Jovante Anderson
NAP Scholarship
2023 NAP SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEE
The Nomadic Archivists Project is proud to announce its 2023 scholarship winner Jovante Anderson!
Jovante is a writer and researcher whose work is always returning to questions about black queer life in the Caribbean and Jamaica, in particular. His interest in archival research really began when, as a child, he dubbed himself the family historian, a title which he still holds dearly. He is also the founder of the Jamaica Conversation Project (JCP), which began in 2022 as an effort to document and preserve both the oral and material histories of queer life on the island. This year, the JCP will focus specifically on archival recovery of material objects that can help to tell a better story of the role that the arts played during the early days of the AIDS epidemic in Jamaica.
Jovante is also a Ph.D. student in English at the University of Miami. His dissertation explores queer and trans literary and cultural production that provides a capacious critique of how discourses of neoliberal freedom have been mobilized within postcolonial Jamaica. His work has appeared in PREELit, sx salon, and the Journal of West Indian Literature.
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PREVIOUS AWARDEES
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2020
Sierra King
2021
Killian Kwame Onai and Lauren Williams
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2022
Khahlia Sanders and Ashby Haywood
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SCHOLARSHIP BACKGROUND
The NAP Scholarship is an annual fund awarded to students, early career, and independent archivists of African descent who wish to attend the Society of American Archivists (SAA) conference or use the funds to support an archival project. The scholarship awardee(s) will receive up to $1,500 to pay for registration, travel, membership, classes/trainings, supplies, personal time, or other expenses.
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As archivists, we understand that access means everything, from information to opportunities. One way we can be active, learn, and leverage skills early in our careers is to participate in professional organizations. We know that the Society of American Archivists (SAA) is an important platform for archivists to network, share work with peers, attend workshops, join leadership committees, and more.
NAP acknowledges that there can be barriers for new and independent archivists to enter these spaces. We also believe that organizations like SAA benefit from our insights and talents. NAP feels it is essential to facilitate these kinds of relationships.
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ELIGIBILITY
Those wishing to apply for a NAP Scholarship should review the following criteria to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements.
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Applicant must be a current undergraduate or graduate student or an independent archivist of African descent
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Committed to being or becoming an archivist
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Demonstrates a need for the scholarship
APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE:
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500-750 word essay describing an interest in pursuing a career in archives or an archival project that this fund would support
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Resume
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Headshot
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Applicants who wish to attend SAA can request funds for registration, travel, membership, classes/trainings, supplies, personal time, or other expenses. Applicants seeking funding for their project should submit a budget (supplies, travel, etc.).
The application period will be open from January 1, 2024 through March 31, 2024. Awardee will be notified by April 30, 2024.
If you believe that you meet these eligibility requirements, we encourage you to apply.
Please send applications to Miranda Mims: miranda@nomadicarchivistsproject. Should you have any questions about our eligibility requirements, please contact Miranda Mims.
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SPONSORSHIP
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We appreciate the community's effort to assist visionary new archivists like Khahlia and Ashby on their archival journey. We would like to acknowledge scholarship donors Novella Ford, Minda Harts, Dr. Ida Jones, Diana Lachatanere, Damien Laudier, Rodney Nelson, Artis Wright, and Azure Thompson. Thank you for your support of library science students and archivists of African descent globally!
Interested in becoming a sponsor? NAP is currently accepting all levels of support for the scholarship. Sponsors will be publicly acknowledged on our website.
Please contact Miranda Mims: miranda@nomadicarchivistsproject.com if you are interested in becoming a sponsor.
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