National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA), a 501 (C)(4) nonprofit organization, provides services to adult deaf people, with special emphasis on those who are African-American. The mission of the group is to increase opportunities and improve the quality of life for African Americans who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and strengthen their educational, social, and economic advancement. Members represent a diverse mix of men and women of all nationalities, and the group is governed by a voluntary Executive Board comprised of deaf and hard of hearing advocates. NBDA presently has 26 chapters throughout the United States and in the Virgin Islands. Tennessee remains the only state with two chapters, Nashville and Memphis, and plans are in the works to add Knoxville and Chattanooga to the list. Officers for the '97-'98 term are as follows: Dorothy A. Nelson, President; Nellie Hudson, Vice President; Deborah Fowlkes, Secretary; Walter Lewis, Jr., Representative; Carol Murphy, Activity Committee Chairperson; Joyce T. Cobbs, Treasurer, Interpreter, and Correspondant (Officers for the 1998-1999 term will be elected in January of 1998).

The Nashville Chapter meets on the third Saturday of the month at 5:30pm at the League for the Hearing Impaired--1810 Edgehill Avenue. The meeting begins with dinner (lieu of monthly dues, members pay $3 for a plate) followed by regular meeting activites, guest speakers, and social hour. For more information about meetings, leave a message for Walter Lewis, Jr. or Dorothy Nelson at (615) 320-7347. Volunteers, a vital part of the group, learn sign language and serve as a communication link to deaf members. The small staff of volunteers looks for others to join in the cause--anyone interested can call (615) 333-6175. --Jocelyn Morneau