ZAMI - Georgia

ZAMI, n.

A Carriacou word meaning women who work together as friends and lovers. The name ZAMI also honors the late Audre Lorde, a Black lesbian feminist who was poet laureate for New York State and who wrote the biomythography ZAMI: A New Spelling of My Name.

Mission

ZAMI, Inc. is a not-for-profit collective of lesbians of African descent residing in the Atlanta Metropolitan area. Our primary mission is the procurement and dispensation of scholarship funds to lesbians of African descent attending an accredited post secondary institution in the southern part of the United States. We also provide a forum and affirming safe space for the voices of lesbian writers of color. Finally, ZAMI sponsors special programming to develop the leadership potential of young lesbians and to honor the life and legacy of Audre Lorde.

Some of the Board members and Executive Director. Seated left-to-right: Mary Anne, Frances and BJ. Standing left-to-right: Charone, Edith and Tracy.

Herstory

In October 1989, a Women of Color Caucus (WOCC) was created by lesbian members of the African-American Lesbian and Gay Alliance (AALGA) to focus on their political, social, economic, and personal needs. In June 1990, WOCC members voted to secede from AALGA in order to become an autonomous entity.

Ever evolving, these women renamed themselves ZAMI — a Carriacou word meaning women who work together as friends and lovers. The name ZAMI also honors the late Audre Lorde, a Black lesbian feminist who was poet laureate for New York state and who wrote the biomythography ZAMI: A New Spelling of My Name.

For most of its existence, ZAMI provided a support base of discussion, information and programming for lesbians of African descent in the Atlanta area. In February 1997, ZAMI narrowed its focus to promote, enhance and sustain the Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund. Then in beginning in Feburary 2001, Zami began to sponsor four monthly support groups, each of which meet at the YouthPride Center in Decatur.

Accomplishments

Since our founding, we've...

Presented celebrations honoring the life and work of Audre Lorde

We've given away 22 $1000 scholarships to out black lesbians enrolled in colleges in the Southeast.

Published a bi-monthly newsletter

Hosted Black Lesbian writers and musicians:

Shirleen Holmes
doris davenport
Terri Jewel
Catherine E. McKinley
Penny Mickelbury
Lisa Moore
Kathleen Morris
The Shirley
Linda Villarosa
Evelyn C. White
Shay Youngblood
Donna Rose
Letta Neely
CC Carter
Wanda Jeanne
Sharon Bridgforth
Robin G. White
Nikky Finney
Doria Roberts


Premiered the works of Black lesbian artists in Atlanta:

Video activist Jocelyn Taylor
Filmmakers Michelle Parkerson and Ada Gay Griffin

Co-sponsored important events:

• The Atlanta Premiere of A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde
  Annual Bayard Rustin rally
• Mab Segrest, Minnie Bruce Pratt and Suzanne Pharr reading with Southerns on New Ground (SONG)
• The first lesbian and gay Black History Celebration at Spelman College
• Conducted a weekend retreat on internalized homophobia with funding from the Fund for Southern Communities
• Organized a reading on the work of Pat Parker ,black lesbian feminist poet in conjunction with Charis Books and More, Atlanta Lesbian Cancer Initiative, and the First Existentalist Congregation
• Conducted Atlanta University Center Outreach Program and Scholarship and Community Outreach

Because of ZAMI's demonstrated commitment to leadership development of young women, since 1997, we have been awarded three grants by the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to conduct an outreach program for lesbians and bisexual women in the Atlanta University Center and to provide general support to administer the Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund. Beginning in Feburary 2001, Zami also sponsors four monthly support groups, each of which meet at the YouthPride Center in Decatur.

Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund

The Audre Lorde Scholarship Awards are designed to recognize out* lesbians of African descent who are making significant contributions to their communities. ZAMI wants to support and encourage their continuing education by providing scholarships to those women enrolled in accredited technical, undergraduate and graduate programs.

In 2002, we are also recognizing an outstanding* out gay male scholar of African descent. The Tony Daniels Community Ally Award is awarded to a male student who otherwise meets all the criteria of the Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund. In particular, this scholarship is intended for a brother who works to build bridges between communities. (Preference will be given to a man who does significant work in women's communities.)

For more information, see these pages or email audrelordescholarship@zami.org.


ZAMI, Inc.
P.O. Box 2502
Decatur, GA 30031
zami@zami.org
http://www.zami.org/

Call the ZAMI line:
(404) 370-0920