Hello, My name is Zainah Towns (she/her). I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA where I grew up in a house filled with music, literature, dancing, and traveling. These threads of family, dancing, music, and traveling have destined my experiences and the path of my life. I am a third-year undergraduate student at Agnes Scott College, pursuing my B.A. in English Literature-Creative Writing. After years of expressing myself through dance, I’ve decided to take my creativity in a new direction—into Creative Writing. Dance has been my creative outlet since 2nd grade, teaching me confidence, discipline, and teamwork. Exploring styles like Ballet, Flamenco, and West African dance introduced me to new cultures, and I now channel that same dedication and freedom into my writing, using movement and rhythm to inspire my storytelling.
Writing and literature give me the chance to explore diverse cultures and global perspectives. Lately, I’ve been reading novels and poetry by South Asian writers, which has opened up a whole new world of inspiration for me. My favorite genre is nonfiction, as it allows me to express myself and embrace vulnerability in my writing. I also have experience in fiction, journalism, poetry, and research projects. Recently, I’ve been learning Arabic and exploring translated works of Arabic poetry, discovering new layers of meaning and cultural depth in the process.
I currently work at AmericasMart Atlanta as an Assistant Set Designer and Sales representative at Schauben and Co. This role has sharpened my skills in customer service, communication, business management, active listening, and design, blending my love for the arts with hands-on business experience. My most recent work was a solutions journalism paper I wrote about an outreach program designed to help empower and build the self-esteem and self-worth of women who are involved in the sex industry, including, but not limited to, prostitutes and exotic dancers.
Linkedin Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/zainah-towns-shariff-b067ab260
