GRIOT Circle, Inc.

GRIOT Circle, Inc. GRIOT Circle provides support and advocacy to LGBTQ older adults of color

We’re excited to be hosting The Audre Lorde Project’s Interpreting for Social Justice Training 🗣️✨—inviting QTBIPOC comm...
04/07/2026

We’re excited to be hosting The Audre Lorde Project’s Interpreting for Social Justice Training 🗣️✨—inviting QTBIPOC community members to apply!

Repost

We’re excited to invite QTBIPOC community to apply for our Interpreting for Social Justice Training 🗣️✨

This training is for folks who are bilingual and want to build skills for language justice work in movement spaces!

📅 April 25–26
📍 25 Flatbush Ave, 3rd Floor
🕙 10 AM – 7 PM both days (you must attend both for certificate!)

Together, we’ll deepen our practice of language justice and strengthen access, care, and connection in our communities.

Apply now: https://alp.org/LJ-training

Please share with folks in your networks 💖We’re excited to be hosting The Audre Lorde Project’s Interpreting for Social Justice Training 🗣️✨—inviting QTBIPOC community members to apply!

Repost Audre Lorde Project

We’re excited to invite QTBIPOC community to apply for our Interpreting for Social Justice Training 🗣️✨

This training is for folks who are bilingual and want to build skills for language justice work in movement spaces!

📅 April 25–26
📍 25 Flatbush Ave, 3rd Floor
🕙 10 AM – 7 PM both days (you must attend both for certificate!)

Together, we’ll deepen our practice of language justice and strengthen access, care, and connection in our communities.

Apply now: https://alp.org/LJ-training

Please share with folks in your networks 💖

We’re thrilled to share that tickets for our partner Broadway Inspirational Voices Annual Fundraiser are officially on s...
04/06/2026

We’re thrilled to share that tickets for our partner Broadway Inspirational Voices Annual Fundraiser are officially on sale! 🎉

Even more exciting, our incredible Program Director, Lisa Eddy, will be taking the stage as a performer! You won’t want to miss this special night of talent and celebration!

Get your tickets and join us in supporting an amazing cause!
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Repost from Broadway Inspirational Voices

Tickets for “Rising With Purpose”, BIV’s Annual Fundraiser tickets are officially on sale! Join us on Monday, April 13 at City Winery NYC for an inspirational evening to celebrate the power of music, community, and service.

We are also thrilled to announce award-winning actor, stage director and Theater Hall of Famer Phylicia Rashad will be receiving the Broadway Inspirational Voices Legacy Award! Ms. Rashad will be joined by our Inspiration Award Honorees: Tony and Grammy Award-winning, Emmy-nominated actress, singer, and producer Renée Elise Goldsberry and Tony and Olivier Award-winning theatre and film producer Tom Kirdahy .

The evening will also include Special Guests including Tony Award winner Kara Young (PURPOSE, PURLIE VICTORIOUS), Nichelle Lewis (RAGTIME, THE WIZ), Ty Taylor .tyronetaylor (Leader Singer of VINTAGE TROUBLE, theatre, TV and film actor), and Aisha Jackson (THE GREAT GATSBY, THE NOTEBOOK, BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL).

The evening is co-produced and directed by BIV Executive Director Angela Grovey and BIV Artistic Director Allen René Louis . “Rising With Purpose” will be a joyous musical celebration and a call to action for the year ahead. We will honor and thank those who have stood beside us over the years while welcoming new members into the ever-growing BIV family.

Purchase your tickets today at the link in BIV's bio and join us on April 13 at City Winery! We can’t wait to see you for this unforgettable evening of soul stirring music and inspiration.

Don’t miss out on your FREE Starter Kit! Join Zinerman For NY Assembly 56 at Restoration Plaza on April 11th for a hand...
04/03/2026

Don’t miss out on your FREE Starter Kit!

Join Zinerman For NY Assembly 56 at Restoration Plaza on April 11th for a hands-on gardening experience designed to help you transform your window boxes and green spaces this season.

