# Event Details - **Event Name**: Embracing Our Roots with W. Rayford Johnson and deVon Russell Gray - **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 17 Oct, 2026 at 01:00 pm – Sat, 17 Oct, 2026 at 03:00 pm (-05:00) - **Event Description**: Embracing our Roots: Rooted and Rising pairs artists and arts activist Elders with next-generation arts leaders in conversationAbout this EventW. Rayford Johnson and deVon Russell Gray will sit for an intergenerational discussion about their lives and careers as composers, musicians and leaders in the Twin Cities performing arts community.Embracing our Roots: Rooted and Rising pairs artists and arts activist Elders with next-generation arts leaders in conversation, mining the continuum of cultural knowledge and experience that built today’s arts communities. In this program, we partner with two other Black-led organizations; In Black Ink and The Givens Collection of African American Literature.W Rayford Johnson, a native of Alabama, served the St. Paul Public Schools as a revered music educator and conductor for more than four decades. Behind his leadership and advocacy, music in the schools became vibrant and dynamic and led numerous students to continue their music careers through performance and education, including his student bassist and producer Terry Lewis. Mr. Johnson was also a longtime member of the Black Music Educators of the Twin Cities and the National Association of Negro Musicians, the country's oldest African American cultural organization. He continues to perform through the Twin Cities in several ensembles, including the Capri Big Band, Minnesota State Band and his quartet The Tangents.A native of historic Rondo, deVon Russell Gray is a divinely guided multi-media social justice activist and pantheistic audial alchemist whose work redefines the role of music in activism and cultural transformation. Gray harnesses the power of sound to confront urgent social issues such as policing, personal autonomy, and the systemic injustices faced by Black and Brown communities. After years of Eurocentric training and scholarship, Gray has intentionally dislocated from traditional frameworks, navigating a space centered in decoloniality and Afrofuturism. His work challenges existing paradigms, forging innovative cultural pathways that resonate deeply with contemporary social justice struggles and artistic liberation. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/minneapolis/embracing-our-roots-with-w-rayford-johnson-and-devon-russell-gray/100002001400153736 - **Event Categories**: music, entertainment, art, performances, workshops, literary-art - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 2 hours - Location: 222 21st Ave S - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Minneapolis - **state**: MN - **country**: United States - **location**: 222 21st Ave S - **lat**: 44.9732078 - **long**: -93.2430163 - **full address**: 222 21st Ave S, 222 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Embracing Our Roots with W. Rayford Johnson and deVon Russell Gray - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/a73e6dc27230df7cbe62729c269d3658aff1751acd9b8991f04753c47371784c-rimg-w1200-h600-dcf8f8f8-gmir.jpg?v=1790503268 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Embracing Our Roots with W. Rayford Johnson and deVon Russell Gray being held? - **A:** Embracing Our Roots with W. Rayford Johnson and deVon Russell Gray takes place on Sat, 17 Oct, 2026 at 01:00 pm to Sat, 17 Oct, 2026 at 03:00 pm at 222 21st Ave S, 222 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Embracing Our Roots with W. Rayford Johnson and deVon Russell Gray? - **A:** Embracing Our Roots with W. Rayford Johnson and deVon Russell Gray is organized by More Than a Single Story. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Embracing Our Roots with W. Rayford Johnson and deVon Russell Gray is ideal for music lovers, fans of all genres, and anyone who wants to celebrate the power of music - from intimate gigs and live sessions to festivals and cultural performances. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Minneapolis, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Embracing Our Roots with W. Rayford Johnson and deVon Russell Gray sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Embracing Our Roots with W. 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