GRIOT Circle, Inc.

01/15/2026

LGBTQ+ Safety Training

Learn your rights, safety strategies, and self-advocacy tools when interacting with law enforcement- all in a supportive, affirming space.

Date: Thursday, January 29th
Time: 12:30PM - 1:30PM
Location: 25 Flatbush Ave, 3rd Floor

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

01/15/2026

Join the Program Committee! Being a part of the Program committee will allow the program team and staff to gain deeper insight into what events and activities we can bring to GRIOT circle in 2025 and beyond.

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

01/14/2026

With everything going on in the country right now, we wanted to share a bright spot: the smiling faces from our 2025 Holiday Party! 🌟

This year was extra special as we welcomed nearly 80 seniors, allies, and friends to celebrate for the first time in our new space. It was an evening filled with love, music, storytelling, and—of course—plenty of great food!

A huge thank you to:

Our incredible staff, especially Director of Programs, Lisa Eddy.

Our Events Committee made up of dedicated GRIOT members.

Our wonderful volunteers, including a special shout-out to !

While the holiday season has passed, the need to spread joy remains. Many of our seniors face ongoing challenges—from food insecurity and landlord harassment to the need for culturally competent mental health support. In a political climate that can make us feel powerless, GRIOT Circle stands firm.

As we head into 2026, we promise our members one thing: no matter what is happening in the world, you have a place here to call home. 🏠❤️

Happy New Year from GRIOT Circle!

12/30/2025

History was made by people who stood together. Today, you can honor that history with a gift to GRIOT Circle. 🏳️‍🌈✊🏾

Think your contribution is too small? Think again. Every dollar fuels the programming, advocacy, and community that keeps our LGBTQ+ elders of color connected and celebrated.

✨ Small Gift, Big Impact:

$10 = A warm meal & conversation

$20 = A round-trip ride to a GRIOT event

$50 = Vital health & wellness advocacy

Help us reach our year-end goal. Whether it’s the cost of a latte or a holiday treat, your generosity ensures no elder stands alone.
Click below to support GRIOT before years end!
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E349768&id=1

12/26/2025

12/24/2025

The holidays aren't always "merry and bright," and at GRIOT Circle, we see you. For many in our community, this season can bring up feelings of loss, isolation, or memories of those no longer with us.

If you’re feeling the weight of the holidays today, remember: You are not alone, your feelings are valid, and your GRIOT family is here for you. Take care of your heart today.
We're holding space for you.

12/24/2025

As the year draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the strength, wisdom, and joy that our elders bring to GRIOT Circle.

For many, the holidays are a time of connection, but for LGBTQ+ elders of color, they can also be a reminder of the importance of "chosen family."

Because of your support, GRIOT has remained a sanctuary where our members are seen, honored, and celebrated exactly as they are. Whether it’s through our nutritional programs, our advocacy work, or simply providing a space for a shared meal and a laugh, you have helped us ensure that no elder in our community has to walk alone.
May your holiday season be filled with the same warmth and resilience you help provide to our members every day.

With gratitude and pride,
The GRIOT Circle Team

12/10/2025

Holiday Bookmark Art Project
Join us for a holiday bookmark making art project. Create your own personal bookmark that can be given to loved ones during this holiday season!
Date: Thursday, December 11th
Time: 1:30PM - 3:00PM
Location: 25 Flatbush Ave, 3rd Floor
Please email Melissa Parke, melissa@griotcircle.org to RSVP

12/04/2025

GRIOT Circle is thrilled to announce the appointment of two dynamic new leaders to our Board of Directors: Kalima McKenzie-Simms and Arthur Fitting.
Together, their passion and experience will help guide GRIOT as we continue to expand our reach and support for LGBTQ+ elders of color. Welcome to the family!"

Short bio- Kalima joins the GRIOT Circle Board as a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, bringing a deep commitment to safety and inclusion across the lifespan. Currently serving as the Manager of LGBTQ Programs at the NYC Department of Education, Kalima works to ensure that all students—regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity—feel seen, safe, and supported.
Her advocacy is rooted in her own coming-out journey. Prior to her role at the DOE, she spent eight years at PFLAG NYC, where she educated school communities and provided vital support to families navigating their own acceptance journeys. Her leadership has been widely recognized; she was honored in GO Magazine’s '100 Women We Love' Class of 2021 and named one of Business Equality Magazine’s '40 LGBTQ Leaders Under 40' in 2020

Arthur joins the GRIOT Circle Board of Directors bringing over 25 years of expertise in healthcare and a deep commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. Arthur has dedicated his career to addressing healthcare disparities, beginning as a frontline nurse in NYC during the height of the AIDS crisis. He is a recognized expert in gender-affirming home healthcare and integrating culturally sensitive practices into senior care.

Arthur is no stranger to the GRIOT family; his appointment to the Board follows an eight-year partnership with the organization. As a strategic ally, he was instrumental in establishing a bridge between GRIOT and Visiting Nurses of NY (VNSNY), providing critical health-focused programming for members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Arthur helped build essential mental health support services for the GRIOT community. Most recently, his collaboration on surveys regarding older adults of color directly impacted and help shape GRIOT’s Senior Initiative with a renewed focus on mental health support and advocacy.

He joins the Board with a focus on strengthening our policies, bringing fresh perspectives to senior care, and securing new resources to keep our programs thriving.

12/03/2025

We are thrilled to be offering a decorating class at 25 Flatbush! Our wonderful volunteer and facilitator, Alfonso Suarez, will be helping us make 25 Flatbush Ave feel like home.
Join us every Monday from 11:00 AM–12:30 PM to decorate our space, learn about interior design, and much more!
If you’re interested, please contact our Program Assistant, Melissa Parke.

12/01/2025

Today, on World AIDS Day, we pause to remember. As GRIOTs, we are the keepers of our community’s history. We carry the stories of the friends, partners, and chosen family we lost too soon. But we also carry a powerful testimony of survival.

LGBTQ+ elders of color have been at the forefront of this fight for over four decades. We faced the disruption of the epidemic with resilience, building networks of care when the world looked away.

The theme for 2025 is "Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response." For us, transformation means ensuring our elders are not just surviving, but thriving. It means fighting the stigma that still exists and ensuring equitable healthcare for our aging community.

We honor the legacy of those who fought for us to be here today. We commit to continuing the work until the epidemic is ended for good.