annalise fonza, Ph.D.
Since the late 1990s, annalise (small case is intentional) has devoted herself to teaching, writing and community development. She is a skilled analyst and a critical thinker, particularly as it pertains to the redevelopment and development of predominantly black neighborhoods and communities. She is a Ph.D. graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and she is proud to have successfully earned three separate master’s degrees, with honors.
Presently, Dr. Fonza is a lecturer at Cal Poly Pomona in the Department of Urban & Regional Planning and the Department of Ethnic & Women’s Studies. Her numerous teaching experiences include appointments at the University of Missouri Kansas City, Clark Atlanta University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In addition, she is formerly a legislative aide, a local community radio programmer, and a United Methodist (UMC) clergywoman. As a UMC clergywoman, she served various congregations under Episcopal appointment in three states. Today, she is openly atheist and unapologetically womanist, and she is a full-time federal civilian employee with the United States government.
Dr. Fonza is a firm believer that a thriving regional economy is dependent upon an educated, literate, and sustainable workforce. She has designed and developed curricula in urban studies and urban planning. She was the first Scholar-in-Residence at the Center for Neighborhoods, an initiative of the University of Missouri Kansas City, Department of Architecture, Urban Planning + Design. She is certified by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as a substitute teacher, and she has assisted hundreds of adult learners attain the HiSET, an educational certificate that is similar to the GED. She is both agile and experienced when it comes to community development and engagement.
In addition, Dr. Fonza is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (’87 Sigma Chapter), and she holds the title of being the very first Miss Clark Atlanta University (89-90).
In 2019, Dr. Fonza published her first solo project on rebuilding black communities, a short epublication that she refers to as a womanist planning proposal. She has also written in academic journals and presented at a joint congress of American and European planning colleges and universities. At conferences and workshops she presents on matters of race, religion, gender, sexuality, relationship, urban governance and community (including neighborhood) development. She is a contributor to You Are Not Alone: Black Nones, an anthology of deconversion stories by black nonbelievers, edited and published by Darrell C. Smith (www.blacknones.com); she is certified as a Humanist Celebrant by the American Humanist Society (based in Washington, D.C.); and, you can find her on Twitter @breatheandpush. Notably, in 2014, she was one of four ex-clergy featured in a video documentary: A Path Less Taken: From Ministry to Non-Belief and Beyond, which was filmed, edited and produced by Dr. Jim Lawrence and is available for rent or purchase on Amazon.
For inquiries or to invite Dr. Fonza to speak, please leave a comment here, or message her on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/Dr.Fonza. To donate to her writing and her work, please feel free to use the PayPal link on this site.
[N/B: Except where noted otherwise, all the ideas and opinions on this blogsite are the exclusive intellectual property of Dr. Annalise Fonza and they are not to be attributed to any organization or person to which she is associated or affiliated with for any purpose. And, at this time she has created only one WordPress or dot com account: this one. The unauthorized use or copying of the content from this page without permission will not be tolerated.]
Thank you so very much for taking the time to visit her blogsite!
Photo Credit: Harold D. Smith, Jr. of Kansas City, Kansas
Disclaimer: Please note that nothing that is written on any blog or publication here is meant to be taken or used as medical, psychiatric, or professional advice. These blogs are the opinions of annalise fonza who does not possess a doctorate in medicine or psychiatry. If you are in need of professional help, please seek a counselor or the appropriate professional for assistance.
annalisefonza 
Im loving the blog and look forward to new posts from you.
Thank you unsavory truths! I will follow you as well.
I read your post about deconversion and realized many similarities to my own, but I’m certainly not nearly as an amazing person as you are.
Best of the world to you,
David
David,
Thank you for the comment and the complement! Onward.
I can only say AMAZING. If you would please contact me by email @ (mr122266@yahoo.com) for I have much to share with and learn from you. Mike Martin
Mike Martin! My, my my. The world is round!!!!!!!
Greetings Dr. Fonza,
My name is Michael Harriot, and I host a weekly podcast called “The Black One” that is available on ITunes, a free Android app and via the web. We have a wide listenership, and it is growing every day.
The podcast tries to emulate eavesdropping in on an interesting conversation between two people. It is sometimes funny, often raw, interesting and seeks to have open dialogue with people with open minds.we have covered everything from drug addiction and homosexuality to convesations with comedians, strippers and poets.
