National Advocacy Organization for Black Lesbians
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Monthly Newsletter August 2010
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Donate to Zuna Institute
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We would like to acknowledge and thank our funders,
Arcus Foundation Gill Foundation Astraea Lesbian Foundation Horizon's Foundation,
and a thank you to all of our individual supporters.
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Greetings!
Celebrating Ten
Years Just the beginning
Ten years ago, Zuna Institute,
the first of its kind, embarked on a journey to become a national organization
that provides services to the Black lesbian community. Many of you remember our inaugural
conference held in Atlanta, GA in 2001. Today, we are the oldest national organization with a primary mission to
provide education and resources to the Black lesbian community. I want to thank everyone for their continued
support of Zuna Institute. Last
year, we conducted The National Black
Lesbian Needs Assessment Survey. The
purpose was to examine the unique experiences, perspectives, and priorities for
the Black lesbian community. With this
data, Zuna will develop programs, campaigns, and create an advocacy agenda by
and for the Black lesbian community.
Our unique findings and studies are now
available in a report Available for Download New July 2010
The report focuses on five key
areas: Invisibility, Aging, Identity, Health and Family. There is still a lot of work ahead of us and
I invite you all to join the work of advocating for Black lesbians.
What's Next This fall we are hosting
half-day conferences to present the data from the report and holding Town Hall
meetings to dialogue around the key areas. We are going to visit Denver, New York, Atlanta, and Chicago and invite
local community leaders in each region to have dialogue on how the wealth of
this report can assist local or state-wide advocacy efforts. Zuna Insitute will also explore deeper issues that
affect the Black lesbian community and allied groups.
Please contact [email protected] if you want us to visit your city.
Special thanks to my co-authors,
Dr. Marjorie Hill and Cassondra Kellan for making this study come to life. Also thank you to Arcus Foundation, Gill
Foundation and Astraea Lesbian
Foundation for justice for their generous to support this project.
In solidarity, Francine [email protected]
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Zuna Institute Team
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Stephanie Daniels Vallerie Wagner Cynthia Walston
Stephanie Daniels Director of Finance and Operations
Stephanie brings more than ten
years of financial management experience to Zuna Institute as our director of
finance and operations, where she oversees all budgetary, fiscal, and operations of the organization.
Congratulations to Stephanie for earning her MBA from Mills College in May
2010.
Vallerie Wagner Conference Coordinator A Los Angeles resident, Vallerie
has been advocating for the LGBT for over 20 years and has been an
integral part of the planning committee for the National Black Lesbian
Conference for 10 years. Cynthia Walston Technology Manager
A Sacramento resident, Cynthia brings more than 10 years of experience in the technology field. She is the technical advisor for projects and website administrator.
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2011 National Black Lesbian Conference
| Save the Date! June 30, 2011 - July 3, 2011
Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida
Share the news!
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Member Profile - Kaz Mitchell
| Kaz has been an official member of Zuna Institute for over two years. Here's why...Kaz says she has been in love with Zuna Institute because
they care deeply about the underserved community. She appreciates that people are out there
convening to try and address the health issues of black women. Zuna Institute is not afraid to talk about
the issues of HIV/AIDs. Kaz also knows
how important it is for Black Lesbians to be included in the data because no
one else is doing the calculations. Thanks for your support Kaz and
keep up the good work in NY. Get to know Kaz MitchellKaz Mitchell, Comedian/Dancer and Community Activist, New
York KAZ delivers her positive messages through art, as she is also serves as
the Director of Circle of Voices Inc. She was honored by LAP (Lesbian AIDS Project) for making a difference,
Kaz was a comic for the Fresh Fruit Festival at NUYORICAN CAF� in NYC, the
opening act for DC- Black Pride's "Sophisticated Ladies Productions"
Host Party Memorial Day Weekend 2010. Circle of Voices Inc. is a LGBT arts presentational
organization. www.circleofvoicesinc.org www.facebookcom/circleofvoicesinc |
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Upcoming video project
| Thanks to a grant from the
Horizons Foundation, we are collaborating with The NIA Collective and Queer
Women of Color Media Arts Project on a video project that will be used to raise
support for same-sex marriage among people of color.
If you are a couple with children
living in the SF/Bay Area and would like to assist with this project by sharing
your family's story please contact [email protected]
Thank you for all your
support!
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The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
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The Employment Non-Discrimination
Act (ENDA) would extend the existing federal law prohibiting employment
discrimination to protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity.
Now it's time to make sure our
representatives know about our support of an inclusive Employment
Non-Discrimination Act that protects all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people.
Make their phones ring!
Call the Capitol Switchboard at
(202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3121 and have
them connect you to your Representative (based on your zip code).
Tell them:
I am a constituent and I would
like you to please tell Representative ________
that I strongly support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. ENDA
would ban discrimination against all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people
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Thank you for all your support!
Sincerely,
Francine Ramsey Zuna Institute |
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Zuna Institute is a national advocacy organization for Black Lesbians that addresses such issues as health, economic development, education, and public policy. Zuna Institute brings about visibility and empowerment to the Black Lesbian community, and strives to eliminate barriers that are deeply rooted in public policies that encourage homophobia, economic and educational injustices, and other forms of social discrimination.
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