Collections by Michelle Brown wsg Zami NOBLA's Founder & Exec. Mary Anne Adams

Mary Anne Adams journey began in Mississippi, passed through Michigan but she found her home in Atlanta. She is Federal Housing Commissioner Chair at the East Point housing Authority and President/CEO at The Adams Research Group.

But most importantly she is the Founder and Executive Director of Zami NOBLA – The National Organization of Black Lesbians on Aging.

The organization builds a national base of power centering Black lesbians 40+ through service, advocacy, and community-action research while promoting positive aging through a social justice framework.

Although the organization has stopped many of its in-person programs during the pandemic it continues to affirm, empower, and support members by creating new paradigms for conscious and powerful aging with virtual programs including “Slow Your Roll Yoga” the “Zami NOBLA Book Club” a Ukelele Program, and “Purple Thumb Gardening Group.” They’ve hosted virtual events including arts and comedy shows.

Work continues on the rehab of the Biggers House, a house that will provide affordable housing for a lesbian and provides a community garden in the back yard.

The pandemic didn’t stop the work just took it to a whole different level.