Sunday’s PIP Adventure at Grace Church

Hey there! This past Sunday, November 10th, at 1 PM, a group of us mental health peers gathered for a PIP (Peers In Person) event at Grace Church on 10th Street and Broadway. It was a colorful crew: Kurt from Community Access, Melissa the peer specialist, Andrew the social worker and his girlfriend Sabrina, all ready to connect! Eileen and Ritchie from the Bronx and Staten Island came too but missed us, along with Kathryn and Kim, who later arrived but still made the most of their time there.

Kathryn didn’t miss a beat—she swapped hummus recipes with a vendor, learned about honey from the “chief beekeeper” of Queens, and discovered the secret to different honey colors (it’s all about flowers and seasons!). Inside the church, we enjoyed cheese, crackers, dried fruit, and coffee (Kurt’s was milk, no sugar) while admiring the crafts: beaded work, needlepoint, glasswork, ceramics, and paintings galore.

A former priest welcomed us with wisdom about finding purpose in all types of work, from dishwashing to the CEO life, as long as it brings joy. Andrew shared the ups and downs of his social work job, and Melissa spoke about the challenges and rewards of being a peer specialist. Sabrina said she is happiest when smoking cigarettes. Later, we returned to hear the organist, which was truly a spiritual experience.

It’s wonderful to connect members of the mental health community with members of other communities. Grace Church folks were welcoming, and we all left with new connections. If you’d like to join us next time or help plan December’s PIP, text or call me at (929) 884-3564 or email [email protected].

Blessings!