Regie Gibson, BEI Emeritus Fellow, will be participating in one of three Celebrity Series concerts in December, these universal desires will be expressed by a South African gospel choir, a multi-cultural quintet collaborating with a Greater Boston youth chorus, and a musician bringing together Boston police and people affected by violence. What’s more, two concerts are free – part of the Celebrity Series’ Arts for All initiative – and take place in a theater at a Dorchester community center.

In “Heart of the Holidays: Tales of Light,” the multi-national Guy Mendilow Ensemble presents an array of stories with the Boston City Singers, professional actor and narrator Regie Gibson, and singer and pianist Courtney Swain on Dec. 15.

“It’s a collection of stories about people who have found hope under difficult circumstances,” said Mendilow, who wrote the piece that includes gospel, pop, South American and Middle Eastern music. “When you combine stories with music it moves people in a visceral way. It’s no longer abstract and it’s like adding color to black and white.”