Mike Ellison, the Karsh Institute's distinguished fellow in culture and democracy, is a versatile artist and an Emmy Award–winning producer. Born to American parents living and working in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ellison was raised in Reston, Virginia, and fully realized himself as an interdisciplinary artist in Detroit. His late father, the pioneering journalist Bob Ellison, was the first African American president of the White House Correspondents’ Association and has been a lifelong inspiration. 

With a communications degree from the University of Virginia, Ellison began his professional journey in sports marketing and public relations. Today, he employs the creative arts as a vehicle for edutainment and cultural, community, and corporate engagement. He’s led and supports initiatives addressing bullying and teen suicide prevention, maternal and child health care, orphan sponsorship, and youth literacy and education. 

Ellison’s acting credits span film, theater, and television, including roles in popular TV series like Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. He has also been an artist-in-residence at esteemed institutions such as the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, Lawrence Technological University, Council of Michigan Foundations, Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, and Loudoun County Virginia’s Franklin Park Arts Center. 

Ellison is an acclaimed spoken-word and recording artist, known for multiple appearances on HBO’s Def Poetry and NFL broadcasts, as well as anthemic songs in his birth country and Rwanda. He is the founder of the AfroFlow and Music Saved My Life Tours, initiatives created in partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to raise cancer awareness and promote tobacco cessation among youth through the power of music. These groundbreaking tours endured for seven years and led to the ACS’ first delegation to Ethiopia in support of oncology research and treatment. 

Additionally, Ellison has collaborated with the NBA, New York Knicks, and Urban Word NYC to create and host the NY Knicks Poetry Slam. As part of the NBA’s flagship program Read to Achieve, the Poetry Slam thrived for nearly 10 years, expanding to citywide performances at Broadway venues and written poetry competitions that rewarded young poets with four-year scholarships to major colleges and universities, along with prize money, computers, and educational supplies. 

A proud Wahoo, Ellison's boutique agency, Wendemé Creative, provides creative strategy, content, and production services to a range of companies and organizations. His work has been recognized internationally, including with a Silver Dolphin Award at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards.