Tamora Israel was born and raised in Freeport, NY, on Long Island. She was raised in church basements by her mother and grandmother. Being raised in an active church has been the foundation for Tamora's community-driven work and the strong poetry performances she exhibits.
As Co-CEO of Ascending Phoenix Productions, alongside her wife and business partner, Dean Israel, Tamora has established herself as a vital creative force and an essential voice in regional arts and media.
A commanding presence both on and off the stage, Israel’s diverse portfolio spans live social, political, and musical events, theatrical productions, and immersive art installations. Her notable performance credits include a featured appearance at the prestigious Nantucket Poetry Festival, serving as the event manager and a performer at the 2026 Provincetown Juneteenth Celebration, and a critically acclaimed, powerful portrayal of the Lady in Red in Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf at Cape Cod Community College.
Israel is the creator of Poetry From My Brain Parts Project. A groundbreaking multimedia experience that exemplifies her signature approach to multidisciplinary art, blending a self-published poetry book, high-quality studio recording; blending spoken-word poetry and original R&B musical backdrop, 6 conceptualized poetry videos and art instillation to explore themes of healing, resilience, and transformation.
Beyond her performance career, Israel is a dedicated community architect cultivating inclusive creative spaces. In partnership with Belonging Books, she founded and hosts 438 Open Mic; an inclusive Open Mic geared towards highlighting unrepresented communities and emerging voices; and Full Volume: A Poetry Slam Laboratory hosted at 438 Main Street, Hyannis, a 16-week intensive poetry course building the Cape Cod slam poetry scene from the ground up.
Her civic engagement has led her to be the founding board member of both The Cordial Eye and Amplify POC Inc. (where she currently serves on the Board for TCE and on the nominating committee for Amplify), and she sits on the Board of Directors for Provincetown Television.
In recognition of her profound impact and artistic excellence, Israel was honored with the 2024 Black Excellence Award by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, celebrating her enduring contributions to education, culture, and activism. Tamora Israel continues to pioneer art that moves culture forward.
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