Patrick M. Oliver is founder and program development specialist for Say It Loud! Readers and Writers a literary arts program dedicated to promoting reading and writing as tools of empowerment. Through a variety of innovative projects Say It Loud! engages children, youth and adults in activities such as community forums, author talks, book discussions and developmental workshops. Oliver currently resides in Little Rock, Arkansas with programmatic partnerships in Memphis, TN., Baltimore, MD., Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA. and Washington, D.C.

Oliver is creator, executive producer and host of Literary Nation Talk Radio a live weekly broadcast which dialogues with authors, activist and artist such as Sharon Draper, Marian Wright Edelman, Common, Nikki Grimes, Hill Harper, Sonia Sanchez, Susan Taylor and numerous others.

He is publisher and editor of the Essence Magazine best-selling anthology Turn the Page and You Don’t Stop: Sharing Successful Chapters in Our Lives with Youth. The anthology is a collection of essays, poems, short stories, photos and testimonials from artist, activist, authors, educators and literary advocates from around the country.

Mr. Oliver was Director of Sales and Marketing at Third World Press (Chicago, IL); Program Dirctor for the Open Book Program a citywide after-school reading program (Chicago, IL) and spent over 10 years as a senior contract administrator in the defense industry (Los Angeles, CA). He has organized and facilitated panels and workshops for the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, American Library Association, the American Library Association Joint Conference of Librarians of Color Conference, Texas Library Association, College Language Association, Morehouse College, Ohio State University, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Caucus, Harlem Book Fair and numerous other conferences and events. Oliver has made two appearances on CSPAN BookTV (July 2007 and March 2010). Literary consultant to economist and Bennett College President Dr. Julianne Malveaux who published Surviving and Thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History. Surviving and Thriving was nominated for the 42th NAACP Image Award Outstanding Literary Work (Non-fiction).

Additionally, developed in-school, after-school and summer enrichment programs for Arts and Academics (West Helena, AR), Cloverdale Middle School (Little Rock, AR), William Penn School District (Lansdowne, PA), Open Book Program (Chicago, IL), Pulaski Technical College (North Little Rock, AR), City of Little Rock Community Programs Office, Better Community Developers (Little Rock, AR.) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Center for Diversity Affairs (Little Rock, AR).

Patrick Oliver(standing) moderating panel at Congressional Black Caucus Author's Pavilion. Seated left to right Cheryl and Wade Hudson, Cora Coleman-Dunham, Salome Thomas-El and Dr. Julianne Malveaux.