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 – my art is informed by my African American experience as a true child of the Civil Rights Movement. I have 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, I design, implement, and evaluate strategies to ensure the art reaches its intended audiences and has a positive social impact.
MY 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 MY PRACTICE
The foundation of my 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