PO Box 58085
Philadelphia, PA 19102-8085 (215) 735 7372
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
President, AfroLez® Productions, Philadelphia, PA, 1992-present
AfroLez® Production is a multimedia arts company committed
to projecting holistic images of women of African descent, specifically
lesbian and bisexual women. AfroLez® Productions is based in Philadelphia,
PA, and has a network of creative and business associates across the United
States, in Oaxaca, Mexico, London and Birmingham, England, Paris, France,
and Soweto, South Africa. This network has assisted in raising funds for
AfroLez® Productions by sponsoring speaking and screening engagements
of the work produced by the company. To date, the primary project of the
company is NO!, which includes the entire production of the $200K, feature
length documentary on intra-racial rape and sexual violence in the Black
community. Secondary projects of the company include distributing previously
completed shorts In My Father's House © 1996 and Silence…Broken
© 1993 to film festivals, colleges, universities and conferences. Tertiary
projects of the company include curating/programming films and videos by
and about women of Color for film festivals. Previous clients include, Atlantic
City Black Film Festival, Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film
Festival, Through My Sister's Eyes International Film Festival, CEC Feminist
Film Series, Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Organization for Women.
Additional projects of AfroLez® Productions included writing articles
and essays that are pertinent to the Black, Women's, and/or Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual
communities.
Media
Associate, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Philadelphia, PA,
1992 - 1998
Assisted in managing relations with AFSC -- an international
non-governmental Quaker-based peace and justice organization - and the news
media including national newspapers, news magazines, wire services, radio
and television. This work included writing news releases and coordinating
news conferences, media breakfasts and lunches, and press interviews for
national and international staff with the local, national and international
print, audio and visual media.
Short
Film/Video Programmer, Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival,
Philadelphia, PA, 1996
Co-curated four lesbian video shorts programs and one café
chat. Curatorial work included soliciting and screening works by lesbian
and bisexual women film and video makers; creating themes for each of the
90 minute programs; writing program notes and bios on the artists; introducing
each of the programs, and overseeing the trafficking of the films and videos
to and from their distributors.
Co-Curator,
Atlantic City Black Film Festival, Philadelphia, PA, 1995
Co-curated film festival which featured the works of veteran and emerging
Black women film and video makers. Curatorial work included programming
films and videos by Black women artists; writing program notes and bios
on the artists; securing speakers to introduce the films and videos; and
coordinating Philadelphia media coverage of the festival.
Co-Producer,
WYBE-TV 35, Philadelphia, PA, 1992 - 1995
Co-produced two monthly public television programs: "Out of the Closet,"
voices from the lesbian, gay and bisexual community in the Delaware valley,
and "ON! Sistahs," a show by, about and for women of African descent.
Production work included: researching and developing topics, arranging interviews,
coordinating pre- and post-production arrangements, and editing taped interviews.
Foreign
NGO Observer, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Republic
of South Africa, 1994
Under the auspices of the Independent Electoral Commission, observed the
first free and fair non-racial elections in the Western Cape Province, South
Africa. Met with members of various political, religious, feminist and gay/lesbian/
bisexual organizations. Wrote a final report on personal observations and
experiences, part of which was included in the official AFSC report on the
South African elections and the Quaker Service Bulletin. Wrote an article
titled "Violence Against Black Women in the Republic of South Africa,"
for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.
VIDEO/FILMMAKING
EXPERIENCE
NO! A Work-in-Progress, (19 min/digital video) 2000
Producer, writer, director of a fundraising trailer for NO!, the forthcoming
feature length documentary, which will address the collective silence in
the Black community when Black women and girls are raped and sexually assaulted,
physically and verbally, by Black men and boys. This trailer highlights
selected excerpts of the 29 hours of footage shot across the United States.
