Nana's Circle Becomes Its Own 501(c)3!
- Benny
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
It takes a village.
As November concludes and we wrap up National Family Caregiver Month, we’re reminded just how many quiet heroes walk among us, grandparents, aunties, uncles, and neighbors, each stepping up when families need them most. For too long, the family policing system, also known as the Department of Children’s Services, has failed families experiencing real hardship. Instead of help, many face surveillance and get punished when what they truly need is support and care. In our Black community, the answer has often been kinship care: when a parent can’t be there,
family members step in with love, grit, and open arms.
In 2022, everything changed when I met Andrea Hancock, an incredible Nana and servant leader who understood the realities facing these families as a caregiver to five grandchildren. When the kids first needed care, they went to their great-grandparents. Andrea was already helping out, but after their great-grandfather, Mr. Holt, returned to the work force to provide for 5 great-grandchildren and passed away unexpectedly, she stepped fully into the role to care for the kids, alongside the great-grandmother. She became the steady anchor holding everyone together while facing her own challenges. Her story shined a light on the real struggles, and immeasurable strength, of elders and family members who create safety and love for others even in the hardest moments.
That honest conversation with Andrea sparked something powerful. At Black Mental Health Village, we listened and realized our elders deserve more than just respect and recognition, they need real support, especially those stepping up for the next generation. We wanted to build an initiative that didn’t just talk about health equity but created it from the ground up, centered around the wisdom of those who’ve lived through it all.
So, we got out of the way and let those stories take the lead. We held listening sessions across North and South Nashville, gathering grandparents, aunties, and uncles, the everyday heroes quietly making miracles happen. From these sacred circles, Nana’s Circle emerged. It started as a program within Black Mental Health Village, rooted in Andrea’s vow that no grandparent should have to walk this path alone. Together, we dreamed up a village for generational hope, connection, and community, a place for elders and the young to lift each other up and build community hand-in-hand.
With the backing of Black Mental Health Village and our Health Justice Incubator, Nana’s Circle had the foundation to grow strong. Through fiscal sponsorship, we gave Andrea and her community the financial and administrative support to blossom, always believing that those living the experience are best equipped to lead the change.
Now, Nana’s Circle Inc has found its wings as its own 501(c)(3), and our work continues side by side. The mission stays the same: to celebrate, uplift, and stand with the caregivers who turn adversity into hope every single day.
If there’s a grandparent wrestling with this journey, let them know Nana’s Circle Inc is here and no one has to do this alone, because, truly, it takes a village.
Comments