Pamela Hooks

Pamela Hooks is a multimedia social change artist who has cultivated her talent for storytelling for personal and community transformation. She began her career in film/tv production as a film editor for an award-winning public affairs tv show that explored the community issues of urban Philadelphia at WPVI-TV (ABC). The editing room was a window into the power of documenting voices for change and posterity. As an editor she was recognized in 1985 by the PA Association of Broadcasters Keystone Award-Excellence in Broadcasting for editing – Best Public Affairs Program, Move: Images and Reality. Pamela continued to gain recognition as a producer/director to include a Gracie Allen Award from the American Women in Radio and Television for Best short form PSA, Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself, an HIV prevention public service announcement for MEE Productions. In 2008, she was selected by the Pew Center for Arts &Heritage to travel to Guinea West Africa with Pew grantee, Kulu Mele African Dance Company to produce a documentary of their experience, In Search of Mali Sadjo: An African Dance Expedition. In 2001, Pamela was invited by the Painted Bride to bring her video documenting skills to the stage for her original multi-media performance of The Tenderheaded Diaries, an audience collaborative exploration into the socio-cultural politics of Black hair and the beauty aesthetic. The performance included video clips of women and men (young and old) of their hair memories. The Bride invited her back for a one woman show, Optical Illusions of a Happy Black Woman and Other Stuff You Can’t See, for their Divine Women, Divine Work artist series. As a professional digital storyteller, Pamela has consulted and collaborated with community non-profits and organizations dedicated to social justice in health, restorative justice, prison reform, mental wellness, and community arts. Awards/Recognition: 1995, Power 99 Cigna Foundation, Sistas Award for Excellence in Media/Entertainment; 2005, Speakers Award Graterford Prison, 2nd round artist, Leeway Transformation Grant, 2002.