Featured excerpts include: "A State of Rage" a narrative choreopoem
written for seven women and one woman percussionist, which moves from rage
to meditation to action to healing; an interview with Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole,
President Emerita, Spelman College and Distinguished Presidential Professor,
Emory University; the narrative vignette, which exposes inter-racial rape
and sexual assault during the enslavement of African People in the United
States;testimonies of three women survivors-Ms. Rosetta Williams, poet &
visual artist, Professor Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, assistant professor
of religion, University of Florida, Gainesville, Ms. Salamishah Tillet,
writer and graduate student; an interview with Mr. Michael Simmons, international
human rights activist, American Friends Service Committee;an interview with
Dr. Aaronette M. White, Scholar In Residence in African-American Gender
Studies at Wilberforce University and an interview with Mr. Sulaiman Nuriddin
and Mr. Ulester Douglas, Men Stopping Violence
Ed Hamilton: Molding Yesterday Into Today, (60 min/digital video), Joan
W. Brannon Producer (2000 expected)
Associate producer of a PBS-funded documentary on the life
and work of internationally acclaimed African-American sculptor Ed Hamilton,
whose works include the Spirit of Freedom monument in Washington, DC; and
the Amistad monument in New Haven, CT, among several others.
NO!
A Work-in Progress, (20 min & 8 min/video) 1997
Producer, writer, director of an educational fundraising trailer
which gives a glimpse of the pain, anger, frustration, and silent rage,
as it is expressed through the testimonies of three Black women -- Rosetta
Williams, Queen, and Zoharah Simmons. Their testimonies are inter-cut with
the award-winning poetry of the late Essex Hemphill. NO! will be a feature
length experimental documentary exposing the collective silence in the Black
community when Black women and girls are raped or sexually assaulted by
Black men and boys. NO! will create a sacred space within which Black women
and men, outraged about intra-racial rape and sexual assault, challenge
the Black community to look inward and confront this issue, through their
testimonies and art.
Selected Screenings: "Sistahs In The Diaspora Making Films: A Celebration"
(UK), University of Birmingham (UK), Brown University, ImageNation, University
of Pennsylvania, Through My Sister's Eyes International Women's Film Festival,
Outfest '98/Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Film Festival; Desh Pardesh Festival/Conference
(Canada), Independent Feature Film Market, Hampshire College, OutWrite '99,
African-American Women in Cinema, London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival,
20th Annual Kentucky Women's Writers Conference, Pennsylvania Convention
Center, Paris Lesbian Film Festival, "On The Verge" exhibit at
the African American Museum of Philadelphia
In
My Father's House, (15 min/video) 1996
Director and producer of an experimental documentary short
about a Black Feminist Lesbian's exploration of her coming out process through
self reflection and candid conversations with her father, her sixteen year
old brother, and her best friend from high school.
Selected Screenings: University of Pennsylvania; 1997 London Lesbian &
Gay Film Festival; London Black Lesbian & Gay Centre's Film/ Festival;
San Francisco Lesbian & Gay Film Festival; Los Angeles Lesbian &
Gay Film Festival, National Black Arts Festival, Temple University, Paris
Lesbian Film Festival
Reconstruction
Video Project, (18 min./video) Scribe Video Center & Reconstruction,
Inc., Producers, 1996
Production facilitator of a community visions program in which
video professionals assist community organizations in the production of
their own voices. Reconstruction, Inc. is a three-phase Prisoner-in-Transition
program, designed to assist Black and Latino men in developing and implementing
individualized, comprehensive parole plans. This video explores the difficulties
and successes former prison inmates, their families and communities experience
in this ground-breaking program.
W.E.B.
DuBois: A Biography in Four Voices, (114min/16mm) Louis Massiah, Producer,
1995
Post-Production intern for the award-winning film documentary
-- written and narrated in four parts by Toni Cade Bambara, Amiri Baraka,
Wesley Brown, and Thulani Davis -- on the life, work and legacy of Dr. W.E.B.
DuBois, the great African American scholar, activist, and political leader.
Selected Screenings: PBS National Broadcast, San Francisco International
Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival; FESPACO '97; Black Filmmakers
Hall of Fame
Da
Sequel, (4 min./16mm) Acknickolous Records, Executive Producer, 1994
Assistant Director of a music video performed by Three Times
Dope.
Screenings: BET's "Rap City," MTV's "Yo MTV Raps," The
Box
Putting
the Eye of Record On It, (10 min./video) Stephanie Howland, Producer, 1993
Assistant cameraperson of an experimental video about an abstract
look at memory, trauma and a journey of healing.
