Beloved Gathering 2026
September 17–20, 2026 | Thursday to Sunday
Unity Village — Kansas City, Missouri
This DRUUMM’s national gathering is when our community pauses from the pace of daily organizing and ministry to reconnect with one another, deepen our spiritual grounding, and strengthen our collective vision
In September 2026, we will gather at Unity Village, just outside Kansas City, for 4 days of worship, conversation, learning, and celebration among Unitarian Universalists of color and our communities of care.
- Renew relationships across generations within the DRUUMM community
- Deepen spiritual grounding
- Celebrate our cultures, music, and traditions
- Share skills and wisdom across ministry, organizing and justice work, and community leadership
- Build DRUUMM’s future together
This page will continue to grow with more details in the months ahead.
The DRUUMM National Gathering will include:
Worship & Spiritual Practice
Shared worship, ritual, and grounding led by DRUUMM ministers, chaplains, and community leaders.
Workshops & Learning Spaces
Sessions on organizing, ministry, spiritual care, community leadership, and racial justice work within Unitarian Universalism.
Community Conversations
Honest dialogue about the future of BIPOC leadership and community in our faith.
Arts, Music, and Cultural Celebration
Music, storytelling, and creative spaces reflecting our cultural richness.
Affinity Spaces
Time for caucuses and connection among specific cultural groups and identities.
Unity Village
Our gathering will take place at Unity Village, a historic retreat and conference center located just outside Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City International Airport is about 45 minutes away.
Unity Village provides:
- A peaceful retreat environment surrounded by nature
- Walking paths, gardens, and reflective spaces
- Comfortable lodging and gathering facilities
- Easy access from Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City also offers a rich cultural history, including vibrant music traditions, strong community organizing networks, and a growing UU presence.
More information about travel, lodging, and registration will be posted here soon.
Conference Highlights
Who Will Be There
The DRUUMM National Gathering is BIPOC-centered and brings together a wide range of participants from across the country, including:
- DRUUMM members and friends
- UU ministers, seminarians, and religious professionals of color
- Lay leaders and organizers
- Young adult leaders
- Elders who have helped build DRUUMM across generations
- BIPOC Friends and supporters committed to racial justice in Unitarian Universalism
A list of key facilitators, speakers, and musicians will be announced in the coming months.
Travel and Lodging
For your reference, the closest airport to Unity Village is Kansas City International Airport (MCI). It is 40 miles away, and travel time is approximately 45 minutes. Conference registration includes ground transportation between MCI and our conference hotels; please make your request here by September 7.
We have arranged conference rates at two hotels. Estimated total for 3 nights, including occupancy and state taxes is $238 per person, double occupancy ($475, single occupancy). Let us know when you register if you’d like assistance matching with a roommate.
- Unity Hotel at Unity Village – $144 per night ($72 per person, double occupancy) until August 17. Includes free breakfast and free parking. Book your room at Unity Hotel. Enter any special requests in the text box when reserving or contact the hotel directly at (816) 347-5537.
- In the event Unity Hotel rooms are sold out, we have a limited number of rooms 2.2 miles away at Holiday Inn Express in Lee’s Summit – $139 per night ($69.50 per person, double occupancy) until August 6. Includes free breakfast and free parking. Book your room at Holiday Inn Express.
Safety
DRUUMM recognizes present-day travel can come with risk for marginalized people, including Black and Brown people, trans people, and immigrants with or without documents and will arrange for a conference welcome buddy to meet you at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) if you request one. Please request a buddy here by September 7.
Accommodations for Attendees with Disabilities
Unity Village aims to accommodate all guests. Please contact Customer Care at 816-251-3561 or at unitycustomerservice@unityonline.org to discuss your needs before your visit.
Service animals: Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. (“ADA”), are permitted in all areas open to the public. For the comfort and safety of everyone, service animals must always remain under their handler’s control. Pets are not allowed in the courtyard, labyrinth, or buildings but are welcome in other areas on a leash. Please clean up after your pets.
Offer a Program
Submit a Program Proposal
We are inviting community members to offer workshops, conversations, and creative sessions.
Possible offerings include:
- Spiritual practices and rituals
- Healing and restorative practices
- Storytelling and community history
- Arts, music, and cultural expression
- Faith and justice conversations
- Healing and restorative practices
- Movement organizing and leadership development
If you have an idea for a program offering, we would love to hear from you – contact info@druumm.org. If you would like to offer a program, please click the button below to fill out our Beloved Gathering Interest Form. We will begin reviewing applications in early May.
Volunteer At the Gathering
Volunteer Interest Form
National gatherings are made possible by volunteers who create a welcoming, organized experience.
We need volunteers to support with:
- Registration support
- Hospitality and welcoming
- Workshop hosting
- Worship and music support
- Accessibility coordination
- Logistics and setup
If you would like to volunteer, please contact noemi@druumm.org or click the button below to complete a Volunteer Interest Form
COVID Precautions
For everyone’s health and safety, we request that you please follow the COVID protocols below for our in-person time together. Masks will be available.
- all vaccinated
- minor symptoms and negative test = masking
- any positive test within 5 days or major symptoms = isolate and cancel flight if not already at conference (limited livestreaming will be offered)
Conference Team
- Co-Chairs: Cat Nguyen, Erol Delos Santos
- Team members: Esperanza Flores Garza, Jon Ramirez, Michelle Venegas-Matula, Tomi Fatunde
- DRUUMM staff: Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons, Noemi de Guzman
- Conference consultant
Stay Connected
Become a Member
We will be sharing updates regularly as the gathering takes shape.
To stay informed:
- Become a member
- Follow DRUUMM on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky
- Check this page for updates
Interest Form
If you are interested in attending, volunteering, or offering a program, please fill out our Beloved Gathering Interest Form.
The form helps us:
- Estimate attendance
- Identify workshop leaders
- Organize volunteers
- Share updates with participants
What’s Coming Next
Over the coming months we will add:
- Registration information
- Travel and lodging details
- Program schedule
- Speaker announcements
- Volunteer orientation information
- Program leader orientation sessions
This will remain a living page as the gathering grows.
Questions?
If you have questions about the gathering, collaboration ideas, or ways to support the event, please reach out.
We look forward to gathering in community and continuing to build the future of DRUUMM together.