A Signature Division of Gregory Burrus Productions2
2019 Spiotta Park South Orange NJ
The Gregory Burrus Productions Arts & Wellness Initiative unites live music, sacred arts,
mental-health advocacy, movement practices, and community engagement across New Jersey
and the East Coast. For more than a decade, Gregory Burrus Productions has woven wellness
into cultural programming — from church-based healing arts to outdoor yoga, mental-health
moments, and multi-genre festivals.
Faith-Based Wellness & Sacred Arts
“Wellness, Outreach & Worship is more than a ministry — it is a calling to heal our communities through the arts. Gregory Burrus Productions helps us bring that healing into the world through music, movement, and sacred creative expression.”
— Rev. Dr. Eyesha Marable, Mt. Zion AME Church
Gregory Burrus Productions partners with Rev. Dr. Eyesha Marable and the WOW Ministry
(Wellness, Outreach & Worship) to integrate wellness into sacred-arts environments.
This includes:
- Mental Health Moments during worship.
- Healing-arts leadership by Lynette Sheard and Laverne Williams of MHANJ.
- Jesus & Jazz, Blues & Blessings, and spiritually grounded Jazz and Blues music gatherings.
- New dance and flag-movement expressions.
Mental Health Integration in Live Events
“Mental health belongs everywhere people gather — especially in the spaces where music brings us together. When the arts and wellness meet, communities become stronger, more open, and more connected.”
— Lynette Sheard, Mental Health Association in NJ
Gregory Burrus Productions embeds mental-health education directly into major public events, including:
- Opening the Jazz, Health & Food Truck Festival with a dedicated mental-health session
- Collaborations with MHANJ, NJPAC Community Engagement, and regional wellness leaders
- Incorporating Mental Health moments into Private and Public local music programming.
- Public education woven into multi-genre programming.
Movement, Yoga & Mind-Body Practices
“Movement is medicine. When yoga enters a music festival or community arts space, people don’t just watch the experience — they feel it. Wellness becomes something we create together.”
— Chelsea Burrus, Gregory Burrus Productions
Movement is a key part of the Arts & Wellness Initiative. Gregory Burrus Productions has
integrated yoga and mindfulness into:
- MAPSO Funk Fest (with yoga sessions led by Chelsea Burrus)
- 24 Hours of Music Jamboree (2019–2021 yoga sessions)
- South Orange Spiotta Park & Maplewood Gazebo outdoor events
Community Arts Stewardship
Gregory Burrus Productions supports hands-on public-arts projects that promote emotional
well-being and civic pride. This includes:
- South Orange Pianos Around Town
- Daily covering/uncovering of pianos
- Caring for instruments throughout the installation
- Supporting spontaneous public music-making
Travel-Based Cultural & Wellness Coverage
Through Gregory Burrus Productions’ extended network, the Arts & Wellness lens reaches
beyond New Jersey. Coverage includes:
- Toronto, Canada — Jazz Bistro + multi-day Pilates wellness retreat
- Ankeny, Iowa — Oktoberfest cultural coverage
- East Coast cities — ongoing venue visits, artist discovery, and wellness storytelling
The 24 Hours of Music Jamboree — A Wellness Evolution
As Gregory Burrus Productions transitions the Jamboree from a vertical, single-town format
to a horizontal, multi-town model, wellness becomes a defining feature. The new format includes:
- Movement sessions
- Mental-health moments
- Sacred-arts components
- Multi-genre performances
- Community healing across multiple municipalities
Our Commitment
Gregory Burrus Productions believes:
- Music heals
- Movement restores
- Community uplifts
- Culture connects
The Arts & Wellness Initiative strengthens community health, emotional resilience, and
cultural identity — making wellness a permanent part of the Gregory Burrus Productions mission.
Meet the Wellness Partners
Rev. Eyesha Marable — Sacred Arts & WOW Ministry
Rev. Eyesha Marable is the visionary founder of the WOW Ministry (Wellness, Outreach & Worship) at Mt. Zion AME Church, where she blends faith, creativity, and community healing. A national leader in sacred‑arts programming, she has spent decades uplifting communities through worship arts, dance, and spiritual wellness. Her partnership with Gregory Burrus Productions brings sacred‑arts expression into public spaces, festivals, and cultural gatherings. Rev. Marable’s work anchors the spiritual dimension of the Arts & Wellness Initiative.
Lynette Sheard — Mental Health Association in New Jersey
Lynette Sheard is a respected mental‑health advocate, educator, and community‑healing facilitator with the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. Known for her dynamic leadership in mental‑health awareness, she integrates wellness education into arts environments, faith communities, and public events. Lynette’s work emphasizes emotional resilience, open dialogue, and accessible mental‑health support. Her collaboration with Gregory Burrus Productions ensures that mental‑health moments are woven into festivals, concerts, and community gatherings.
Laverne Williams — MHANJ
Laverne Williams is a pioneering faith‑based mental‑health specialist with the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. She is widely recognized for her work bridging spirituality, emotional wellness, and culturally grounded mental‑health education. Laverne leads workshops, healing circles, and community conversations that empower individuals to seek support and build resilience. Her partnership with Gregory Burrus Productions strengthens the initiative’s commitment to holistic, community‑centered wellness.
Chelsea Burrus — Movement & Mind-Body Practices
Chelsea Burrus is a yoga educator, wellness contributor, and Media Producer & Talent Scout for Gregory Burrus Productions. She has led yoga and movement sessions at MAPSO Funk Fest, the 24 Hours of Music Jamboree, and outdoor community events across South Orange and Maplewood. Chelsea’s work blends mindfulness, movement, and cultural storytelling, bringing a healing presence to festivals and arts spaces. Her contributions anchor the movement and mind‑body dimension of the Arts & Wellness Initiative.
Learn More Chelsea Burrus — Wellness & Movement
You must be logged in to post a comment.