Today we’d like to introduce you to Omar Rice.
Hi Omar, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been an educator for over 20 years. I taught at a preschool for children who had emotional and behavioral disorders for a long time and now I run programs for underserved, underrepresented communities teaching life skills, workforce development and college and career readiness. In that time, I have basically lead a double life as a musician and writer. I have two LPs under the moniker “Freedom Presley” and a book that I self-published called “the love unsaid.” My goal in everything that I do is to encourage people to think more deeply and use love as the basis of every action.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think it’s ever easy to be an independent artist. You have to create the thing and be able to market yourself. I feel like you usually have one or the other. I’ve been trying to learn the marketing piece and overcome the difficult task of loathing self-promotion.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m currently the Youth Program Manager at the Urban League of Philadelphia and I basically partner with big corporations to create and facilitate programming for young people in underserved underrepresented communities. I also grant scholarships to students through donations from those companies and independent donors. I love being able to talk to young people and try to enhance their thought processes and hopefully change their trajectories in a positive direction. I’m also a musician and writer with music on all streaming platforms under the name Freedom Presley. I’m most proud of my book “the love unsaid.” A couple of years ago While I was transitioning jobs I realized that I had written enough content to make a couple of books. I complied my pieces and released my first book. It basically discusses how we view and expresses love and posits that becoming love is the best way to ultimately experience it.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’m a strong proponent for following your passion. I feel like if you see something you’re interested in, you should explore it. When I’m drawn to something, I try my hand at it. That has lead me to all sorts of creative endeavors( music, writing, screenplays, cinematography, art etc etc). I lead a duel life so I’ve never really taken the plunge and gone broke to follow a dream, but I will devote all my time and energy to something that interests me or brings me joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/omarmrice
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/omarmrice
- Facebook: https://Instagram.com/freedompresleymusic
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/freedom-presley
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/freedom-presley/617217094
