Sandra Rivers-Gill’s poetry is known for its rhythmic, evocative imagery, familial and social conscious fused with musicality and resilience. As an award-winning poet, playwright and teaching artist, based in Northwest Ohio, her approach to her poetry brings together the written text and performance. Having appeared in numerous publications, her poetry has garnered nominations for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net and Most Read Poets. Her debut poetry chapbook, As We Cover Ourselves With Light (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, 2023), was a finalist for the 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award, and featured at the 2024 Ohioana Book Festival. She is editor of poetry anthologies, Dopeless Hope Fiends (Radio Room Press, 2018); written by women in recovery; Vibrant Voices (PP&P Press, 2025), written by creatively aging adults; and Amplify an poetry anthology of black and brown voices. She wrote and performed her first one-women show at the Bowling Green State University’s Black Issues Conference, and was one of five Ohio poets selected to write about Toledo Metroparks for #5poets5parks 2025. Sandra served as a long-time board member and poetry instructor for Naomi Inc, a non-profit treatment facility, and a poetry instructor for Otterbein Senior Living Communities (formerly Sunset House). She is currently serving as a Teaching Artist for the Ohio Art’s Council. a member of the Not Dead Yet Poets, and is the inaugural Poet Ambassador of Northwest Ohio representing the Ohio Poetry Association (2024 – Present). Her passion continues as a drama ministry leader at her church. Sandra holds both a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in liberal studies from the University of Toledo.