Timothy L. Moore (Urban Thoughts) is a spoken word artist, teaching artist and grant writer based out of MEMPHIS, TN. Timothy Moore graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts as an English Major with a concentration in Creative Writing from the University of Memphis. After graduation, he joined a trio of poets which successfully launched a series of powerful spoken word events that grew to become known as Uncensored Live! Feeling the need to educate his community about the importance of English and language, he returned to the University of Memphis to graduate from the School of Education with the Arts in Teaching Master’s degree with a specific concentration in Instruction and Curriculum. Timothy Moore taught effectively for four years in the Memphis City School system before deciding to return to the stage full-time to address problems that he witnessed in his community.
Timothy “Urban Thoughts” Moore has become a nationally recognized educator and poet. He is a heavily awarded writer and multiple spoken word slam champion. One of his most coveted awards is the Certificate of Congressional recognition from the United States of America for his work in the community with education and art.
Urban Thoughts went on to brand Speak Life Society as a collective of poets that went on to win the Memphis Grizzlies community Team-Up mentor partnership of the year award beating out million dollar companies and non-profits with programming centering around language as both art and healing. Through the rise of visibility created from touring and winning competitions, he branded his private educational curriculum and products around blending English with modern hip-hop and restorative justice practices in scoring and behavior into experiences that he could be shared to other educators and teaching artists through workshops and webinars.
Timothy Moore is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., an active member of The Watering Hole Fellowship for writers, (LOCI) Leaders of Color Initiative Fellow and father of three daughters. He continues to advocate for equity and equality within educational systems, civil rights law development and suicide awareness/prevention strategies. Whether a large stage of thousands or a small room of a handful, Timothy "Urban Thoughts" Moore will come and rock the stage or presentation.
::Current Awards::
Award Winning National Poet and Activist Is Thankful of the current Recognitions of his recent work
2022 Walt Disney World 1 of 50 Most Innovative Educators and Story Tellers in the nation
2020 The Water Hole Graduate Fellow
2020 Latoya Tenille's 40 under 40 Memphis Creatives
2019 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Project Based Learning Summer Colloquium XQ cohort
2019 iWin Laureate Blaze Award: Education and Leadership
2019 West Tennessee Representative Judge for the Poetry Out Loud National Competition
2019 The Watering Hole Fellow
2018 Spillit Slam: Story Telling Finalist
2018 The Watering Hole Fellow
2017-18 Kindle Award Honoree for Community Leaders: Education and Community Service
2017 ThinkCerca Duo Poem of the Year
2016 Memphis Juneteenth: Juneteenth Urban Music Festival Spoken Word Artist of the Year
2016 Best in Black Awards: Best In Black Spoken Word Artist of the Year
2016 Mtenzi Awards Mtenzi Spoken Word Artist of the Year
2016 Shelby County Board of Commissioners: Commodore C. Primous Outstanding Male Educator
2016 Congressional Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Service in Education and Community Service
2016 WREG and Tennessee Lottery Educator of the Week 2016 Finalist for Love Healthy.Org Virtual Slam
2015 Best in Black Awards Spoken Word Artist of the Year
2014 Mtenzi Spoken Word Artist of the Year
2014 Memphis Gospel Award Humanitarian of the Year Award
Featured 2015 Juneteenth Spoken Word Artist
2015 Recipient to present COSEBOC Literacy Workshop: Coded Language
Founder of The Unspoken Youth Poetry Slam team which is currently ranked #1 in the TN Southern Word
Founder of The People who revitalized Poetry Slam in Memphis, TN after a 15 year absence.
Founder of Speak Life Society who won TEAM UP Community Partner of the year to the Memphis Grizzlies
Slam Master of Memphis, TN & supporter of all things slam.