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Class of 2006; Bachelor of Arts, Literature

Tamiko Ambrose Murray ’06 has a challenge explaining where she works, but her degree from UNC Asheville helps her share how she is making an impact, right here in Asheville.

As a writer, cultural organizer, co-founder of Asheville Writers in the Schools and Community, and director of Word on the Street, a bilingual arts and culture magazine run by youth of color, Murray does have quite a few titles. But the common thread that ties her career together is her passion for community, storytelling, and racial equity.

In learning about education and the disparities that exist among students of color compared to their white counterparts, Murray was struck by the gaps in achievement, especially in literacy and math. “I started volunteering at Asheville Middle School. I was in the eighth grade classroom, and a good portion of the students had third grade reading levels,” Murray says. “Learning more about the world and why that is has propelled me on this journey.”

UNC Asheville’s English faculty supported Murray’s development as a writer, and now she’s passing that mentorship on to the next generation. “Word on the Street is a place where youth can totally be themselves. A place to feel safe, to feel seen, to feel believed in. We want them all to realize their full potential and to support them on that path, whatever it looks like. Not all youth identify themselves as writers or poets. Some are visual artists, some like web design. It’s really just about connecting them with their gifts and skills, and then nurturing them to be all that they can be. I believe every young person and adult should have that opportunity. The arts are a vehicle for community healing and transformation, and I think we need that.”