Love is for Evermore: A Night of Soul, Storytelling, and Song
Has a nondescript encounter ever changed the trajectory of your life?
For me, it was the fall of 2017, when I opened an email from a Washington Post lifestyle writer. Within weeks, Evermore’s work was profiled, and letters began pouring in from across the country — from grieving parents who instantly understood the change I believed America needed.
One of those letters came from Jena Kirkpatrick, a newly bereaved mother whose son, Ellis, was killed by a drunk driver.
Jena, an Austinite, happened to be in D.C. visiting her daughter, Lila, who attended George Washington University. We met for tea, where I learned about the remarkable life — and heart-shattering death — of her only son. She told me how she was notified of Ellis’ death, how someone said she should be grateful he wasn’t suffering, and how, piece by piece, her life began to unravel. She still talks about that conversation on a brisk January morning; no one had ever said, “The way you were treated is not okay.”
These are exactly the kinds of aftermaths that must change — not just for Jena, but for all of us.
It’s hard to believe that only a few years later, Jena would be working for Evermore as our Manager of Community Outreach and Engagement. Indeed, if you’ve ever sent us a note, read our newsletter, or made a donation, you, too, received a letter from Jena — just as I once did from her.
Three years ago, Jena wanted to share Evermore’s work with her Austin community, and so, she created the Love Is for Evermore benefit concert. What began in a cozy coffeehouse now fills Radio East with hundreds of people, generous sponsors, and artists who shine a light for those we love and miss.
I’m beyond excited — not only for the music, but for what this night represents. Each year, it reminds me how far Evermore has come, and how beautifully Austin has embraced our mission — largely because of one mother, who also lost her child too soon.
What started as a simple gathering to honor love and loss has grown into a vibrant celebration of life, shared memory, and change.
Next week, on Saturday, October 25, Evermore will host its third annual Love Is for Evermore benefit concert at Austin’s Radio East, featuring Shinyribs, Sara Hickman, and Carruthers & Roush. COME JOIN US!
Our evening will begin at 7 p.m. with a moment of remembrance and our “Remembering Those We Love” installation, where guests can add a light in memory of their loved one. Then, we’ll move into a night of soul, storytelling, and song — surrounded by food, laughter, and fellow believers that the world can be a more livable place for all who grieve.
All proceeds support Evermore’s work to change the systems that shape our lives after loss. But more than that, we’re creating a tomorrow where the next Jena — or you, or me — is met with compassion, dignity, and care.
It’s been one of the greatest honors of my life to be in community with Jena, with Austin, and with each of you. Evermore is growing into a national movement of people who believe, as I do, that grief is universal, and our responses should be, too.
As Nirvana says, “Come as you are” — with your stories, your memories, your joy, and your grief. We’ll be there together, in a community of love we all need.
With gratitude and hope,
Joyal Mulheron
Founder & Executive Director, Evermore