Screening: Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema
Silence...Broken,
(8 min./video) 1993
Writer, director and producer of an experimental narrative
video about an African-American lesbian's refusal to be silent about racism,
sexism and homophobia.
Selected Screenings: Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, Chicago International
Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Painted Bride Art Center, Black International
Cinema Festival, San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival,
Hungarian International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
The
Potluck and The Passion, (22 min./video) Cheryl Dunye, Producer, 1993
Production Assistant for a video exploring racial, sexual
and social politics at a lesbian potluck. This video challenges traditional
narrative presentation through the use of direct address talking heads,
pseudo-documentary and humor.
Selected Screenings: Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern
Art, Women in the Director's Chair International Film Festival, New York
Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, San Francisco International Lesbian &
Gay Film Festival, Boston Museum of Fine Arts
LECTURES, PANELS, AND PRESENTATIONS
2000 Panelist, "Anything We Love Can Be Saved: Art, Activism and The
Academy," The Future of African American Studies
Graduate Students' Conference, Havard Univerversity
Lecturer, "Afrolesfemcentric Perspective on Lesbian Identity,"
Haverford College
Presenter, "Envisioning A Feminist Future," PA National Organization
for Women State Conference
Lecturer, "NO!: Breaking the Silences Around Rape and Sexual Assault,"
Georgetown University
Co-Panelist, "The Ironic Face of Discrimination: Black LGBT People
Speak Out!," Yale University
Panelist, "Media/Cultural Representations of Violence," Color
of Violence Conference
Lecturer, "Afrolesfemcentric Perspectives," Bryn Mawr College
Co-Presenter "Using Film/Video To Tell Women's Stories," Hacienda
Springs Retreat
Co-Lecturer, "Women In Film," University of Texas, El Paso
Lecturer, "NO!," University of Connecticut
Keynote Speaker, "2nd Annual Take Back The Night," "Afrolesfemcentric
Perspectives," Earlham College
Lecturer, "Afrolesfemcentric Perspectives," Yale University
Presenter, "Ending Sexual Violence," University of Pennsylvania
Panelist, "On The Verge Artists," African American Museum of Philadelphia
Closing Lecturer, "Women of Color & Allies Summit," Community
College of Philadelphia
Keynote Lecturer, "Breaking Silences," Bowdoin College
Keynote Lecturer, "The Imact of the Intersections of Oppressions on
the Lives of Black Women," Williams College
Panelist, "State of Independent Film/Videomaking in Philadelphia,"
Community Education Center
Panelist "Violence Against Women of Color," Villanova University
School of Law
Lecturer, "National Student Assembly," YWCA
Presenter, "AMANDLA: The Agency of Black Queer Cinema," Rutgers
University
1999 Panelist, "Representation of Lesbians of Color in Cinema,"
Quand Les Lesbiennes Se Font Du Cinema (France)
Keynote Lecturer "Why NO!…Why Now?," University of Kentucky
Panelist "Black Women & Rape," "Black Women Film/Videomakers,"
Black Women In the Academy II
Presenter/Performer "REEL Sistahs: Combating Violence Against Black
Women," Brecht Forum and
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Presenter, "An Evening with Michelle Parkerson & Aishah Shahidah
Simmons," "How Feminism Affects the Creative
Process," 20th Annual Kentucky Women's Writers Conference
Lecturer, "Breaking Silence(s)" The Strange Fruit Unexplored Identities
and Channels Film/Video Festival
(The Netherlands)
Presenter, "UK & US Black Lesbian Film/Videomakers Panel,"
