J.R Rice, a Black man born in Oakland, with a passion for writing, teaching, and spoken word artistry has always been captivated by the power of words and their ability to inspire, motivate and transform lives. J.R traveled abroad to Greece, where he had the honor of being mentored by the renowned author, George Crane. It was there that he honed his skills and developed his unique voice, which he would later use to inspire and empower countless others.

His novella, Broken Pencils earned the 2024 Literary Titan Gold Book Award, the Literary Global Gold Award, and many other awards. He is the host and curator of SOCIAL SATURDAYS artist showcase in Oakland. He currently resides and teaches in the Bay Area. To learn more, visit www.jrrice.com