Event Details:
Saturday, April 11 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Restoration Plaza (1368 Fulton St., Brooklyn)

What to expect:
• Hands-on planting stations
• Expert advice from Pamela PettyJohn & Ena McPherson
• Seasonal design tips from Rococo Designs
• Meet Greenest Block winners and learn their secrets

Plus: Free Starter Kits + our Beautification Playbook to help you get growing right away!

Spots are limited—RSVP now so we can have your kit ready:

👉 https://forms.gle/3fdJrGAA49KLp4iNA

Thank you, Cici Osias, for facilitating our coffee talk on Tuesday! Cici Osias, a fellow at Haiti Cultural Exchange, sha...
04/02/2026

Thank you, Cici Osias, for facilitating our coffee talk on Tuesday!

Cici Osias, a fellow at Haiti Cultural Exchange, shared her experience as a quilter and discussed the rich history of quilting within the African diaspora. Members also reflected their own connections to quilting.

During the session, she shared her creative process and the inspiration behind her quilting practice.

Her work has been featured at the Weeksville Heritage Center and will soon be on view at the Textile Arts Center.

Join us as the garden comes alive with color, including stunning cherry blossoms in peak bloom. Stroll through vibrant f...
04/01/2026

Join us as the garden comes alive with color, including stunning cherry blossoms in peak bloom. Stroll through vibrant floral displays, enjoy the fresh air, and experience nature at its most beautiful.

Date: Friday, April 10th
Time: 11:00AM-3:00PM
Location:90 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225
Please email Melissa Parke, melissa@griotcircle.org to RSVP

On Monday, April 15th, 2019, The Generations Project proudly hosted our Mentorship Show at Superfine in collaboration w...
03/31/2026

On Monday, April 15th, 2019, The Generations Project proudly hosted our Mentorship Show at Superfine in collaboration with Griot Circle.

We always love taking a moment to look back on past collaborations celebrating the connections, creativity, and community that made each one so special. ✨

How did BIV’s Arts & Education programs celebrate Love during February?By celebrating with our elders at The Griot Circl...
03/27/2026

How did BIV’s Arts & Education programs celebrate Love during February?
By celebrating with our elders at The Griot Circle of Brooklyn of course!
BIV Arts & Education is proud to announce our newest “BIV@” partnership,

“BIV@” The Griot Circle focuses on providing a safe and supportive space for seniors/elders to engage in art-focused programming, fostering creativity, community building, daily cognitive skills, and personal and professional development. The program offers personalized and individualized support to participants, providing them with the tools and resources they need to explore their creative passions and develop their talents while curating moments of intergenerational dialogue about navigating life and the lessons learned! Our partners at The Griot Circle serve primarily Black, African-American, and Caribbean-American individuals, 90% of whom live in low-income households and 50% of whom are retired and navigating life on fixed incomes. The members—70% of whom are women—reside in historically underserved New York neighborhoods like East New York, Crown Heights, and Harlem.


BIV Officially launched the partnership February 9th with a BIV@TheGriotCircle Programs session. The Senior community took time to express the meaning of Love through self-written poetry. The evening was full of poetry sharing and improvised music backed each participant's poem with piano, drums, and vocals.

“I could not believe what I was seeing! Some of our members who come to the center week after week and barely say anything in a crowd, were up there reciting their poem in front of everyone dancing and laughing. I never thought I would see that from them but having this program at the Griot has brought out the best in so many of our members!”
—Lisa Eddy, Director of Programs | The Griot Circle

“It’s important that we stay connected to the elders in our community. They are the teachers and the wisdom. They are the blueprint of how we made it this far and we need to not only honor what they have done, but we owe it to ourselves and them to sit in a creative space together and continue to learn the path forward. We will listen to the stories behind the music they sing, the pictures they paint, and the lessons learned behind their poetry. There is no way to move forward successfully without the guidance of elders in the community and what better way to exchange this information than through the arts.”
—Tasha Michelle, Programs Director of Arts & Education | Broadway Inspirational Voices

As recent recipients of an Odyssey Impact Grant, Broadway Inspirational Voices Arts & Education Programming is dedicated to continuing the work with Senior Organizations in our Communities.