London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Presenter, "NO!," OutWrite '99
Presenter, "Martin Luther King, Jr. Day," Westtown School
1998 Presenter, "Black Lesbian & Bisexual Women's Film/Video Festival"
Women In The Life
Keynote Lecturer, "Afrolesfemcentric Videomaking" State University
of New York at Oneanta
Presenter, "Violence Against Women" University of Massachusetts
at Amherst
Keynote Lecturer, "Using Video to Break the Silences of Oppression"
Hamphsire College
Official "Works-In-Progress" Selection, NO!, 1998 Independent
Film Features Market
Presenter, "Women, Religion and Society," Temple Univeristy
Juror, "Documentary Film Competition," 1998 Urban World Film Festival
Panelist, "Violence Against Women," Desh Pardesh Festival/Conference
(Canada)
Presenter, "Works-In-Progress," Outfest '98: Los Angeles Lesbian
and Gay Film Festival
Co-Presenter, "NO! Unheard Testimonies" Asian Arts Initiative
Panelist, "Filmmaking As Resistance;" "Cultural Homophobia"
Through My Sister's Eyes Internat'l Women's Film Festival
Speaker, "DC Rape Crisis Center's 19th Annual Take Back The Night March
& Rally"
Presenter, "Backyard Talks Symposium," University of Pennsylvania
Keynote Lecturer "(Hetero) Sexism, Violence and Silence," Brown
University
Keynote Lecturer, "NO To Rape & Sexual Assault," University
of Birmingham (UK)
1997 Co-Lecturer, "Creating Art Under Siege," Temple University
Panelist, "Women of Color in the Media," Smith College
Presenter, "Politics of Invisibility in Queer Cinema," Quand Les
Lesbiennes Se Font Du Cinema (France)
Presenter, "Summer Documentary Institute," Antioch University
Guest Lecturer, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Keynote Lecturer, "Ending Violence Against Black Women" Antioch
University
Lecturer; "The Struggles and Triumphs of Black Women Behind, In Front
Of, Or Near The Camera," Temple Univeristy
1996 Lecturer, "Creating A Black Feminist Lesbian Identity," University
of Pennsylvania School of Social Work
Keynote Lecturer, "Creating A Sacred Space Of Our Own," Smith
College
Panelist, "Confronting Homophobia in the African American Community,"
and "Ending Violence Against Black
Women," Black, Male & Feminist/Womanist Conference
Lecturer, "Gay Pride from an Afrolesfemcentric Perspective," Law
Admissions Council
Host/MC, "An Afternoon with Sapphire and Jacqueline Woodson,"
The Painted Bride Art Center
Co-Presenter, "NO! Exposing Violence Against Black Women," Women
Gather Conference
Lecturer, "Creating A Sacred Space of Our Own," Swarthmore College
1995 Lecturer, "Creating A Black Feminist Lesbian Identity," University
of Pennsylvania School of Social Work
Lecturer, "Feminism and Gay Liberation from an Afrolesfemcentric Perspective,"
Cheyney University
Co-Presenter, "NO!, Exposing Violence Against Black Women Through Film
and Video," National
Coalition Against Sexual Assault Annual Meeting
Keynote Lecturer, "Silence...Broken: Confronting Violence Against Black
Women,"
University of Michigan,
Presenter, "Confronting Racism, Sexism and HomophobiaThrough Film,"
Central High School Career Day
Presenter, "Sisters [across sexual orientations] in Dialogue,"
Women Gather Conference
Keynote Lecturer, "Womanist Visions," Villanova University
1994 Lecturer, "Creating A Black Feminist Lesbian Identity," University
of Pennsylvania School of Social Work
Panelist, "The Voice of the People: Political Participation,"
American Friends Service Committee
Panelist, "Coming Out As Lesbian and Bisexual Women of Color,"
University of Pennsylvania
Panelist, "Missippi Burning: Real Lives and the Liberation of America,"
Villanova University
Panelist, "The New South Africa," Villanova University
Presenter, "The New South Africa," Fellowship of Friends (Quakers)
