Kayarda Lowe was 12 the first time he came to the Gathering in Cullman, Ala. Kayarda, as a member of a team of young boxers from the Selma Youth Development Center, drew applause for his pugilistic prowess at the Gathering nearly every year until he graduated from high school.

At the 22nd Gathering in 2002, Kayarda was back, this time as a college sophomore with several fraternity brothers in tow. He wanted them to experience the diversity, respect and sharing that meant so much to him growing up. He wanted them to hear the voices of people struggling with issues from workers’ rights to hunger and criminal justice.

Kayarda also wanted his voice and those of his brothers to be heard. And the more than 100 people attending the most recent Gathering did enjoy the rich harmonies of these singing fraternity brothers from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. But the Gathering also heard about the students’ efforts to retain scholarships that had been cancelled, scholarships that are the only hope of a college education for most of them.

Held the first weekend of November at the Benedictine Monastery of the Sacred Heart in Cullman, the Gathering is an opportunity for the voices of people working at the grassroots to be heard—from the heart of Appalachia to the Deep South. Gathering 2002 attendees traveled from nine states to share struggles and celebrate cultural diversity. States represented included North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.

The Gathering is sponsored by the Catholic Committee of the South, a group revitalized more than 20 years ago with the help of the Glenmary Commission on Justice. Glenmary’s commitment to the Gathering embodies Glenmary founder Father William Howard Bishop’s dedication to people on “the margins” whose voices are often silenced or ignored—courageous, sometimes weary voices that are an expression of Christ among us.

The format is simple—greetings on Friday evening; the sharing of stories and struggles on Saturday; the sharing of culture in music, dance and words on Saturday night; and good-byes after breakfast on Sunday.

This year the Saturday lineup opened with a prayer offered by Glenmary Father Tim Murphy. Glenmary coworker Jay Gilchrist helped with Saturday’s emcee duties. Other Glenmary folks present included: Brothers Terry O’Rourke, Larry Johnson, Curt Kedley, Bob Hoffman and Jack Henn; Fathers Bob Rademacher and Les Schmidt; coworkers Bob (and Becky) Laremore and Marcus Keyes.

Kamau Marcharia, representing Grassroots Leadership, spoke to the group about how mandatory minimum sentencing and draconian drug laws have created an explosion in the prison population. Grassroots Leadership and its allies are working to stop the for-profit private prisons being built to meet or anticipate the need for more prison cells. Corrections corporations often target rural areas, Marcharia said, where jobs are scarce.

Mildred Moore of the Scotland Neck Recreation Foundation shared information about the group’s work with young, at-risk African Americans. The programs offered by the foundation include tutoring and self-esteem building. Several young people who frequent the programs were present to talk about how their lives had been changed by the volunteers who staff the programs.

The Center for Women’s Economic Alternatives in Ahoskie, N.C., offers programs and services in an area that is both rural and poor. Many of the women helped by the Center have been disabled by work in the poultry processing industry. The Center helps educate workers about their rights and also offers medical transportation, legal referrals, a food pantry and a clothing program.

Legal Aid of North Carolina was represented by Shirley Jones and folks from Rocky Mount, N.C. The group’s Vista volunteers educate the public on issues such as predatory lending, used-car purchasing, wills, housing, repair scams and pay-day lending.

Sincere Seven, based in Knoxville, Tenn., began as a worker-advocacy group based at one workplace in 1999, according to executive director Perry Redd. It has since responded to grassroots concerns by adding other community-level justice issues such as living wage, “at will” employment, disenfranchisement of ex-offenders and day labor services.

Other speakers included the Hipps family from the Alabama Heritage Center, which helps start young people on the road to careers in science. Frank Hardy was present with another group of gifted young people from the Selma Youth Development Center. Small workshops and other offerings were also held. The traditional Saturday evening cultural festivities went well into the night.

The 23rd Gathering will be held at Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman, Ala., Oct. 31 through Nov. 2, 2003. Calendars are already marked. For Kayarda Lowe, grassroots activists, Glenmarians and coworkers, it’s become a family Gathering.

Susan Stevenot Sullivan does communications work for the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Atlanta, Ga., and freelance projects for the Glenmary Commission on Justice.