Gathering Up: The Gospel of Community is an annual fundraising weekend to benefit Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a program that seeks to enforce justice and correct injustice throughout the American legal system.

Headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Gathering Up events will reach out to lovers of history, music, and dance around the globe. The inaugural two-day event will be held in-person and live-streamed on October 7 and 8, 2023. On day one, renowned baritone-bass Marques Jerrell Ruff will present “The Evolution of the Negro Spiritual.” On day two, attendees will learn about the EJI and listen to author Bettye Kearse read from her award-winning memoir The Other Madisons, followed by a Nia class of community movement to Gospel music.

Day 1: "The Evolution of the Negro Spiritual" tells a story of joy, sorrow, triumph, and, ultimately, love. In this musical exploration, bass-baritone Marques Jerrell Ruff will guide listeners from the Negro spirituals of the 19th century to their robust development in the early 20th century. At the United Church of Santa Fe, the audience will be encouraged to participate in both song and discussion as we dive together into the historical and modern-day functions of the Negro spiritual.
$45 in person, $30 online

Day 2: 2:00 TO 3:30 pm. THE OTHER MADISONS Book Talk and Gospel Nia will be held at the Railyard Performance Center, 1611 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe. Bettye Kearse will read from her acclaimed memoir, THE OTHER MADISONS. In this memoir, Bettye—a descendant of an enslaved cook and, according to oral tradition, President James Madison—shares her family story and explores the issues of legacy, race, and the powerful consequences of telling the whole truth.

Following the book reading, Nia instructors Vanessa Lowe from California and Sarah Nickerson from Santa Fe will lead a Nia community movement experience choreographed to all genres of Gospel music.

For tickets and further information, visit the inSpirit website: www.inspiritstudio.com/gathering-up or contact Sarah Nickerson at (505) 795-6829