One topic that I admittedly am fascinated with repeatedly bring up, is the concept of religion, how black people accept it and how we perceive it. One of the fans of the podcast, who is also apparently a fan of your blog emailed me some information about you and thought that you would be great for the podcast. After reading your blog, I would wholeheartedly agree.
Would you be interested in recording an episode of the podcast? You can listen to episodes one of three ways:
Listen online at http://www.michaelharriot.com/#!news/chw0
Listen on iTunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/black-one-michael-harriot/id590281032?mt=2
Or get the FREE android app at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TheblackOne
Or you can just Google “The Black One with Michael Harriot.”
I look forward to hearing from you
Dr. Fonza, I am a writer for CAU’s alumni magazine, and would like to interview you for an article.
Hi
I was in your first class you taught at Claflin University and I just want to say that you developed in me a sense of knowledge to seek the truth of my heritage and to learn more .
Thank you for taking the time to write (former student from Claflin). Did you read my blog, “Let Me Weep”? Was thinking of my experience there and students like you when I wrote it! Keep on keepin on!
Hi Anna! Really love your work – I’m just trying to get in touch if you could please send me an email when you get a chance. I appreciate it!
Best,
Lily
lilyst22 at gmail
I’m delighted to have discovered you today, through Twitter. Your latest essay here, “On the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.: From an Atheist,” is inspiring. I feel I’ve found a good place and made a new friend.
Thanks Stuart for such kind words and for the follow. I look forward to reading your tweets on Twitter!
Hey Dr. Fonza! I always wanted to ask if you knew a Dr. Edward Murray.
Always your student and raving fan,
Ebony Johnson
Ms. Johnson! Good to hear from you. Hope that all is well! Don’t know Dr. Murray. Care to share more?
Dr. Murray is a former colleague of mine in Miami. He also received his PhD in Urban Planning at Amherst. Figured it would be a small community.
I meant Regional Planning
Don’t know him. When did he graduate?
Dr. Fonza- I brought my daughters to the American Jazz Museum this past Monday for your MLK celebration. We had a wonderful time. Thank you for all your organization and you do. I am an administrator at Blue Valley High School in Overland Park. As we look into February and Black History month, we want to really make sure we are providing opportunity for our students to engage in Black History month beyond a one-time 20 minute advisory presentation. This year I am attempting to provide some different opportunities for our kids to hear from different folks and experience different activities to engage them beyond the surface. I have had conversations with Clarence Langley (professor for African American Studies at KU) and he has helped me by suggesting a screening of the documentary 13th and offered to have a follow-up discussion with students. I have reached out to Veronica Clay and may be bringing her in to share your spoken word. I would absolutely love any other ideas you have. Basically we have an hour each day where students choose how to use their time (lunch, studying, clubs, teacher help, socializing, etc…) and this is prime time to offer options for students to stop in and see/hear. I would love to have you come and speak to our students on truly any subject/theme/topic you feel would be beneficial to our students to engage in understanding of why we have Black History month, the importance of it, etc…
Working and living in a predominately white community, I strongly believe that we do not do enough to engage our kids and community in celebrating, understanding, and learning about our African American brothers and sisters, our history, the continued struggle, and what they can do to be part of a solution for true equality for all. It isn’t because we don’t care, it is because so many I think see it as not relevant to their current experiences….we call it a little bubble down here in southern Johnson County. I have been guilty for too many years of having a desire to “do more” but not taking enough initiative to really provide some opportunities.
So here I am, trying to take initiative and reach out. I realize you are a very busy professional and may not have anytime next month to come to our school but I would love to have you if it would work. Also- would love some other ideas. We can host musicians, artists, business folks, etc…Our kids have a variety of interests so engaging them in a subject they are already interested in, would be so great.
Thank you so much for everything.
Mollie McNally (memcnally@bluevalleyk12.org)
Hello Mollie! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my site. I will contact you soon and we can discuss it further.
you are a joke and will burn in hell when your time comes you “humanist”
I leave comments like this here to show the utter hypocrisy that many believers display.
SHARING REALITY, a new book on secularism and science by myself and Dale McGowan, has just been published. Half of US and Canada author’s royalties are being donated to The Clergy Project.
If you want to write and publish a review, I will supply a copy.
Jeff T Haley jeff@haley.net
Thanks Jeff!
Hey, not-so-old friend. First, congratulations on the book. A labor of love, I’m sure.
Second, I have an important question to ask you. Please email me at: cmccarthy@springfieldmuseums.org
Best wishes,
Cliff
Cliff! How are you in these unprecedented times? I will email you soon!