Celebrate Harlem

Executive Director of the Emmy Award-winning Mama Foundation for the Arts in Harlem, New York

Vy Higginsen, noted author, playwright, radio and TV personality, has garnered an excellent reputation and won many awards for providing high quality products and services to African-American audiences. After a decade of being behind the microphone and on major New York stations (WBLS-FM, WWRL-AM, WRKS-FM), Vy published and edited Unique NY, a lifestyles magazine designed for African-Americans and tourists.

In 1983, Vy co-wrote, produced and directed the classic black Gospel musical Mama I Want To Sing!, which ran for eight years and 2,200 performances at the Off-Broadway Heckscher Theater in East Harlem. In March 1986, Mama began a national tour of the USA, playing two consecutive years throughout major cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles/San Francisco, Philadelphia and Washington. International tours include Austria, Japan, Germany, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. Mama also played for six months on the West End of London. In March 1988, Vy co-produced Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson on Broadway. In 2002, Vy was ordained as an Interfaith Minister. Led by her passion for the sounds and music she grew up hearing, Vy conceived and created Alive! which documents the sounds, music, and stories of our black American musical landscape.

Vy continues to write and produce original work as the Executive Director of the Emmy Award-winning Mama Foundation for the Arts in Harlem, New York.

Ivo Philbert is Vice President, External Relations and Special Projects for the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

A graduate of the University of New Haven, Mr. Philbert was raised on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands, and currently resides in Harlem, where he has been a driving force in the community.

Mr. Philbert has proven his dedication to helping others with his leading roles and contributions with major organizations like INROADS, The US Virgin Islands Alliance, and The Harlem Eat Up just to name a few. Mr. Philbert is also the President and creator of IVO Consulting, where he uses his expertise to develop Non-Profit’s and Small businesses and their operational strategies.

In his free time, you can find him indulging his love of food with his personal blog and Instagram page @diningwithvo.
We are so honored to be celebrating with Mr. Philbert at our annual Celebrate Harlem Gala!