Background

Tamara is a creative at heart with an arts background in illustration, design, photography and music.  Growing up, most of her time was spent dabbling in each of these areas.   Exploring each of those avenues of creativity eventually led her to Columbia College where she graduated with a B.A. in Arts Entertainment and Media Management and Music Business.  

After Columbia College, she continued her studies at Illinois Institute of Art.  She started her career in radio working for Clear Channel and WZFS-FM 106.7 The Fish.  From there, she gained experience working in other facets of media and entertainment via companies such as TLN (Total Living Network), Discovery Channel, TLC, JET Magazine, Blavity and more.  Tamara is a curator and content creator who now carries over 8 years of experience in multimedia communications which includes Journalism, FM radio, film/television production, stage production, promotions, creative direction, radio/podcast creation, digital copyrighting, and marketing.     

Being an advocate for other creatives, coupled with a passion for collaborating with and promoting artists, Tamara founded the 24/7 online radio/magazine platform ArtSoul Radio.com.  Fueled by a growing team of creatives, this international platform highlights inspirational artists of a wide variety of music styles and is designed to be an entertainment alternative for youth and young adults. 

Because of her strong passion for youth and their development, Tamara also founded the non-profit organization, “Cover Them With Love” in 2010.  This organization focuses on giving clothing and other needed items to homeless youth in Chicago.  Her work in this area continues as a yearly campaign through her company ArtSoul Radio and the ArtSoul Creatives Network. When she's not working, you will find her involved in this type of community service or working one on one with youth. Tamara is also a member of the Gospel Advisory Group for the Recording Academy where she lends her expert knowledge of the industry in the areas of Gospel, Christian Soul/RnB and Positive Hip Hop/CHH.

As a freelance journalist, she has conducted interviews for both video and print with a host of entertainers, film-makers, entrepreneurs and more.  Interviewee names include DeVon Franklin & Meagan Good, Richard Lee Brooks (of Being Mary Jane), Beverley Evans, Dr. Holly Carter (Merge Summit), Michelle Williams, Tye Tribbett, The Walls Group, Casey J, Propaganda, KB, Sho Baraka, Dee 1, DJ Wadeo, Alex Faith, Michael & Lisa Gungor, Ameena Brown, Dhati Lewis (Blueprint Church), Lisa Arnold (Caged No More The Movie + God's Not Dead), Theodore "Ted" Shaw (Director of UNC Center for Civil Rights) and many more.  

Tamara’s bylines include being a contributing writer for Ebony/Jet Magazine, Blavity and ArtSoul Radio.  She also provides creative direction as the executive producer for video and radio show/podcast production at ArtSoulRadio.com and other creative agencies.  

Having a strong passion for Film & TV, she freelances in TV/Film Production where she has worked with companies such as Discovery Channel, TLC and more.  She has also completed various independent projects .  Tamara has served as the Director/Co-Director and Executive Producer for a variety of video productions through ArtSoul Radio and a variety of other film projects.  In addition to working on outside independent projects, her most recent work in this field includes working on the set of major films such as Secret Santa (TLC), Death Wish (feat. Bruce Willis).  She uses each opportunity to continue growing in knowledge of her craft and of the industries she is involved in while finding ways to give back by sharing the information and skillsets she has gained with others.