhail Center for Music, she combines her passions for music and creativity in the classroom. Her crafting journey began as a tool for self-expression and mental health, evolving into The Heartcraft Collective and its flagship community event, The Crafter Party, where others are invited to find healing and connection through art.
Cynthia Abalo
Head of Film/Visual Art Programming
Cynthia is a Togolese-born creative based in Minneapolis. Her creative approach is multifaceted, with a primary focus in photography. Cynthia has a deep passion for art with a desire to design experiences that give more visibility to Black creatives in the Twin Cities. In 2019, she founded CYNVISUALZ, a photography business where she captures subjects of all ages. Her experiences with creative direction and project management have given her the skills necessary to found NEO Narrative, a media collective centered around Black creatives with a mission to form a new narrative around Black art. Cynthia firmly believes that her success comes from being a creative with multiple passions and rejects the idea that she should only focus on one.
Kemmah Lombel
Operations & Logistics Manager
Short bio
Amber Scott
Social Media Manager
Short bio
Jamond Jackson
Events Lead
Short bio
❊ Principal Collaborators
Our Organizations
More information about each organization under the umbrella of ZOMA House.
ZOMA Studios
zomastudios.com / @zomastudios
ZOMA Studios is a fully remote, full service animation studio and production company. Formed at the beginning of 2023, ZOMA Studios has been working to produce its debut project Mmanwu—an original animated short film written and directed by the studio’s founder, Uzo Ngwu. ZOMA Studios was created to tell stories from a culturally specific lens, challenging the acute lack of representation within the mainstream animation industry. ZOMA Studios hopes to create more professional opportunities for underrepresented artists both on and off screen.
Team members: Uzo Ngwu
NEO Narrative
NEO Narrative is a media collective for Black artists in the Twin Cities. It was founded when Cynthia, NEO’s founder, noticed a lack of opportunity for Black creatives to connect in physical spaces. NEO’s mission is to provide a space for creatives of all levels to gain more experience on set. All of their productions are self-funded by their 4 founding members in order to make it cost-free for their collaborators. NEO also aims to organize intentional community experiences that foster connection through art and Blackness. In just a year, NEO has expanded from doing productions and editorials to hosting their very own events. NEO advocates for togetherness because their founding members know what’s like to be othered in white spaces.
Team members: Cynthia Abalo, Kemmah Lombel, Amber Scott, and Jamond Jackson
The Heartcraft Collective
The Heartcraft Collective began in 2024 with a monthly event called The Crafter Party. I launched The Crafter Party, a signature Heartcraft event designed to blend crafting and community connection. Parties typically ranged from 20-30 attendees for the multi-hour event. I curated multiple crafting stations and instructors. Stations included watercolor/acrylic painting, sketching, crochet/knitting, punch needle, and embroidery. These events also included local live musicians, free snacks, and drinks.
Team members: Charmaine Douglas
