The poet, the writer, the speaker, the publisher, the man.

 

A descendent of synergistic, powerful matriarchal goddesses, wisdom, and wit, Uriah Bell was born from diversity and empowerment. Outspoken, unapologetic, and temperamental - Uriah is more than an artist; he bears multi-dimensional talents - a poet, publisher, activist, speaker and influencer.

 

Uriah began formally publishing his writing in 2008 with his freshman collection of poetry Mood Swings where he decided to expose his personal self in an intimate collection. Although Uriah intended Mood Swings to be his only publication, he was encouraged to continue sharing his story, and the stories of others through the overwhelming response to his first publication.

 

In 2009, Uriah founded Rising Voices Press, an independent publishing company focused on promoting and publishing the written voices of the Black LGBT community.

 

In 2010, Uriah released his 2nd collection of poetry Epiphany: Poems in the Key of Love (Rising Voices Press), a collection that explores the various platforms of love such as communal love between one and their community circles including the church, intimate love between two individuals and lastly self love.

 

In 2011, Uriah will re-release Mood Swings under Rising Voices Press. Mood Swings 2nd ed: poems and other rants will be released September 22, 2011.

 

An activist in the struggle around HIV/AIDS, Uriah is a 2011 fellow in the Black AIDS Institute’s AAHU Community Mobilization College, a dedicated group of fellows from across the country working tirelessly to develop mobilization campaigns to rally the Black community around ending and educating themselves on the disparities of HIV/AIDS and working to end the epidemic.

 

Uriah has participated on national and international panels and has led discussions on HIV/AIDS in the Black community, living with HIV/AIDS and overcoming new diagnosis, homophobia in the Black community, LGBT youth suicide, the Black church, and segregation in the LGBT community.

 

Uriah currently sits as Vice-Chair of the board of Hispanic Black Gay Coalition, as well as sits on the board of directors for Fire and Ink, a non-profit for LGBT writers of African decent, and Shades of Pride / Triangle Black Pride in Raleigh, NC.

 

Uriah currently resides in Boston, MA.