This month, the Men’s Group will explore themes of movement, travel, and personal growth, with a focus on how changing s...
03/26/2026

This month, the Men’s Group will explore themes of movement, travel, and personal growth, with a focus on how changing seasons can bring new perspectives and transitions in our lives.

Discussions will include film and media, family roles and responsibilities, representation, and personal travel experiences.

Join GRIOT Circle's Men’s Social Group every Wednesday from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.

This is an in-person gathering, open to all, with a focus on topics that impact men of color.

Any additional questions, please email Melissa Parke,Melissa@griotcircle.org

This Monday, we hosted our very first After Dark Paint & Sip (mocktail) in our new space, and it was such a special even...
03/25/2026

This Monday, we hosted our very first After Dark Paint & Sip (mocktail) in our new space, and it was such a special evening. Huge thank you to Teachers & Writers Collaborative teaching artist, Dave Johnson for facilitating such an incredible event.

Members had the opportunity to recreate and interpret images from postcards using acrylic paint, oil pastels, pencils, and crayons with each piece turning into a unique and beautiful work of art.

If you’re interested in joining our next Sip & Paint, please reach out to our program coordinator, Melissa Parke, melissa@griotcircle.org

Last month, we had the most amazing time with Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) exploring “Love & Poetry.” We’re so ex...
03/25/2026

Last month, we had the most amazing time with Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) exploring “Love & Poetry.” We’re so excited to continue building with BIV and growing this beautiful partnership together.

This collaboration is part of our larger BIV@ Programs—offering unique, customized, year-round experiences for organizations looking to engage and educate through the arts. Each BIV@ Program features a diverse lineup of Teaching Artists, thoughtfully curated to bring meaningful, tailored workshops to every partnership.

To learn more about upcoming events with BIV, please reach out to our program coordinator, Melissa Parke, melissa@griotcircle.org for more information!

The Alliance for Positive Change invites you to their annual Voices Poetry Reading in celebration of National Poetry Mon...
03/23/2026

The Alliance for Positive Change invites you to their annual Voices Poetry Reading in celebration of National Poetry Month.

The event will take place on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00 PM at Barnes & Noble Union Square. Attendees will hear poets from the organization’s Creative Writing Workshop share original works and personal stories that reflect resilience, identity, and lived experience.

Since 1999, the Creative Writing Workshop has provided a supportive, creative space for New Yorkers affected by HIV and other chronic conditions to express themselves through poetry. The program also publishes an annual collection, Situations, with this year marking the debut of Situations 25, which will be distributed free to event participants.

RSVP is required via the code on the flyer. For questions, please contact RSVP@alliance.nyc.

Plantxchange Presentation Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll explore the healing properties of herbs like lave...
03/20/2026

Plantxchange Presentation

Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll explore the healing properties of herbs like lavender, rosemary, and lemon balm, learn how to plant and grow your own vegetables.

Date: Friday, April 3rd
Time: 11:00AM-12:30PM
Location: 25 Flatbush Ave, 3rd Floor

Please email Melissa Parke, melissa@griotcircle.org to RSVP

Address

New York, NY
11217

Telephone

+17182462775

Website

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History

GRIOT (Gay Reunion In Our Time) Circle was founded as an informal gathering of elders and was officially recognized as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 1996. GRIOT Circle remains the only organization exclusively dedicated to serving the needs of elder LGBTQ people of color.

Most of our members reside in New York’s metropolitan area, though GRIOT has members throughout the country. Nearly all our members are from modest-to-low income households; more than 50% are retired; and about 90% identify as black, African American or Caribbean American.

We provide emotional support and quality programming that affirm the lives of this often invisible and marginalized population. GRIOT is committed to honoring and preserving our histories and traditions while reuniting those parts of our selves that have been fragmented by racism and homophobia. We maintain a space, free of discrimination based on age, gender, race, sexuality, spirituality, and ethnic origin. Everyone is welcome.