Tamara Oakman, a graduate of Temple University, won awards in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and drama. She has been published by Many Mountains Moving, Philadelphia Stories, Mad Poets Review, Fox Chase Review and other journals; reads poetry and fiction everywhere in Philadelphia and the tri-state area; judged a fiction and drama contest for Hidden River Arts, is judging a poetry chapbook contest for Black Women Arts Festival (BWAF) and has completed her Master's thesis in English—a book entitled, Snatched—at Arcadia University. She has hosted at venues such as, Book Corner, Robin's Bookstore and Voices and Visions Bookstore. She founded The Light of Unity Festival two years running, is currently leading The Business of Words poetry workshop for Mad Poets Society, runs an annual chapbook called "The Business of Words," and coordinated a Fringe Festival performance at The Rotunda called Arsenic Pizza. She hosted The Light of Unity Artist’s and Writer’s Series at The Central Library where she displayed the talents of new writers and musicians. The Metro and The City Paper documented her efforts. She has read poetry at Robin's Bookstore, Voices and Visions Bookstore, Caramel, South Cafe, Kelly Writer's House, Lori Cosgrove Design, Arcadia University, Del Co. Institute, Mocha, Music & More in DE and many other places. She is the executive director of The Light of Unity Arts Association and currently lives and loves in Philadelphia.
