ZAMI NOBLA, an Atlanta-based national organization for lesbians of African descent, is relaunching its Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund after a five-year hiatus.
From 1995 to 2008, ZAMI administered the international scholarship fund and awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships and expenses to out LGBT students of color.
Since 2008, ZAMI has transformed itself to ZAMI NOBLA and changed its mission to focus on providing resources for aging black lesbians. The new Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund will be open to black lesbians age 40 and older living anywhere in the U.S.
“The opportunity to financially assist older black lesbians attending institutions of higher learning is a responsibility that belongs to us all, and one that ZAMI NOBLA is willing to spearhead,” said Mary Anne Adams, founder of the scholarship fund, in a prepared statement.
“Black lesbians in this country and in this economy, especially those sitting at the fence line of race, gender, age and sexual orientation often need the educational benefits that can open many doors. It is my hope that many of the LGBT students of all ages who benefitted from the original Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund will be first in line to support their elders,” she said.
Scholarships will be awarded to those demonstrating leadership and making significant contributions to the LGBT and/or agin communities, Adams said. The scholarship amount is $1,000.
“ZAMI NOBLA wants to support and encourage their continuing education by providing scholarships to those women enrolled in accredited technical, undergraduate and graduate programs,” she said.
ZAMI NOBLA is a “national organization of black lesbians on aging promoting healthy aging through a social justice and human rights framework. It strives for social/economic/health equity access through education, advocacy, public policy and research, resource development and multi-generational building.”
Applications and criteria for qualifying for the scholarship can be found by clicking here.
Those on the board of directors of ZAMI NOBLA are: Mary Anne Adams, Miya Binta, Lynn Duhart, Roshelle Darlene Hudson, Sandra Jones and Lisa Diane White.