“There’s no way the three of us would have ever met each other were it not for Prince Rogers Nelson,” explained Cinzia Inzinna, as Norvis Long-Parker and Nadine Rivers-Johnson readily nod in agreement.

Respectively, these three women hail from the cities of Rochester, Latest York; Frederick, Maryland; and Stone Mountain, Georgia. Their paths first crossed within the wake of Prince’s tragic passing. Today, the close friends collectively make up the executive team of the private Facebook group Purple Genealogy.

Purple Genealogy is way more than a web based gathering of Prince fans. Back in 2018, Inzinna, Long-Parker, and Rivers-Johnson were instrumental within the Prince Legacy Henderson Project, which resulted in a lovely Prince mural and memorial bench in downtown Henderson, the small southern Minnesota town along the banks of the Minnesota River where one of the iconic scenes in “Purple Rain” was filmed on November 2, 1983.

“We realized all of us had the identical idea, the identical purpose around our love for Prince to proceed his legacy through philanthropy,” added Inzinna.

“Party with a purpose” became their mantra, and Purple Genealogy’s annual gatherings here in Minnesota laid the inspiration for giving back to the area people. They first lent their support to the Twin Cities-based nonprofit Purple Playground—co-founded by Heidi Vader and Willie Adams—and its celebrated Academy of Prince Summer Music Program for teens.

Through this effort, the women of Purple Genealogy were ultimately connected to David “T.C.” Ellis, a former Paisley Park/Warner Bros. recording artist and the creator of Studio 4 Enterprises and St. Paul’s High School for the Recording Arts (HSRA).

Ellis, who appeared alongside Prince within the sequel to “Purple Rain,” 1990’s “Graffiti Bridge,” used the earnings from his Paisley Park contract to fund HSRA. He invited Inzinna, Long-Parker, and Rivers-Johnson to tour the varsity, and the three of them knew immediately that HSRA was something they desired to support.    

Purple Genealogy will soon present “Let it Rain… Purple,” an evening to have a good time 40 years of Purple Rain. Proceeds will go toward the painting of a mural designed to “preserve the legacy of Prince” at HSRA.

Norvis-Long, a lifelong arts educator who formally retired in 2012, notes that her passion for working with children never waned and that HSRA was an ideal fit for Purple Genealogy.

“Far too many kids are left behind at school, and the shortage of art and music programs has so much to do with this,” said Norvis-Long. “So a lot of these have hidden talents that they may know nothing about. A spot resembling HSRA helps them not only discover but nurture those talents as well.”

Throughout the trio’s visit to HSRA, considered one of the things that stood out most was how focused, engaging, friendly, and enthusiastic the scholars were.

“We were told how difficult it was to get a few of these kids to even speak to you before they found a house here,” Norvis-Long said. “Now they’re thriving. In all my years as an educator, I’ve never been to a faculty like this. And this was something so vital to Prince—to supply children with the sort of education. He gave the world a lot, and this can be a way for us to present back. To hold on Prince’s legacy in a meaningful way.”

When considering the impact that the varsity’s students have already had on all three women, Rivers-Johnson acknowledges current HSRA senior Sierra Wealthy, who volunteered to assist coordinate “Let in Rain… Purple.”

 “For the reason that three of us don’t have a neighborhood presence in Minneapolis,” Rivers-Johnson observed, “Sierra volunteered to step in. And she or he’s just taken the bull by the horns on this. Her passion is infectious. And we’re all so happy with her.”     

“Let it Rain… Purple” takes place on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., on the Women’s Club of Minneapolis (410 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis).

Along with a screening of Prince’s 1984 movie debut, “Purple Rain,” the event will include a panel discussion featuring Purple Rain choreographer John Command; an appearance by renowned Twin Cities concert photographer Tommy Smith, III; a mini-fashion show spotlighting Prince-inspired costumes by past winners of Quinn Villagomez’s The Purple One’s Annual Prince Celebration Fashion Show; and a dance party featuring Adams, who along with his role at Purple Playground, brings greater than three many years of experience as a musical director and deejay.

Attendees are encouraged to wear “Purple Rain”-themed costumes or other Prince-related attire. Free popcorn and pizza may even be offered, the pizza courtesy of Slice Brothers, Minneapolis’ first Black-owned pizzeria.

Tickets for the event are $19.84, a nod to the 12 months “Purple Rain” was released and might be purchased here. The proceeds will support the transportation and materials costs for Las Vegas-based artist Clifford Morris, who has already agreed to donate his time and abilities to create the brand new portable HSRA mural.

“The choice to go along with a conveyable mural,” revealed Norvis-Long, “is to make sure its preservation. Should HSRA ever outgrow its current space, the mural can travel with them to their next location.”

After all, if one party with a purpose is great, two are even higher. Morris’s HSRA mural will probably be officially unveiled at Purple Genealogy’s 4th Annual Fundraiser/Dance Party, “Crystal Ball,” on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, before being transported to its home at HSRA.

“Crystal Ball” may even be held on the Women’s Club of Minneapolis. Together with the presentation of the HSRA mural, there will probably be deejay sets from Adams and Michael Holtz and live music by former Warner Bros. recording artist Martin Kember. Plus, Paisley Park’s own Mark Webster will probably be presented with the Purple Genealogy Service Award for his tireless dedication to making sure that Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway became a reality. 

“Putting on events like these is our technique to show our like to Minneapolis,” asserts Rivers-Johnson. “Prince gave us all a lot. We just need to pay tribute to him in addition to all those that helped make the Minneapolis Sound the worldwide phenomenon that it’s today.”