Info
HONORS/AWARDS
Delaware Division of the Arts/NEA
2022 Fellow
Established Artist | Literature | Playwriting
SERVICE
Secretary, Board of Directors – Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
Steering Committee – ArtPhilly
Mentor – Nonprofit Leaders’ Circle
Former Board Member – Philadelphia Avenue of the Arts
Panelist – Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, Connecticut Council on the Arts, New Jersey Council on the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Judge – Poetry Out Loud, Delaware & Pennsylvania
Jamie J
BIO
Born in Philly, and raised in Morton, PA – Jamie J, Brunson’s art is informed by her African American experience as a true child of the Civil Rights Movement. She has written five plays, executive-produced two documentary films, produced 12 city-wide storytelling festivals, co-created and hosted five podcasts (three on NPR-affiliate stations), produced 24 StorySlam seasons, and been a featured storyteller on numerous podcasts and live events. Additionally, Brunson designs, implements, and evaluates strategies to ensure the art reaches its intended audiences and has a positive social impact.
CORE BELIEFS
1. Everyone deserves their place in history.
2. Storytelling validates the dignity and importance of every person’s story.
3. Storytelling, when nurtured in a safe, embracing environment, transcends barriers, connects people through their unique and shared experiences, and builds stronger communities.
THE FOUNDATION OF PRACTICE
The foundation of Brunson’s art emerges from three seminal questions:
- “What true stories need to be told NOW?”
- “Who needs to tell them?” and,
- “Who needs to hear them?”
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Radio/Television & Film
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
Minor: African American Studies
Master of Fine Arts, Theatre
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY