Executive Director of GRIOT Circle José Albino will receive the Carmen Vázquez SAGE Award for Excellence in Leadership on Aging
[New York, NY] SAGE, the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ elders, will present the Carmen Vázquez SAGE Award for Excellence in Leadership on Aging Issues at this year’s virtual National LGBTQ+ Task Force Creating Change conference to José Albino, Executive Director of GRIOT Circle. The annual award is presented to someone whose work exemplifies outstanding leadership in their advocacy for LGBTQ+ elders. Last year, the award was renamed to honor the memory of Carmen Vázquez, a long-time LGBTQ+ and social justice activist who passed away last January.GRIOT Circle has been providing programs and services for LGBTQ+ elders of color in New York City for 25 years. Executive Director José Albino has been working in the aging field for over twenty years and has been responsible for guiding a diverse number of departments, including Meals on Wheels, senior centers, case management, health and wellness, supportive housing, and mental health programs.
“I am humbled to be receiving this award from an organization that has been anchoring the lives of our precious elders for decades,” said GRIOT Circle Executive Director José Albino. “I am equally privileged to be accepting an award in honor, and remembrance of, the fierce activism and leadership of a Latina queer elder that helped steer the national cadence of the rainbow movement – our treasure – Carmen Vasquez.”
“José’s dedication to older LGBTQ+ people of color and GRIOT Circle is more than just leadership – he truly embodies the spirit and passion of building community that Carmen Vázquez exhibited, making him the perfect recipient for this award,” said SAGE CEO Michael Adams. “I am so inspired by his work and look forward to seeing him continue to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ elders of color in our communities.”
This year’s National LGBTQ+ Task Force Creating Change conference will be held virtually on March 19 and 20.
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SAGE is the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBTQ+ older people and their caregivers. SAGE also advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBTQ+ elders, provides education and technical assistance for aging providers and LGBTQ+ community organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging, and cultural competency training through SAGECare. Learn more at sageusa.org.