of African Descent
Keynote Lecturer, "Breaking the Silence," Philadelphia Ethical
Society
Presenter, "Confronting Racism, Sexism and HomophobiaThrough Film,"
Central High School Career Day
Panelist, "The Intersection of Race, Gender, Sexuality and Class,"
University of Pennsylvania
1993 Panelist, "Independent Videomaking," Lincoln University
Panelist, "African American Gay and Lesbian Lifestyles," Lincoln
University
Panelist, "The (in)Visibility of African American Lesbians and Gays
in Movements for Social
Change," University of Pennsylvania
PUBLICATIONS
"Creating A Sacred Space of Our Own," in Just Sex: Students Rewrite
the Rules on Sex, Violence, Equality & Activism
Jodi Gold & Susan Villari, eds. Rowman & Littlefield, January 2000
"Profile [of Sande Smith]," An Ear To The Ground: Presenting Writers
From 2 Coasts, Scott C. Davis, ed. Cune Press © 1997
"Audre Lorde: A Warrior Who Made Her Meaning Clear," Sojourner:
The Women's Forum, June, 1996
"Black Feminist Author Toni Cade Bambara Dies," Sojourner: The
Women's Forum, January, 1996 This essay was also
published as "A Tribute to Toni Cade Bambara," in Hembra, February,
1996
"Perspectives of an 'Afrolesfemcentric' lesbian," CROSSROADS,
a publication of the Bridges Project of the American Friends
Service Committee, Winter/Spring 1996. This article was also published in
Women In The Life Magazine (April/May 1998)
"Black gays and lesbians still have many battles to wage," Guest
Opinion, The Philadelphia Tribune, June 21, 1994 This essay
was also published as "Breaking the Silence," Guest Opinion, The
Philadelphia Gay News, June 17-23, 1994.
SELECTED
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ngo, An, "AFROLESFEMCENTRIC," BI-CO (Bryn Mawr/Haverford College),
December 5, 2000, pg 18
Galvan, Bonnie, "Women Who Make Movies, Are Women That Empower,"
Querve, May 2000, pgs 8 & 16
Editors, "Feminist artist to receive award," Philadelphia Gay
News, April 28-May 4, 2000, page 4
Dubin, Murray, "Community group to give awards to social activists,"
Philadelphia Inquirer, April 28, 2000, pgs B1 & B6
Editors, "Aishah Shahidah Simmons honored," Au Courant, April
25-30, 2000, page 7
McCurdy, Glenn A., "Local Organization Honors Generations of Activsm,"
Philadelphia New Observer, April 26, 2000, page 7
Carr, Aprell, "Umoja celebrates Unity, first principle of Kwanzaa,"
The Earlham Word, April 14, 2000, pgs 1-2
Hartzell, Sarah, "Rally Takes back the night," The Earlham Word,
April 14, 2000, pgs 1
Musgrave, Beth, "Richmond rallies for victims' rights," Palladium-Item,
April 10, 2000, pgs A1-A2
Editors, "Sheroes: Lesbian Activists Speak Out!," Women In The
Life, March 2000, pages 6-11
Lesselier, Claudie, "Un film en gestation NO!", Lesbia Magazine,
Janvier 2000 [France]
Muaddi, Susan B., "The Lilith Fair: Has it done enough for feminism?,"
Labyrinth: The Philadelphia Women's Newspaper,
September 1999, page 3
Titus, Christa, "NO!: Documentary exploring sexual violence against
African-American women in progress," Labyrinth: The
Philadelphia Women's Newspaper, June 1999, pgs 1 & 3
Jackson, Audrey, "Still living it: Women In the Life celebrates its
fifth anniversary," The Washington Blade, November 27, 1998
Stewart, Lisa, "The MW Screening Room, Part 2: Women Speaking Out,"
Metro Weekly, October 22, 1998, pg 41
Gladstone, Neil, "A Shaky Market: The ups and downs of this year's
IFFM," The Philadelphia City Paper, Ocotber 2-8, 1998,
pgs 26-27
Wilson, Kendal, "NAACP honors area civic leaders at gala: Oprah makes
guest appearance," The Philadelphia Tribune,
October 13, 1998, pgs 1A & 4A
Stubbliefield, Alexa, "Aishah Simmons: A Star is Born," Ebony
Lesbian of Afrikan Descents Newsletter, August 4, 1998, pgs 2-3
