On October 12–13, 2011, GRIOT Circle, in collaboration with the POC Committee of the Leadership Council of ASA’s LGBT Aging Issues Network (LAIN), will bring together national leaders in aging for a first National Convening of its kind: highlighting the needs and concerns of LGBT elders of color, an historically and currently underserved population.

The Convening will take place with generous support from AARP, and funding from The Atlantic Philanthropies, and is to be hosted by AARP at the Brickfield Center, 601 E Street NW, Washington, DC.

This first National Convening of Aging Professionals will provide insight into economic and health disparities that can characterize people of color LGBT elder communities, a population that continues to heavily bear the brunt of stigmatization and social isolation. Areas to be covered include: Social Security, housing, supportive services, HIV/STD prevention, culturally competent research and training, health literacy disparities, ethno-geriatrics, policy reform, and other challenges for LGBT elders of color. An intended outcome will be the creation of a National Professional Network around people of color LGBT Aging.

Confirmed participants/attendees include:

• Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging, U. S. Administration on Aging (AoA)
• Jay Blackwell, Director of the Capacity Development Team, Office of Minority Health Resource Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• Christopher Bates, Executive Director, Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)
• Anthony Sarmiento, Executive Director, Senior Service America, Inc., (SSAI)
• Mandy Carter, Co-founder of National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee
• Senator Benjamin J.F. Cruz, Vice Speaker, 31st Guam Legislature
• Mario Tapia, CEO, Latino Center on Aging, (LCA)
• Aisha C. Young, CEO, African Americans in Gerontology (AAIG)
• Louis Colbert, MSW, Director, Delaware (PA) County Office of Services for the Aging, and Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors of the American Society on Aging

GRIOT Circle, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 1995, addresses the needs and concerns of LGBT elders of color in New York City. Fifteen years later, GRIOT Circle continues to be the only LGBT organization in the nation that exclusively serves LGBT elders of color ages 50 and older. GRIOT is proud to be one of the leading voices on this historic occasion marking a decided shift in the health care paradigm for LGBT elders of color. For more information contact Glen-Michael Francis, Executive Director, GRIOT CIrcle, and member of the Leadership Council of LAIN, ASA’s LGBT Aging Issues Network; Glen-Michael can be reached by phone at 718-246-2775. For more about the Convening and Griot Circle, visit their website.