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Stop telling me you care about older adults or Black history when your budget says otherwise. Whenever I'm searching for resources for our elders, I find websites that read, “We center ‘successful aging’ and ‘aging in place,’” but most places will not put a budget behind their wellness, safety, or joy. This year marks 100 years of Black History Month observances, born from Carter G. Woodson’s vision that Black people must remake our past in order to make our future. A century later, organizations flood timelines with “we honor our ancestors” graphics and polished posts about resilience and legacy. Yet we are consistently neglecting the people who are living Black history in real time, Black elders who have survived segregation, displacement, medical racism, and policy violence, and are now told there is nothing left for them but a brochure, a flyer, and a waitlist. Too many Black elders live with untreated depression, anxiety, and race related stress that our systems continually ignore. A for profit primary care practice serving older adults in a predominantly Black neighborhood reached out to me for a meeting about elder mental health. They told me, without flinching, that about 70 percent of their older adults had unmet mental health needs, mirroring what we know about high levels of psychological distress and unmet care among Black adults. In the next sentence, they asked me to bring five therapists for three hours, for free, with a budget of zero dollars. No stipend, no honorarium, no transportation, no consultation fee. Just vibes and charity. That is not care. That is extraction. That is “we need you to fix this data point for our population, but we will not adjust our financial priorities to make sure our elders actually receive dignified, sustained care.” You cannot claim to care about older adults when the line item for their mental health is 0 dollars. To all the folks cranking out performative Black History Month posts, do you even care about older adults, about our living Black history, the grandmothers raising third generations, the elders holding the stories, the ones whose bodies carry the receipts of every policy we pretend is “in the past”? Because your budgets, your staffing plans, your investment in accessibility, your program designs, and your “partnerships” tell the truth your captions will not, you do not. Nana’s Circle is a community based nonprofit that supports and empowers elder caregivers, especially grandparents and other relatives age 55+ who are raising children under 18. We now have more than 42 older adults raising more than 100 kids between them. Just like Carter G. Woodson’s vision, we must invest in our past in order to build a strong future. ​

It takes a village. Nana's Circle Inc Logo 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. Andrea Hancock, CEO of Nana's Circle Inc 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. Nana's Circle Inc programming in 2024 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. Nana's Circle Inc parenting class in 2024 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. Nana’s Circle programming with Meharry medical student volunteers exposing our kids to opportunities in medicine. 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. Nana's Circle Inc programming in 2024 - A healing circle with facilitator, Pamela Wood. 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. Learn more about Nana’s Circle Inc Support their Mission! Learn More about Black Mental Health Village Buy BMHV Merch Support our mission!

Senior programming is an integral part of Black Mental Health Village 's mission. That's why we are proud to announce that we are the new fiscal sponsor for Seniors On The Move, a local nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives, connecting families, and building communities, one senior at a time. To learn more about Seniors On The Move, visit their website. Seniors On The Move is officially a Fiscally Sponsored Program of Black Mental Health Village. All donations are tax deductible. Donate today! Learn more about fiscal sponsorship at Black Mental Health Village.