In-Person

The Bread of Angels: Wisdom and Music Behind Bars

Sat Dec 7, 2024 3:00 p.m.—4:30 p.m.
Artwork based on Dante's Divine Comedy
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Free; no registration required
https://ism.yale.edu/events/2024-12-07-the-bread-of-angels-wisdom-and-music-behind-bars
Marquand Chapel
409 Prospect Street New Haven, CT 06511
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  • General Public

Students of “Gospel, Rap, and Social Justice” collaborate with formerly incarcerated men and women to reveal the contemporary relevance of Dante’s journey from “Inferno” to “Paradise” in “The Divine Comedy.” Featuring the Gospel music and rap poetry of BL Shirelle and Debra Taylor.

Event curated by Ron Jenkins.

Free and open to the public.

Contact: Katya Vetrov

Image: Dante presents his poem about a journey out of hell through purgatory and into paradise in La commedia illumina Firenzeon the wall of Florence Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore.

Artist Bios:

BL Shirelle

BL Shirelle is an accomplished musician, producer, and songwriter. In addition, Shirelle serves as co-executive director of FREER Records, the first non-profit record label in United States history for currently and formerly incarcerated artists. After serving ten years in prison herself, Shirelle is now dedicated to social change and activism through her music through her work with FREER Records. She has been a guest speaker at colleges across America, educating youth on mass incarceration and she also continues to work with artists still in prison to produce and share their music on high-quality platforms. Shirelle’s work has been featured in, the LA Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, PBS/Whyy, Ms. Magazine, Bushwick Daily, Aesthetics For Birds, We Want The Airwaves, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, among others.

Debra Taylor

Debra L. Taylor is a woman who loves God and God’s people. She has been recovering through a 12 step fellowship for 18 years and was ordained by Christian Leaders Institute in October of 2023. She freshly entered her ministry role as an Evangelist at Evangelistic Newborn Holiness Church and Outreach Ministries. Debra continues to be a beacon of hope to all who encounter her loving spirit. She mentors 10 women on their recovery journey. She has a heightened awareness for the need of inner change and spiritual maturity. Debra has been working as a supervisor for the marketing research firm M. Davis and Company Inc. since December 2007. She also holds a position as an Insurance Referral Specialist at Einstein Hospital since September of 2019. She has 4 children ages 29, 32,34, and 37. Debra continues to be “REAL” and not perfect. Her favorite scripture is Isaiah 54:17 “No weapons formed against me shall prosper” She finds strength in living her life from the Inside Out. As she continues to live vicariously through God, she is unafraid to take the next step, wherever that may lead….she’s willing to go.

Ronald Jenkins is the recipient of Guggenheim, Fulbright, and Sheldon Fellowships.  His prison work in Italy, Indonesia and the U.S. has been supported by the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation for Human Rights, the Asian Cultural Council, and a residency at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center. Formerly a Fellow at Yale’s Institute of Sacred Music, Jenkins is Professor of Theater at Wesleyan University and teaches regularly as a Visiting Professor at the Yale Divinity School. He has translated the plays of Nobel Laureate Dario Fo for Grove press and for productions in theaters throughout the U.S.