Hutchins, Lorraine, "Center Awards Audre Lorde Prizes to Filmmaker,
Poet," and "Aishah Shahidah Simmons: Living and
Filmming A Healing Rage," Coalition Works: a Newsletter of The Union
Institute Center for Women, July 1998, pgs 1-3
Asanti, Ta'Shia, "Women of Color on the Frontline: Filmmaker Aishah
Shahidah Simmons takes on Rape…", Gay Black Female,
July 1998, p 7
Film Reviewers, "[Outfest '98] Film Schedule and Reviews," LA
Weekly, July 10-16, 1998 (Vol 20/No 33), p
Harris, Katherine, "Audre Lorde Smiled: Two Lesbian artists win Legacy
awards," The Washington Blade, May 22, 1998; p 43
Wire Reports, "Local Filmmaker Awarded Lorde Honor," Philadelphia
Gay News, May 8-14, 1998, p 37
Kolawole, Helen, "When no means NO!," New Nation (UK), March 9,
1998, p. 14-15
Robinson, Wendy, "Film Maker Aishah Shahidah Simmons Simmons Challenges
Black-on-Black Rape," Urban Spectrum,
February 1998, p. 28
Teamer, Blaine, "Living in Confusion," Ma'-Ka Diasporic Juks Contemporary
Writing by Queers of African by Queers of African
Descent, eds Debbie Douglas, …[et. al.], Sistervision Press ©
1997, p. 84-89
Smith, Miyoshi. "scene it film & video: An Interview with Aishah
Shahidah Simmons," At The Crossroads, Spring 1997, p. 32-33
Powers, Retha. "The Silence of Rape," Essence Magazine, June 1996,
p. 62 & 126
Bambara, Toni Cade, "School Daze," Deep Sightings and Rescue Missions,
Estate of Toni Cade Bambara © 1996, Random
House, p 179-, originally published as "Programming With School Daze,"
Five for Five: The Films of Spike Lee, Forty
Acres & A Mule Filmworks © 1991, p 47-55
Warner, David. "Judgment Daze: bad karma, good contests," The
Philadelphia City Paper, October 20-27, 1995, p. 27
Lane, Lynda. "My Brother, I said NO!: Local filmmaker documents the
irony of Black women speaking out against the Black men
who raped them," The Philadelphia Tribune, September 15, 1995, pgs.
1E and 6E-7E
Williams, John. "Re-Creating their Media Image: Two Generations of
Black Women Filmmakers," The Black Scholar, Vol. 25,
No. 2, pgs. 47-53
Rhoades, Shannon. "Breaking Silence: Filmmaker Aishah Shahidah Simmons,"
Between the Lines, August, 1995, p. 16
White, Jerry. "Group Dynamic: Local black women filmmakers find power
in numbers," The Philadelphia City Paper, January 27
- February 3, 1995, p. 20
Colon, Willie. "Reflections on South Africa," The Quaker Service
Bulletin, Vol. 75, No. 2, pgs. 1-3
GRANTS,
AWARDS AND HONORS
2000 Valentine Foundation Post Production Grant
Delaware Legacy Valley Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation's Post Production
Grant
Womens Way Discretionary Grant
Bread and Roses Community Fund's Waters Award for Intergenerational Activism
Funding Exchange Donor Advised Production Grant
1999 Valentine Foundation Production Grant
Bread & Roses Community Fund's Donor Advised Production Grant
ASTRAEA Foundation Production Grant
1998 Valentine Foundation Research and Development Grant
NAACP Exemplary Citizen Award
Audre Lorde Legacy Award of the Union Institute Center for Women
Finalist, Roy W. Dean Grant of Studio, Film & Tape, Inc.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Discretionary Grant
1997 ASTRAEA Foundation Pre-Production Grant
1995 Atlantic City Black Film Festival "Filmmaker's" Award
1994 Philadelphia Gay Pride Grand Marshall
1993 Philadelphia Independent Film & Video Association Subsidy Award
Scribe Video Center Subsidy Grant
MEMBERSHIPS
*Association of Independent Film & Videomakers
*Board Member, Family Planning Council
*Philadelphia Independent Film & Video Association
*Speak Out! Speakers and Writers Agency
TRAVEL
Canada, England, France, Mexico, The Netherlands, The Republic of South
Africa, Spain, The [continental] United States
Elles
agissent