Writing this in third person about myself is very strange so instead, hi!

I’m Janna A. Zinzi (also known as jaz) and I’m passionate about:

• documenting and telling stories about cultural changemakers around the United States and the world.

• coaching and training communications professionals and entrepreneurs on how to strategically work with media.

• travel! Especially as a means of cultural connections to unite people and help the planet.

• dance as a form of healing and joy.

I have 20 years of experience in strategic communications and public relations working with foundations, non-profit organizations, artists and entrepreneurs. I have worked with Black Lives Matter, Chan-Zuckerburg Institute, Lightbox Collaborative, Texas Civil Rights Project, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice and hundreds of other organizations providing media strategy, communications coaching and capacity building. I have worked with major media outlets including The New York Times, MTV/VH1/Logo, The Guardian, NBC News, Essence, Cosmopolitan, Salon, Huffington Post among dozens of major news and culture outlets. I love training people to tell their stories powerfully and succinctly. 

I am also the co-founder and CEO of WanderWomxnTravels, centering the adventures of women and femmes of color looking for cultural and sustainable travel experiences. It is a home for travelers looking for unfiltered travel perspectives, and who want customized itineraries and group trips. Because of my love of travel writing and natural curiosity, I am a travel journalist with bylines in Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Teen Vogue, The Daily Beast, The Root, PBS and more. I am also a published author and c0-editor of “The Echoing Ida Collection,” an anthology of cultural analysis by Black women and nonbinary writers, inspired by our journalist and activist foremother, Ida B. Wells-Barnett.

I am also an international burlesque teacher, Afrodiasporic dancer, and mixed media artist guiding other Black women, women of color and non-binary or gender non-conforming people in activating and accentuating their innate sensuality. I’ve been a dancer since the age of three; music and dance bring me the greatest joy and connect me with spirit. Being an ongoing student of African diaspora dance styles like Afro-Cuban, Haitian folkloric and Hip-Hop, I incorporate these influences into my classes and performances. As jazabel jade, my burlesque alter ego, I got my start on the stages of New York City in 2010 and since have performed all over the United States including the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Joe’s Pub in New York City, and at Amber Rose’s SlutWalk in Los Angeles. I was part of a movement of Black women and women of color burlesque performers creating more visibility for our aesthetic, our stories and our bodies. I teach in-person and online sensual movement workshops to students all over the world. I’m also really proud to say that my mixed media artwork has been part of exhibitions in Los Angeles, Mexico City and Tokyo with the Women’s Salon LA.

Lastly, I’m a proud life long forever New Yorker but currently I’m living in New Orleans, Louisiana. You can often find me riding my bike and singing loudly, laughing with loved ones, binge watching documentaries, or dancing in random places like subway platforms or national parks.