We Honor Our Late Founder

Regina Shavers
Late Founder/Executive Director

GRIOT’s Executive Director, had a long history of community involvement and activism.As co-chair of District Council 37 she advocated for workers’ rights, and served on the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Lesbian and Gay Rights Advisory Board. She played an active role in the Campaign for and Inclusive Family Policy, the citywide coalition that negotiated with Mayor David N. Dinkins
to obtain Domestic Partner benefits for New York City employees. She also helped to found Pride At Work, a constituency group of the AFL-CIO that focuses on the rights and unionization of LGBT workers. Regina was also the former Assistant Director of the NYC Department of Health’s HIV Training Institute. Here, she created and implemented curricula for HIV prevention and treatment, including curricula specifically tailored towards older populations. Regina continued with her HIV/AIDS facilitation as a member of the New York Association
on HIV Over Fifty (NYAHOF).

In 1995, Regina co-founded GRIOT Circle to combat the lack of community that she had observed amongst LGBT Elders, particularly those of color. She assumed the role of Executive Director of GRIOT in 2000 and transitioned on February 29th 2008.

GRIOT Circle Staff

Chair
Fran Forte

Co-Chair
Don Kao

Treasurer
Bernice Mapp

Deputy Treasurer
Rev. Janyce Jackson

Secretary
Lidell Jackson

Executive Director
Glen-Michael Francis

D. STAFF RESUMES

As a member-driven organization, GRIOT Circle’s Board of Directors necessarily reflects the experiences of its constituents, as well as possesses the skills needed to further GRIOT’s mission.  Our board members are diverse in their professional skills, with a knowledge of non-profit organizing, program implementation, publishing and strategic management.   They have also lived through adversity, surviving hardships such as substance abuse, homelessness, and incarceration.  Similarly, our volunteers bring an assortment of skills and experiences to GRIOT, and as active members they are able to govern how GRIOT Circle can be run to best meet their needs.        

GRIOT’s staff is also well-suited for the organization.  Glen-Michael Francis, GRIOT’s Executive Director, has a strong background in advocacy work.  He began his career at the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA), advocating for the rights of immigrants and refugees.  He served on the Board of District Council 1707’s Local 215, and played a founding role in Pride At Work.  In 1994, Glen helped to co-found the Caribbean identified Lesbian and Gay Alliance (CiLGA).  He served on the steering committee of the International Lesbian & Gay Association (ILGA), and as a Development Associate for Doctors Without Borders.  Glen became the Program Director of GRIOT Circle in 2002, rising through the ranks to become the agency’s Executive Director in 2008 after the passing of its founder and then Executive Director, Regina V. Shavers.       

Victor Pond, the Program Health Services Manager brings over 20 years of combined experience in the fields of mental health, substance abuse, organizational development, and public health. He served as Training Coordinator and then Director for the innovative MOCHA Coalition initiative based in Chicago, IL a six year capacity building project funded via the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and managed by the Office of Minority Health (OMH). Victor is a firm advocate for culturally responsive programming, a key component to any effective intervention targeting people of color. Additionally he has particular interest in quality care for the LGBT people of color community. He hails from the Republic of Panama were he obtained his Licensure in Psychology.

Social Worker, William Stewart came to GRIOT Circle after a decade of work at one of the nation’s largest insurance and health care providers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Bill’s Position was a Hospital Auditor and a Medicare Reimbursement Supervisor.  Bill served after the events of 9/11 on the World Trade Center Disaster Relief Project of The Salvation Army as a Service Coordinator.  William was employed in August 2006 as GRIOT Circle’s Social Worker-Program Associate.

Christine Cooper, GRIOT’s Administrator and Program Manager came to us with over 17 years of Hospital Administrative skills beginning with Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and now at Woodhull Hospital as the Administrator on Duty.  Christine became the agency’s Administrator and Program Manager in November 2009

Marion Murdaugh, RN, Senior Coordinator, Friendly Visitor/Volunteer Program, has been with GRIOT since 1998.  Marion began as a volunteer and became GRIOT’s Board Chair holding office for three years.  She then became the volunteer coordinator. Marion has over 30 years of nursing experience; she was clinical supervisor for women’s health at Coney Island Hospital, rising through the ranks from staff nurse.  Marion was also the director of nursing at Oxford Medical Center.

GRIOT’s volunteers are numerous and diverse, and are all active supporters and members.  They assist in a variety of areas, such as managing GRIOT’s membership database, organizing mailings, coordinating special events and fundraising efforts, facilitating fitness and creative workshops, and serving as representatives of GRIOT.  Volunteers donate not only their time, but also food, supplies, and transportation services.  Our Buddy-2-Buddy program is entirely volunteer-based.  Our volunteers come from a range of professional backgrounds, including education, law, administration, and engineering, and have survived hardships such as substance abuse, homelessness, incarceration, and HIV/AIDS.  Most importantly, our volunteers shape GRIOT Circle, and provide input as to how the organization can be run to best meet their needs.