Early childhood education for low-income children ages 3-4 in the Bushwick and Bedford Stuyvesant communities in Brooklyn.

Tamar E. Ogburn

Tamar E. Ogburn, AAS is a Community Event Planner for EmblemHealth.

She is also a Mother, Advocate, Minister, Mentor, Entrepreneur, and Family Caregiver. Tamar was also chosen as one of the 2011 EmblemHealths’ Champions of Care. This is the “What Care Feels Like” brand advertising campaign.

Her public exposure, in her own words; encapsulate genuine sincerity and an in depth focus on supporting the members. She is what care looks like. Some of her current responsibilities at EmblemHealth include assistance in the development of educational programs and outreach for local communities by partnering with Faith-Based organizations, educators, administrators and working with senior centers. On any given day, Tamar is in the field working tirelessly in addressing and advocating for our children and seniors alike. Their concerns become hers. This is what care looks like.

Under the EmblemHealth Footprint, within the responsibility of an event planner, she educates the community on the many options available in regards to health insurance, utilizing State-funded programs and community resources. Tamar has had her challenges. In May 2003, she was confronted with caring for her premature daughter Naysa Jenis. This challenge in turn became the catalyst which lead to the discovery of her passion to advocate for children.

She currently sits on the Executive Advisory Board for “Books for Kids”. Ms. Ogburn considers it a privilege to inform her constituents of the necessity of fostering healthy relationships with parents and community partnerships. She is still affiliated with the services that assisted her daughter. What could have been an overwhelming obstacle became a strategic empowerment process to understand one individual’s value as a team. Tamar’s mantra has become “Change your Thoughts, Change your World”. Tamar has set the bar high for each of us to put to task, our gifts to make a change, at whatever level is sufficient, be a change maker.

Ms. Ogburn is a member of Mt. Sinai Christian Fellowship and serves on the Ministerial Board. She is deeply rooted in her faith in God as her source for growth and strength. She gives God total reverence to reign over her life; for He is first and foremost, the wind beneath her wings. Ms. Ogburn’s daily affirmation is “Being confident of the very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” – Philippians 1:6 Tamar is the owner of Distinctively Ogburn, an elite Event Planning company. She is a natural in business and clients are drawn to her calming demeanor and her attention to detail.

Some of her noted achievements are:

  • Board Member, Inner Visions Life
  • Sponsoring Board Member, HC/HC Ace Integration Head Start
  • Member, Not Another Child
  • Advisory Co-Chairperson, Queens Community Advisory Council – Community 12/13
  • 2009 Women of Distinction Award
  • 2010 Fort Greene Council Community Service Award
  • 2012 Chosen for Change Award
  • 2013 Outstanding Community Service Award
  • 2014 NCNW Outstanding Event Planner