Rev. Ina Alisa Anderson

“Lisa” as she is most affectionately known

Rev Ina A. Anderson is the Director and Visionary of the 2011 MAAFA Influence “Healing the Land” Building on the promises of God, Rev. Anderson has been able to continue to build on what was started and add to this awesome production. As an Assistant Director to her predecessor, Gina LeVon Simpson, she brings all that she knows historically, her gifts and talents to the table to collaborate with an entire cast to have ownership in every part that is played and contributed to this production.

If there were a “Poster Child” for the Scripture “to whom much is given much is required” it would be Ina Alisa Anderson. She is a utility person, with a very large tool box filled with gifts and talents bestowed unto her by God to perform and master a variety of duties.  She’s attended and graduated from the Connecticut Business Institute, and Hartford Seminary’s BMP, she has also attended classes at Norwalk Tech and Housatonic Community Colleges. Singing all her life Ina discovered at the age of 11 her passion for the African Dance, which was taught to her by none other than Jack “Tunisi” Davis and out of that experience the dance artistic door was opened and she had the privilege of learning under “world renowned” Babatunde Olatunji of Nigeria, West Africa.

To her most recent acting credits are a series of performances of the “Critically Acclaimed” MAAFA Suite… A Healing Journey Productions, performed at the Saint Paul Community Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY from 2002-2004 as well as The MAAFA Suite … The Struggle Continues under the direction of Jesse Wooden Jr. 2005, 2007. She has performed The MAAFA Influence Production under the direction of Gina LeVon Simpson in Aiken, SC, Bridgeport, CT and Brooklyn NY from 2004 to 2010. She has won several Beauty and Talent Pageants between 1974 and 1979 that afforded her to travel outside of the state and across the country representing the City of Bridgeport and the State of CT.

She has written, directed and produced “Emerging Voices” a production geared toward making aware the many unknown atrocities of the Negro in America. This production is in its 3^rd year at the Mount Aery Baptist Church performed during the month of February. In 2010 she was the Musical Director of the production “Not a Fairy Tale” performed in Brooklyn, NY; she also has 32 years of Choir Directing under her and has worked with various churches throughout the Bridgeport and South Carolina areas.

A facilitator and motivational speaker for several Women Conferences; Ina has been called by God to preach and teach the Gospel; as well as many other distinguished awards. Her most noted accomplishment to her family, 2 wonderful blossoming adults and community is being the 1^st Black female ever hired by the city of Bridgeport Fire Department and the only female to date in the history of the same department to have ever been promoted to the rank of an officer. She has since retired and now works part time for the Bridgeport Housing Authority as a Fire Safety Coordinator.

She states, “I understand that there is always more work to do and more things to accomplish according to the Will and Grace of God. When He calls I must answer.”