Nathan M. Richardson is a poet/author/spoken word performer, literary consultant and the founder of Spiritual Concepts Publishing.  He is a co-founder and co-host of one of the premier poetry open mic venues in Hampton Roads, Virginia - The Java Poetry Open Mic.   

Poetry, Prose and Pizza is Nathan's latest open mic project.  Partnering with the Russelll Memorial Library in Chesapeake, VA and Rita's Pizza.  The kick-off event on July 9th was attended by 53 poets, writers and guests.  Check the calendar on this site for upcoming dates.

Mr. Richardson is an internationally known - local talent who calls Hampton Roads home.  He has more than 25 appearances of radio and television and volumes of pages written in newspaper and magazines about his poetry.  The diverse themes which run throughout Nathan’s poetic prose, have earned him critical literary acclaim including nominations for the prestigious Alli Award from the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads and the 2005 Book of the Year from NUSPA, the National Underground Spoken Word/Poetry Awards. His first collection of poetry titled Likeness of Being received the 2006 Literary Award from the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association (SEVAA) during the 23rd Annual Hampton Roads AFR’AM Festival.  He is recognized not just for his words but the intent and actions that follows them.  Nathan has also recieved numberous awards for community service and activism. 

Mr Richardson’s poetry has been adapted to film and stage. One of his best known poems, "Weapons of Mass Destruction" was commissioned by Old Dominion University’s Governors’ School of the Arts as part of a play titled Walking with Walker. The multi-faceted play about the life of civil right activist Wyatt T. Walker debuted at The Roper Theater on the Norfolk campus of Tidewater Community College. The play has toured stages throughout Virginia and is also available on DVD.  Closely associated with the art and photography world;  he has been commissoned to work with nationally touring photogrphy exhibits such as the Jason Miccolo Johnson - Soul Santuary Exhbit and the Gordon Parks - Bare Witness Exhibit.  

Nathan started his professional poetry career in 2004 with a spoken word CD titled Nathan Live at Langley. The popularity of the CD helped him gain a regional audience. Poetry organizations like Spiritual Concepts Publishing (which Nathan founded) and others like Chesapeake Bay Poets, Diversity Poetry Educators and the famous Oya Xclusive have helped create a renaissance of poetry in the Mid-Atlantic. The region is host to more than 100 poetry open mic readings held in coffee shops, night clubs, book stores and libraries.

Born April 18th 1960 in Suffolk, Virginia, his early influences come from many sources including jazz music greats like, John Coltrane and Ronnie Laws; poets like Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Billy Collins and Baxter Black. Many women who have influenced Nathan including his mother (Della Mea Richardson), grandmother (Theresa Hollimon), Corretta Scott King and Congresswoman Elenor Holmes Norton.

Nathan is a retired veteran of the Army and Virginia Army National Guard and has been a past board member of the following oragnizations; the JUNETEENTH Festival of Virginia, the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association (SEVAA), The Suffolk Arts League, and the Christopher Newport University Writers Council.

Please explore the photo gallery and links pages on this web site and get to know the many talented poets, artists and organizations that Mr Richardson has been so proud to work with. Check out the calendar of events for details of his many poetry readings, workshops, lectures. We look forward to seeing you at a venue sometime in the near future!